"You have been made in My image"

I wouldn't ordinarily publish a sermon on my blog, but I really felt that God gave me a significant message last Sunday, which I thought I would share with you, and I offer it in all humility for His glory. The texts were Genesis 1:24-31 and Colossians 1:11-22.

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Lent, coming as it does between the excitement of the Christmas season and the triumphant joy of Easter, is the ideal time to reflect upon our relationship with God and upon who we are. So, this afternoon, I invite you to close your eyes for a moment and hear God saying these words to you: "You have been made in My image, in My likeness." Of course, those words are derived from the verse in the Book of Genesis that we read a moment ago: "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,’" and I want, for the next few minutes, to think a bit more closely about what that means and what its implications are for us today.

It’s funny, but, until I was forty, I was absolutely sure that I was very different from my parents - I didn’t look the same, I didn’t think the same, and I didn’t act the same. Then my fortieth birthday arrived, and, along with all the lovely gifts and cards that I received, came something a whole lot more shocking ... I was turning into my father!

Suddenly, I started to develop the same sort of opinions and attitudes that he had: before forty, I had enjoyed a whole range of pop music and was even very tolerant of music I found difficult, but now half of it was mindless noise. And it wasn’t only the same attitudes I’d inherited on my fortieth birthday, I suddenly found myself exhibiting some of the same mannerisms, and even laughing in the same way. Not only that, but I started to look like him: the eyebrows got even bushier and the hairline started to do interesting things, too. I’m just waiting for someone to say to me, "You’re the image of your father"!

Perhaps some of you have become the spitting image of your mother - and, to be fair, I’ve got some of my mother’s attributes, as well - but one thing is certain: all of us - men and women - are made in our heavenly Father’s image, in His likeness. And that is an incredibly important thing to bear in mind for a number of reasons, the first of which is that ...

God made us to glorify Him.

You can be certain that human beings are not just another species within the world that God made. Many zoologists may argue that humans are merely another member of the animal kingdom - more advanced in some very significant ways, but nothing more, really. Yet, if we take Scripture seriously, passages like this one in Genesis, we know that just isn’t true. For instance, when we read Psalm 8, verses 5-8, in the Good News Bible, we see it says that "you [God] made man inferior only to Yourself; You crowned him with glory and honour. You appointed him ruler over everything you made; You placed him over all creation: sheep,cattle, and the wild animals, too; the birds and the fish and the creatures in the seas." The Bible - the written word of God - is quite clear that humanity is special, and not ordinary - not just one of the crowd of creatures made by the Lord.

More than that, please notice that the man and the woman are the only creatures that God talks to directly after He has made them - He doesn’t speak to the water creatures, the birds of the air, the animals on the land ... only the humans. In addition, the human is the only earthly being that is made in God’s image and given authority to rule. And, of course, while God sees that what He has done on the five previous days is good, at the end of the day on which He creates human beings - the sixth day - He sees that it is all very good. I think it’s pretty clear that, as far as the Bible is concerned, mankind is the absolute pinnacle of God’s creation and, as a result, its prime purpose has to be to bring glory to God - God is to be seen in us, and through what we do.

And that takes me neatly onto the second thing we need to know about being in God’s image, which is that ...

God made us to represent Him.

Throughout history, monarchs, emperors, and dictators have erected statues of themselves around their domains in order to remind their subjects that, although they may not be present in that area, they are still in power, still in control, and still possessing full authority.

Probably the most enduring image of the Second Gulf War in Iraq is the sight of the huge statue of Saddam Hussain being toppled from its pedestal, brought to earth and being jumped and stamped upon by jubilant Iraqis - the felling of that statue signified the ending of his tyrannical control over the country and its treatment by the people proclaimed that his authority over them was finished. Although God’s power and authority over all creation is - and always has been - absolute, He didn’t set up statues of Himself around the world in order to establish that fact; instead, He created human beings in His own image, after His own likeness, to represent Him in the world.

That doesn’t mean that man and woman were ever in any way divine, or due worship - that is only true of God - but, as Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann has put it, "[t]he image of God in the human person is a mandate of power and responsibility" ... God delegated to human beings the authority to govern the earth in a godly fashion - with the emphasis on ‘godly’ - so that the glory would go to Him; and, equally, He gave man and woman the responsibility of caring for creation in the same way that He does. When the Bible talks of mankind being given dominion over our fellow creatures, it is intended the kind of control that a shepherd has over a flock - the shepherd cares for, tends and feeds his animals - it has nothing to do with exploitation and cruelty. Of course, it was after mankind rebelled against God, after we fell from grace, that creation was tipped out of balance and we abused the position God had granted us.

We need, individually and collectively, to repent of the way we have misrepresented God to creation, to ask Him for forgiveness, and to begin to treat His creation in ways that are truly honouring to Him.

The third thing I think we must be clear about is that ...

we are still in God’s image, despite mankind’s Fall.

After we hear about how God made human beings in His own image, there is the description of how Adam and Eve sinned, by disobeying God’s command not to eat the fruit of the tree which gave knowledge of good and evil. So, can we still be thought to be in God’s image, given that we have fallen so short of His standards in so many areas of our lives? I believe that the Biblical answer is ‘Yes’, because, if we turned to Genesis 9:6, we would read that "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."

So, did anything change when Eve was deceived and Adam had a bite? It certainly did: our human moral integrity was lost; no longer did human beings continually glorify God; selfishness started to push out selfless love; and our understanding of the human role within God’s creation became confused. It’s as though human beings, when they were first created, were like excellent mirrors - not divine themselves, but beautifully reflecting the image of God throughout creation; but, then, after the Fall, the mirrors were affected and the image of God seen in each one of us became distorted.

But, distorted or not, God’s image is still present within every human being, whether they be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or complete atheist; and this means that we must act respectfully to everyone, whether we agree with them or get on with them, or not. When I was a teenager, I was on a spiritual quest, and my search for truth took me to the Quakers for a while. At that time, I read the Journal of George Fox, the founder of that movement, and one thing that struck me very powerfully was that, whenever he preached or spoke to people, he always addressed, what he called, "that of God in every man"; and it strikes me that, if we could be always aware of "that of God in every man", we would be much nicer to one another.

The image of God is still there in every human being - in people who are elderly or very young; in those who have a physical disability or deformity, as well as those who have a learning disability or dementia - everyone has been made in the image of God, if we will but only recognise it. And so, as Christians, we should go to extraordinary lengths to treat every human being with the utmost dignity - and what could be more extraordinary than loving our enemies and praying for those who hate us?

And, with that, we turn our attention to the wonderful truth that ...

God’s image is perfectly seen in Jesus Christ.

In the second letter that he wrote to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul speaks of "Christ, who is the image of God"; and, as we also read earlier, in Colossians Paul says that "Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God." When we look at the man Jesus Christ, as we consider how He lived His life, as we focus upon what He did for us, we begin to come to the realisation that this is what human likeness to God was always intended to be - where Adam and Eve failed and brought a death sentence upon us, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, triumphed and offers each one of us a reprieve. And the good news is that God has promised that all who believe in Him will be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" - when Christ returns to establish once and for all the eternal heavenly kingdom, the perfect image of God will be restored to us and we, again, shall reflect His full glory.

Conclusion:

You know, I don’t really mind becoming a little more like my dear old Dad, because he was a decent man, husband and parent; but more than that I do hope that people might also say, "He’s the image of his Father - his heavenly Father!" And that’s my prayer for each of you, too. Amen.

Pressing on towards the goal

One of the exciting things that has happened while I have been offline is that I have been appointed chaplain of the local football (soccer) club. The club is one of the oldest in England, being founded in 1867, but it folded in 2002 for lack of funds. However, it was re-formed last year and has been running Under-18 and Under-16 teams, both of which are doing well. Next year, we will have a senior team playing in a regional league, which will be really exciting.

I’ve been a soccer fan all of my life and the opportunity to be club chaplain is an ambition fulfilled. But, more than that, it brings me into contact with many unchurched people and makes me realise how easy it is for Christian ministers to become completely closeted within the Christian community. I pray that God will work through me to share His boundless love with all the players, officials and supporters of the club - I know that I will be blessed as I seek to serve Him. I'd appreciate your prayers as I undertake this new ministry, which goes alongside my church role.

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.

The Pilgrim's Back!

I'm back after a nightmare couple of months of having no access to the internet, because my computer 'died' on me. Thanks to those who have periodically checked my blog and to those who sent messages of concern while I was offline. Regular service is now resumed!

Keeping the Chain Agoing.

From Blogin Idiot's blog ...

Interesting.... keep the chain going.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal... Along with these instructions.

"At other times, you're paid for what you pick."
- I, Rigoberto Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala

"In deterence to the board meeting, Doniger had put on a blue suit, forgoing his usual khakis and sweats"
- II, Michael Criton: Timeline

“Now, I don’t know if it was because it was the accent, or if there’s more than one, but I’m gonna, I’m gonna reconfirm that for you and I’ll get back to you real quick.”
- 9/11 Commission Report (Added by Rob at UnSpace)

"Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials;"
- Celtic Daily Prayer
(The Northumbria Community - www.northumbriacommunity.org). Added by Pilgrim.

An interesting chain started. Will you pick up the chain and add it to your postings?

Newsletter notes

I know it sounds stupid, but one of the things that I find really difficult is writing my monthly notes for the church newsletter - my brain seizes up when I sit in front of the computer to write them and any sense of creativity I have creeps out of my study door. In the last five years of ministry, I've written around 60 different monthly notes and trying to think of something different to write is something I find very hard - I think there really must be some call for a website that has an archive of non-specific newsletter notes (listed under the relevant month) which pastors from all over the world can access and then insert into their church magazines.

Anyway, today, I thought I'd include my December newsletter notes in the blog. So, here they are...

"Choices, choices, choices! During December, all of us will be making lots of choices: Will it be turkey, chicken, or pork for Christmas lunch? Shall we buy the George Foreman Lean Green Toasting Machine or the psychedelic lava lamp for Aunt Maud this year? Do we stay at home for Christmas, or go to Granny's house? Across the country, there will be thousands of girls and boys wanting, even longing, to be chosen to be Mary, or Joseph, or the angel Gabriel, in the school nativity - spare a thought for those who end up playing the donkey, or an ox!

As we enter the Advent season and look forward to Christmas, laying aside those choices that we will make, perhaps we might take time to remember the choices that God made: seeing how human beings were locked into their sinfulness and floundering, God chose to do something about it Himself; leaving His heavenly throne behind, Jesus chose to be born as flesh and blood and to dwell among us, coming as a humble servant; regardless of what the religious authorities thought or said about Him, He chose to associate with sinners and tax collectors, with ill and disabled people, in order to show God's love for each one; and, totally committed to doing the will of His Father, He chose to be obedient, obedient even to death, so that human beings might enter God's eternal kingdom.

As we go to watch our children's and grandchildren's nativity plays at school, and as we sing carols and hear the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus at church, may we feel truly humble and immensely thankful knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of the world, chose to live, and to die, for each of us and for all creation.

May you all have a blessed and peaceful time this Christmas."

Here in the grace of God I stand

A joy that knows no limit,
A lightness in my spirit -
Here in the grace of God I stand.
(© Dave Bilbrough Songs/Thankyou Music)

What a difference a day makes! We’ve had a few very cold and cloudy days here in England, and it’s had an effect on my mood - I’ve been feeling a little down and subdued. But this morning, the sun is out, the sky is brilliantly blue and I myself am feeling so much more positive and happy - there really is "a lightness in my spirit"!

Memories of Shamgar

Judges 3:31 - After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Every Easter holiday time, our family goes off for 6 days to ‘Spring Harvest’, a Christian event which is held annually at two large holiday camps (at Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire, for those of you who know England). Even though the accommodation is pretty basic, we all enjoy the different activities that go on at SH: seminars on a wide variety of topics for the adults; clubs for the kids; celebration services each evening in a Big Top holding thousands of people; all-age worship every morning; and all the facilities (swimming pools, funfairs, etc.) open all day. It really is a great time for all of us.

It was at a Spring Harvest about 10 years ago (before our daughter was even born) that I heard the sermon which, for me, is the most memorable I have ever heard. It was preached by a man named Les Ball - someone I didn’t know beforehand and whom I’ve not come across since - and it was not heard in the Big Top, but in a smaller venue. Les spoke about Shamgar, one of the Judges of Israel, and focused on Judges 3:31 (above). Now, Shamgar is mentioned only twice in the Bible - in Judges 3:31 and 5:6 - so we don’t know much about him, but we do know that he saved Israel by striking down six hundred invading Philistines with just an oxgoad (i.e., a cattle prod). We don’t know why he used an oxgoad, rather than a sword, or spear, or other weapon - most likely he was out on his land when the attack came and that was all that was to hand - but he obviously used this everyday object to devastating effect.

Anyway, the points that Les made in his sermon have stayed with me this past ten years. He proposed that Shamgar:

- did what he could ...
- with what he had ...
- where he was.

Simple as that, but this was an incredibly significant message for me then, and it is still is now. There are lots of things I’d like to do for God, for my neighbour, and for my family, but I know I’ll never have the gifts, or the resources, or the opportunity, to do every one of them - the story of Shamgar freed me up to concentrate on doing those things I can, and not to be distracted by the things I can’t. It also taught me to appreciate and use those things, those qualities, those gifts with which God has already blessed me, and not become over concerned with if onlys - I know He always adequately equips everyone He calls. And it gave me the assurance that God will use me exactly where I am - if He wants me elsewhere, He will take me there.

I don’t know what Les Ball is doing now, but, if ever I meet him again, I’ll shake him by the hand and tell him that God spoke powerfully through him that day in Minehead.

Maybe you’ve got an unforgettable sermon, too?