How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

evil

April 29th, 2009

In Genesis 3:5, evil is part of creation all along. The idea that creation is a perfect world doesn’t come from the creation story. This truth stops so much false teaching concerning God. Creation is the best possible world where people can exist and choose to reject God. This brings nasty consequences, yes, but evil is always possible even before the “Fall.”

flesh

April 9th, 2009

Genesis 2:24 tells of husbands and wives being of one”flesh,” meaning, “body.” In an American culture that thrives on individualism, what does this word have to say?

opposite

April 3rd, 2009

In Genesis 2:22, God doesn’t start fresh with the ground, but forms “woman” out of the man’s side. The word “woman” is literally, “opposite of man.” That explains a lot.

day or day?

February 24th, 2009

Genesis 2:4 reads,  This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. Heaven and earth are the universe. Everything. And according to this passage, everything was created “in the day.” One day?

In the biblical language the same word for “day,” “a twenty four hour period,” is “day,” “a period of time.”

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the period of time that the LORD God made earth and heaven.

Hmmmm….

shade of God

February 10th, 2009

Genesis 1:26 tells us we are made in the “image” of God. This is an unusual word in Hebrew, connected to the concept of “shade.” We are a shadow of God’s glory, and this is a helpful metaphor of our impact as God bearers in the world. Who comes into our shade is to be blessed as they are in God’s presence.

The Trinity pays a visit

February 9th, 2009

It doesn’t escape notice that in Genesis 1:26 when God makes people it says, “Let us make…” This is, of course, a clear allusion to the concept of the Trinity, but even before that we have a clue that slips notice unless we translate it literally.

You see the ancient word used for “God” here in Genesis 1 is, “Elohyim.” This is in the plural.

Literal translation? “And Gods said…”

How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life