We talked about Peter’s denial of Christ in John chapter 18.  Peter’s denial looks like this, “I am not.”  Exact quote there…

This contrasts strongly with Christ’s echo of “I AM”, which originates from Exodus where the LORD gives the name of “I AM” before Moses.  God is more an existence as associated with the things that God positively IS,  whereas Peter’s existence (in this statement) is associated with what he IS NOT.  The only way Peter, who has been named an “IS NOT”, can become an “IS” is through Christ and God the Father – the original I AM.  This is a powerful act of forgiveness.

As Christians, how do we present ourself as an “IS NOT” before the I AM?  And then, how do we let God, the I AM, forgive and restore us into a position of  becoming?

How do we follow Christ in the way that he offered forgiveness to Peter in Peter’s lacking?

How do we come to Christ as an “is not” and let Christ be what allows our “becoming”?  For, as we talked about, we ‘are not’ and Christ ‘is’.

And then, how do we live among others and join with others in ‘becoming?’

(If the way I am saying all this does not make sense, let me know (we talked about this on Wednesday, so those of you who were there may understand, but it’s okay if you don’t))

Since there is no Wednesday night church this week, let’s talk about something different (although not completely separate).  I love the creation narrative and what it tells us about our relationship to God.  To make the emphasis on the narrative’s poetic nature, I’ve paraphrased it.  This isn’t to say that looking at the passage as anything other than poetry is bad, but in the original language it definitely is in a poetic structure, so I think it would be fun and interesting for us to read it in that way too.

So, here is a quick poetic paraphrase of Genesis 1 – 3.  What does the creation story (without discussing evolution & 7-day creation) tell us about ourselves and our relatioship to God and the world?  And of course, let’s keep and/or connect this in the context of covenant, holiness, redemption, and (as we’ve been talking about in Sunday School and SnL – for the attenders of those) valuing people.

There was a time when God created earth and sky
There was chaos and darkness, but Breath and Life were in conversation
And from it God spoke for light – light is day and dark is night.
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the first day.

God spoke to the waters, calling for sky
The water birthed vapors into space – colliding, collecting, clouding
Between water and water-child the sky gathered
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the second day.

Then God aimed to dry the land
Its razor broke the surface parting waters with earth
God spoke Life into the earth raising vegetation and trees and all things green
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the third day.

God saw still a disorder in the light
God spoke light into organized orbs – the lords of day and night
Dwelling in Space, in the created expanse of sky, were Sun, Moon, and Stars
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the fourth day.

God saw fertility in the water and sky
And spoke life into the seas – the great whale; the minute bacteria
And spoke life into the air where birds now fly
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the fifth day.

God spoke living creatures out of the earth
Then God designed a new animal – “In Our own Image,” God designed
Formed from dirt, filled with Spirit-breath, the human creation awoke
“This is Good.” And evening to morning became the sixth day.

Earth and sky were created and blessed
And their inhabitants within it
The seventh was a day sanctified and consecrated
A day of rest; for God rested from the work of creation.

Now man and woman were made as husband and wife
Pure, naked, and unveiled – they communed unashamed.

The serpent interrupted and spoke to them, concerning
Forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil
“Attempt a taste and you shall not die – the eye of God should be your eye”
They were coaxed and thus persuaded

They then were burdened by their lacking
So that their nakedness brought shame, then hiding
God sought community with them, but they denied God for their shame.
Hence, outside the garden their home became.

Hey young friends!

We’ve got next Wednesday off, so we have extra time to discuss!  Let’s continue talking about covenant (and I am loving that you have figured out how important it is to talk about holiness as a part of covenant).

Let’s also though, begin to talk about redemption.

What does it mean to be redeemed?

What does it mean to redeem?

Seriously, your thoughts have been fantastic – I hope we keep thinking about these things and that being a Christian begins to be more real and meaningful.  For all of us.

Okay. We’ll do some discussion words. To go with the topic for the evening, let’s continue some discussion on the idea of covenant and keep trying to think of how covenant is a part of our whole life.

“Covenant” Go!

I’ve begun this blog so that we can continue to talk about the thoughts and ideas thrown around at church and in youth group.  It is my hope that we can take seriously what it means to continue to be Christians outside the walls of the church.  The youth group is called Into The World Ministries and I think this would be a great place to start conversation.

If you noticed, the header on this site is a crossed-through circle.  A lot of the time, I think that we apply this symbol to the world – calling it ‘worldly’ and judging it.  So, here is the first question I think it would good to talk about: What is our relationship (as Christians) to the World?

And just for fun – and maybe to help think about this question – let’s do this poll: