Each Sunday, I pray that we are faithful to God, His Word, and His people. In baseball terms, I’m praying that we have a really good at-bat. Move the runner over, score a run, lay down a bunt, and help my team. I’m grateful that, Sunday after Sunday, our team at CLF has tried to be faithful. No pretense, no hidden agendas…be faithful. This past Sunday was another faithful Sunday. Sunday upon Sunday in the hearts of God’s people, with our hearts raised to God, believing that He will bring the increase. God has been good to us.
Human Flourishing
Genesis 2 reminds us that God loves us and will provide for all we need. Implied in this understanding is that God wants humans to be “truly human” and to flourish in our humanity. Otherwise, He wouldn’t give us all we need. He would withhold from us, or He would not reveal His ways. God’s ways and His provision are for our thriving and joy.
That’s what makes Genesis 2 so appealing. It is not a debate about gender and gender roles, although those are found in that chapter. Genesis 2 was written to show us that in God’s great wisdom, love, and care for humans, He gave us everything we need, and part of that provision is two genders with different roles. This means the two genders and different roles are for our joy and flourishing.
So, when we look around the world today and see the confusion about any of the issues listed in Genesis 2, we need to realize that it’s because sin and Satan have clouded our vision of what God intended and why God gave us these things. There is no confusion with God. The confusion is with us. We want something other than what He lovingly gave us. That’s the issue with us and our world.
The Church: An Outpost of Heaven
One thing you’ll notice in your bible is that it begins in a garden/paradise and ends in a garden/paradise. In between is the stuff of struggle and hardship. But in the bible, there’s this place called “the Church” that is to have the aroma of heaven in it. It’s to be a place of relational joy, human growth, and worship. The Church is not heaven and cannot be heaven, but it can have a sense of heaven.
For instance, it’s obvious when you read Genesis 1-2 that there are order, rhythm, respect, and genders in their proper place, and there’s a relationship with God. When you come to church, there should be some of the same things. Why? This is why Jesus redeemed us and empowered us.
In a Genesis 3 world, all we know is chaos, confusion, disrespect, and conflict. But when we come to the Church, we should forgive one another as God has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32). We should strive for unity (Eph. 4:1-2). We should honor the different genders and gender roles (1 Tim. 2-3 and 1 Cor. 11). In heaven, there will be no sin, division, or conflict. A church, with Christ at the center, will have a similar feel or aroma.
From the Cheap Seats
- I’m in a sad place as a Dallas Cowboys fan. In the ’90s, every year, I thought we’d win the Super Bowl. Now, I’m simply rooting for us to win a playoff game. Unreal.
- Speaking of the playoffs: every game was intense and good. How did the Jaguars win after being down 27-0? Josh Allen needs to get better. If the Ravens handed the ball off to J.K. Dobbins at the goal line, they would’ve won. He seems to agree.
- My favorite meme about the Georgia destruction of TCU: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnPtYgvphYA/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=. But wow, I didn’t see that coming. Win by two touchdowns, yes. But 65-7??
- One thing I do like about the Super Bowl being later on February 12th…Pitchers and catches report the next day!
Have a great week!
In Christ,
Dave York
