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Tell Me the Story Again
10.8.2008 by Christian
We were riding in the car running errands the other day when our 4 year old daughter asked my wife to tell her the story of Jesus dying on the cross again. She’s heard the story in her numerous illustrated Bibles we read her, as well as in Sunday School and during Children’s church.
So my wife replied somewhat to me, somewhat rhetorically, “Where do I Begin?”
Our daughter: “At the beginning.”
Makes sense. So my wife and I together say, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
It gave us a good laugh at the time, but as children tend to do, my daughter got at the heart of much that is important to the story of Jesus with her simple answer. I’m currently reading the book Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. In it she proposes Creationism as foundational to communicating the gospel. I have to agree. The story of Jesus’ death on the cross only makes sense in light of creation. Which is why it can be difficult to evangelize in cultures (such as ours) that declare that we are only a part of nature which has it’s roots in itself (Darwinism is a form of this naturalistic worldview).
Maybe when we tell the story again, we really do need to start at the beginning.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:24 am
John had the right idea, afterall.
I totally agree, but unfortunately this truth has been distorted by many. What many Christians do, in presenting a case for their particular view of creationism, is argue in the wrong direction. They understand the truth of Christianity linearly, like premises in a deductive argument. If one of earlier premises go (their particular view of creation), they insist the rest doesn’t follow (Jesus and the cross). I think this is a confused and spiritually dangerous approach. Rather, the foundation of Christianity should be first and foremost centered in the person of Christ. Only when a proper relationship with Jesus is established can determine the significance of the rest.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Chad,
I agree with most of what you said. But one doesn’t have to have a proper relationship with God to understand the significance of who He is. It certainly helps. And many people come to the person of Christ before they see “the rest,” but I think that that is a limited concept of the person of Christ (as I am assuming you are using the phrase “the person of Christ” the way many Christians use it today, if not, please define). John did have it right. The person of Christ is encompasses not just the loving God who died for us, but the loving God who desired us and therefore created us.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Christian, I agree with what you wrote.
You know, I think I’d enjoy serving with you in person.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Thanks Chad, same here. In fact I know you’d be a great asset in developing a comprehensive teaching plan for our H.S. students. By the way, if you get the chance, pick up Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey.
October 12th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’ll keep my eye out for it. I have her book, The Soul of Science, which she coauthored with Charles Thaxton. Very recommendable.
October 13th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I have a copy if you want to borrow it…
Good book. Really long chapters. I think she could’ve been more concise with a lot of stuff, imo.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Christian,
Thanks for the post. I linked and pinged and quoted you at LUBS. Great thoughts.
jerry
October 14th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Christian-
First, congrats on your new baby boy!
I have read most of Pearcy’s book - good stuff. She is right, IMO, to diagnose our current theological problem as being overly fixated on the fall and beginning that rather than beginning where God begins, with creation and “very good.” Not only can we not understand atonement apart from creation we cannot understand the fall without beginning with the beginning.
peace to you.
Chad