You ever had this gnawing thought you can’t get rid of? Something you walk away from, but always find yourself returning to? That’s where I’ve been for a while now. Bear with me a minute.
Genesis tells us God created Adam and Eve…in His image. That’s a bit of an unorthodox gift for the father and mother of the human race, right? It’s one we don’t even completely understand. But, I am confident that part of the gift He instilled in us is the power to create…almost like Him. We can’t create something out of nothing as He did (ex nihilo), but history has shown that we are very good at using the building blocks He shared with us to formulate incredible and life-altering things. He made us to be agents of creation under His Headship and not simply the outcome of creation we find in everything else around us. For this, we have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for.
But, and here’s where I’m getting to my point, the other side of this coin is unavoidable. The joy with which He imbued us with His authority to create is tainted and even overshadowed by the way we wield what He has given us. Taking off the glasses of what we’ve been conditioned to think is normal, have you consciously looked around our culture? Listened? Have you given consideration to many of the products that spring forth from the inspiration of our hands and minds?
We create art, expressing the commentary of our lived experiences for others to perceive, assigning honor to the dimmed concept of “love” we’ve contrived and seemingly glorifying everything and everyone else except the One Who created us and has shown us perfect love…because we can.
We create songs and poetry, stringing together notes and words that directly contradict Who He is or who we are, simply that we and our points of view may be venerated instead of Him or His…because we can.
We teach our children theories and philosophical drivel informed only by the misguided rumblings of humanistic tendency, masquerading it as individualized brands of truth instead of pointing to the only Truth He provided to us…because we can.
We readily and handily exert our creative authority in so many ways, but the ensuing outcome is more often than not twisted, inwardly focused and sinfully damning. And yet, we keep doing it…because we can.
Sigh. And that’s where I find myself stuck. Why? Each day, I look into the eyes of a whole bunch of junior image bearers of God…children who are looking to me and to you to teach them how to wield the talents God has given them. Be mindful…children only learn what we as adults teach them or allow them to be taught, whether gloriously right or tragically wrong. Lead them well as they discover the glorious purpose behind their ingenuity and creativity and the authority/responsibility that comes with it.
