1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2He was in the beginning with God.
Today on The Meeting House, we begin a 25-day "Advent-ure," coinciding with the Advent season. Certainly our walk with Christ can be an adventure, as He walks with us in our daily activities.
We recognize that He is the Word who was made flesh, and He wants to bring His truth alive in our hearts. He desires to make Himself known to us, and for us to recognize His work in our lives. He was there at the very beginning, and His plan of redemption was being worked throughout human history - He executed it perfectly, and we can rejoice in His reliability.
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In Genesis 1, we see the amazing story of creation, and gain some insight into God's plan for humanity:
26Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
In Colossians 1, we read this passage about Jesus:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
So, God the Father created the heavens and the earth, but we see the other members of the Trinity were involved as well. Genesis 1 also tells us that the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. Jesus is called in Colossians the image of the invisible God. So, as Jesus said to His disciples, when they saw Him, they have seen the Father.
So, Jesus' life did not begin at the moment of Mary's pregnancy. He was there before the creation of the world, and I think that tells us that God's plan for humanity was in motion even before Adam and Eve were created and before they willfully departed from the ways of God. Jesus was there, and His coming was foretold throughout the pages of the Scriptures. He is the One who can redeem a fallen heart and His Word gives us light for our lives. He shows us how to live and empowers us to do it. The coming of Jesus to earth was just another step in the grand master plan set in motion by our grand Creator. Because humanity sinned, we needed a Savior - and God had already provided Him for us!
The influence of the Bible on the founding of our nation has come under closer scrutiny in a textbook battle in Texas. ChristianNews.net reports that the Texas Board of Education has approved a number of proposed textbooks that had generated controversy this year over their assertion that the Scriptures were influential in the founding of the nation.
The 10-5 vote on Friday was completely along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats in opposition. In all, 89 books and software programs were approved, with six, created by Worldview Software, being tossed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt also withdrew a book at the last minute.
The website had reported that opponents of the textbooks took issue with a number of factors, including the assertion that the laws of Moses were an influence on America’s Founding Fathers. Others are cited as influencing the founding of the nation include Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin and English judge William Blackstone, known for his respected “Blackstone’s Commentaries” on the law.
Board member Ken Mercer is quoted as saying, “Moses was not a Founding Father. However, I believe he did influence our Founding Fathers."
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, a school district that had originally approved a Bible-based curriculum has reversed that decision, according to Christian Today. Hobby Lobby President Steve Green and the Chairman of the Green family's new Museum of the Bible, Dr. Jerry Pattengale, had developed the course to coincide with the museum, which will open in Washington DC in 2017.
Mustang Public Schools in Mustang, Oklahoma had unanimously approved the Bible course in April, but reversed their decision after receiving complaints from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and the ACLU. Dr. Pattengale confirmed the district's decision, and said, "Museum of the Bible remains committed to providing an elective high school Bible curriculum and continues work on an innovative, high-tech course that will provide students and teachers with a scholarly overview of the Bible's history, narrative and impact."
These two instances remind us that there are those that do ascribe the involvement of God in human affairs, and regard the Bible and Biblical principles as significant, that should be taught to students today. At Christmas, we celebrate the Biblical story of the redemption of humanity. A story that dates back to before creation. A story in which we can be integrated in a powerful way. It's important that we recognize God's story, and that we are all part of it - He sent His Son, who was there at the creation, so that He could come to earth to die in our place, so that we could be saved.
Also, at Christmas, we have scores of people that are celebrating a holiday that is rooted in Biblical fact. Perhaps this time of year, when people are being sensitized to an event that is spiritual in nature, it will provide opportunities for them to consider who Jesus is. And, it could provide an opportunity for each of us to think more deeply about who Jesus is to us.
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