XM Radio The Torch 31

Although this is not a theological post PER SE, it is of Christian concern. For those of you who don't already know XM satellite radio has decided to cancel their edgier Christian rock station channel 31 The Torch. Please take a minute and sign the online petition and let XM know what you think of this decision. http://www.petitiononline.com/xmtorch/

Salvation

What is God's intent for man's salvation? My experience is that most Christians think of salvation as a matter of heaven or hell. Salvation to them is only in relation to the eternal destiny of man's soul. My current study of the story of man's creation it seems to me that salvation is much more. In the beginning it appears God created man and intended for them to have a relationship. This relationship was broken by the disobedience of man. The intent of the Creator was then to restore the original relationship. This was done by making Christ sin for us. Christ bore our sin in his body and through acceptance of Him we can have a restored relationship with the Creator. If my thinking is correct salvation is for today not simply the future. It seems to me that salvation is for those who desire to have a relationship now with their Creator and not simply to get a "fire insurance" policy for the future.

Catechism 13-15

I was preparing for our Adult Bible Fellowship and thinking about the Westminster Catechism questions 13, 14, and 15 which has to do with Adam and Eve and the first sin. At first it seems like the first sin was almost petty. It is like a child snatching a candy when he knows he shouldn't. But upon further reflection the first sin is tragic and not petty at all consider the following:

1. Man had the complete freedom to do right and obey God. He had no propensity to disobey and even Satan could not make him disobey but only cause man to doubt what God had said was correct.
2. Man was forewarned of the consequence of disobedience. It was not a surprise the he went and hid from God after he disobeyed. He knew what it was obey and instead he chose to disobey. When he disobeyed he knew what was coming so he went and hid from God.
3. The person man disobeyed was the person he knew to be God and the creator of everything, and everything God had decreed as good.

Because of these I have concluded that the first sin is surely tragic and not petty at all. Thankfully the second Adam, Jesus, came to obey and fully keep what Adam could not. Thanks be to God who has sent his Son who knew no sin to become sin for us.

March of the Penguins vs. The Grizzly Man

Recently I have been thinking about the uniqueness of man and specifically as created in God's image. Modern thinking is that man is just an animal. Two movies I recently saw reaffirm to me that this modern thinking is false. The two movies were March of the Penguins and Grizzly Man. The main subject in the first are obviously penguins. The second movie focused primarily on a man and how he lived with and ultimately killed by a bear. When a penguin is attacked by a predator the other animals not being attacked scatter. This is a natural instinct for self preservation. In contrast when the grizzly man was being attacked and eaten by a bear his companion attempted to help him by hitting the bear with a frying pan. Even as he was being eaten he begged his companion to flee for her own life. She did not and was also killed and eaten by the bear. I believe whether you want to admit it or not this innate response of mankind to help the helpless is a support that there is something different in man. The story of man's creation in the first couple chapters in the Bible in Genesis stated clearly that man is different from the other animals because he has the "imago dei". This is the theological Latin term meaning the image of God. If you accept the Biblical account then man was created in God's image that is what separates man from the rest of animalkind. In this so called modern age it is high time that man start reflecting the image of God and stop acting more like an animal. For more on the imago dei see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imago_Dei

Catechism Question 1

This year I have been spending a lot of time studying the Westminster Shorter Catechism. We have been reading a study guide by G.I. Williamson as part of the kids schooling. I have also been teaching a Adult Bible class on Sunday mornings based on the Catechism. The first question and answer familiar to most Christians. It states that the "chief end" or ultimate goal of man is to glorify God. I don't think the catechism intends that we should try to make God glorious or more glorious for that matter. God is already glorious period end of story! I believe the catechism intends to remind us that everything we do in life, even the mundane, should ultimately give God credit. First Corinthians 1:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.