Friday, September 15, 2006
God's Image
Genesis records God saying: "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." Then we read in Ephesians 1:23 that the church is the fullness of Christ, who, according to Colossians 2:9 is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. So we can say that the church is representative of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Just as he made man in his image, so he is making the church in his image. I'm wondering if this might not be one of the reasons why there is so much controversy as to what the church should be like. We really have difficulty fully comprehending the Trinity. With the church being made in the likeness of God, should it be any wonder that we have fuzzy thinking about the church?
Therein lies the problem. We don't like fuzzy thinking. We want answers for everything. It is impossible to be in control when one doesn't fully understand. So we fill in the gaps out of our own understanding, thus making the church more like this world than like God. In doing so, we remove the mystery Scripture associates with Christ and his church. Could this be a primary reason why studies show people's interest in spiritual things at an all time high while their interest in the church is reaching an all time low?
Just as he made man in his image, so he is making the church in his image. I'm wondering if this might not be one of the reasons why there is so much controversy as to what the church should be like. We really have difficulty fully comprehending the Trinity. With the church being made in the likeness of God, should it be any wonder that we have fuzzy thinking about the church?
Therein lies the problem. We don't like fuzzy thinking. We want answers for everything. It is impossible to be in control when one doesn't fully understand. So we fill in the gaps out of our own understanding, thus making the church more like this world than like God. In doing so, we remove the mystery Scripture associates with Christ and his church. Could this be a primary reason why studies show people's interest in spiritual things at an all time high while their interest in the church is reaching an all time low?
# posted by Carman : 1:38 PM
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Wow - this is very interesting. That would lend to the structured institutionalization of modern church: man's desire to have a textbook answer for everything, which ends up crippling our ability to actually serve in the manner for which we were designed.
jovial cynic,
You nailed it! We have removed the awesome wonder of God, his kingdom and his church by trying to explain and construct things we know little or nothing about. We would be much better off if we could be honest and just admit that we don't know. But fear of losing respect and control prevents it.
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You nailed it! We have removed the awesome wonder of God, his kingdom and his church by trying to explain and construct things we know little or nothing about. We would be much better off if we could be honest and just admit that we don't know. But fear of losing respect and control prevents it.
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