(based on Brenda Salter-McNeil's Thursday night plenary session talk)
God's plan from the beginning was that people would fill the earth with the image of God's glory. What this means is that as we spread over the earth, based on different climates, we cultivate different foods and create different kinds of clothing and melanin levels differ in our skin complexion-- culture, if you will. That is, when God wanted us to "be fruitful and increase in number, multiply on the earth and increase upon it" (Gen. 9:7), He wanted to create cultures, because only in such diversity can a more full picture of God be presented.
The tower of Babel represents a moment of rebellion-- the people refused to spread and fill the earth with the image of God's glory, but rather, they wanted to remain stationary and make a name for themselves. God (as He tends to do) intervened, and "scattered them over the face of the whole earth," forcing them to fulfill what Brenda deems the "cultural mandate."
The end of Gen. 11 is fascinating because as God continues to ask His people to move across lands, Terah, rather than continuing on to Canaan, as intended, ends up settling in Haran, where he dies. Brenda challenged us to consider the areas that we have likewise settled.
Gen. 12 as a follow-up to this, again shows God intervening. His plan is still for the whole world to be blessed, for Him to be glorifed all over the earth. So even though Terah/Abram's family settled in Haran, God again steps in and commands Abram to leave in order to bless the world.
It's crazy to think about how our individual callings or spiritual journeys are intricately tied in with God's global plan for the kingdom of heaven to come on earth now.
Wow, Jo, I need to think hard about the challenge by Brenda: maybe, my own inability to look beyond myself and see and fully appreciate and take action based upon what I've been blessed with and to use it for God's greater glory.
Don't know if everyone was at Fellowship this one Sunday when we looked at the Matthew passage, but Pastor Andrew pointed out that Joseph obeyed God without hesitating: "So he got up..." That challenges me to really trust God. Also at Urbana, Ray Bakke was pointing out how Jesus really relates to suffering, that he was a refugee even as a baby.
I liked the Acts and Psalms readings a lot especially the 1st quote from David and Psalm 4:3,7-8. God has given me so much joy recently and he's answered so many prayers. Psalm 4:5 was also convicting.
Thanks Joann for the recap of Brenda's talk. It's good to be reminded not to settle.
I went to some art seminars during Urbana and they talked about embracing culture. A lot of times when people groups were christianized they were forced to give up their cultures, but it shouldn't be that way. ("Bring the seeds, not a fully grown plant," this speaker said.) Some stuff from my notes:
God made us to form culture that would glorify Him. Culture is man's footprint on God's creation. Culture is not demonic. God wants to take what we have and transform it to direct it toward God. We should affirm the redemptive in culture, oppose the demonic, and restore the distorted truth.
Also I'm reading this book about arts and I thought this quote was pretty cool:
"Positively, the world is all that God made and Christ came to redeem. This includes culture because humans have never lived in isolation from each other, and when they get together they automatically create culture. It would be impossible to think of loving humans yet hating human culture, of loving individuals and yet hating their music, songs, stories, paintings, games, rituals, decorations, clothes, languages and hairstyles. God made us cultural beings."
Sorry for the extremely long entry but just wanted to share some stuff I found interesting xp
In Acts 2:43 after the people gatherng in the house had 'repented and were baptized' fear came upon every soul, which is amazing. Our obedience of course comes from a fear and also possibly respect of our Great God. How do you show fear and love at the same time? One thing I am learning very hard in France is to be polite in French and to French people. I am constantly stepping on eggshells I think but I am definitely getting more used to it. However, it is not in my nature to be polite, it's something I have to learn and observe from. Similarly, the fear of God cannot come from within us right.
And again Gloria your comment really blessed me becasue I was wrestling about the importance I give towards culture over possibly my time to my faith, and thus, I feel more relieved in some sense!
"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
A daily bible reading group from Wesleyan University, CT. Please do feel free to join us at anytime or to comment :)
All you have to do is click on this link to Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan and then pick the dates you want to start from, and start posting your daily reflections! There is no right date or end time so enjoy the ride..
"Cause us to hear Your lovingkindness for on You do we lean and in You do we trust. Cause us to know the way wherein we should walk, for we lift up our inner self to You." Psalm 143:8
5 comments:
(based on Brenda Salter-McNeil's Thursday night plenary session talk)
God's plan from the beginning was that people would fill the earth with the image of God's glory. What this means is that as we spread over the earth, based on different climates, we cultivate different foods and create different kinds of clothing and melanin levels differ in our skin complexion-- culture, if you will. That is, when God wanted us to "be fruitful and increase in number, multiply on the earth and increase upon it" (Gen. 9:7), He wanted to create cultures, because only in such diversity can a more full picture of God be presented.
The tower of Babel represents a moment of rebellion-- the people refused to spread and fill the earth with the image of God's glory, but rather, they wanted to remain stationary and make a name for themselves. God (as He tends to do) intervened, and "scattered them over the face of the whole earth," forcing them to fulfill what Brenda deems the "cultural mandate."
The end of Gen. 11 is fascinating because as God continues to ask His people to move across lands, Terah, rather than continuing on to Canaan, as intended, ends up settling in Haran, where he dies. Brenda challenged us to consider the areas that we have likewise settled.
Gen. 12 as a follow-up to this, again shows God intervening. His plan is still for the whole world to be blessed, for Him to be glorifed all over the earth. So even though Terah/Abram's family settled in Haran, God again steps in and commands Abram to leave in order to bless the world.
It's crazy to think about how our individual callings or spiritual journeys are intricately tied in with God's global plan for the kingdom of heaven to come on earth now.
Wow, Jo, I need to think hard about the challenge by Brenda: maybe, my own inability to look beyond myself and see and fully appreciate and take action based upon what I've been blessed with and to use it for God's greater glory.
Don't know if everyone was at Fellowship this one Sunday when we looked at the Matthew passage, but Pastor Andrew pointed out that Joseph obeyed God without hesitating: "So he got up..." That challenges me to really trust God. Also at Urbana, Ray Bakke was pointing out how Jesus really relates to suffering, that he was a refugee even as a baby.
I liked the Acts and Psalms readings a lot especially the 1st quote from David and Psalm 4:3,7-8. God has given me so much joy recently and he's answered so many prayers. Psalm 4:5 was also convicting.
Thanks Joann for the recap of Brenda's talk. It's good to be reminded not to settle.
I went to some art seminars during Urbana and they talked about embracing culture. A lot of times when people groups were christianized they were forced to give up their cultures, but it shouldn't be that way. ("Bring the seeds, not a fully grown plant," this speaker said.) Some stuff from my notes:
God made us to form culture that would glorify Him. Culture is man's footprint on God's creation. Culture is not demonic. God wants to take what we have and transform it to direct it toward God. We should affirm the redemptive in culture, oppose the demonic, and restore the distorted truth.
Also I'm reading this book about arts and I thought this quote was pretty cool:
"Positively, the world is all that God made and Christ came to redeem. This includes culture because humans have never lived in isolation from each other, and when they get together they automatically create culture. It would be impossible to think of loving humans yet hating human culture, of loving individuals and yet hating their music, songs, stories, paintings, games, rituals, decorations, clothes, languages and hairstyles. God made us cultural beings."
Sorry for the extremely long entry but just wanted to share some stuff I found interesting xp
In Acts 2:43 after the people gatherng in the house had 'repented and were baptized' fear came upon every soul, which is amazing. Our obedience of course comes from a fear and also possibly respect of our Great God. How do you show fear and love at the same time? One thing I am learning very hard in France is to be polite in French and to French people. I am constantly stepping on eggshells I think but I am definitely getting more used to it. However, it is not in my nature to be polite, it's something I have to learn and observe from. Similarly, the fear of God cannot come from within us right.
And again Gloria your comment really blessed me becasue I was wrestling about the importance I give towards culture over possibly my time to my faith, and thus, I feel more relieved in some sense!
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