“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephens University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt“
God is the creator of all things. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit ‘God is not the creation’ [1] and He is not a human being. He is above all things – bigger and better. All life, all physicality, all we see and touch originated from God. God has provided, and continues to provide all that we need.
We, human beings, are imago Dei, created in His image but because of our sin we are no longer like Him. We are created, yet are also creative but we are not creative like God. We are sub-creators; we reflect the creative nature of God but do not emulate it.
We cannot be God but we strive to be like Him. We are a fallen people separated from God by sin but God has allowed us back in through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. God delivered justice on Jesus to allow us to become what we are meant to be.
We have access to the presence of God through Jesus and we are His Kingdom on earth. The Kingdom of God is where His work is being done and where His power is manifest. Gods work can be done through us and His power manifest in us, therefore His Kingdom is expressed in the world by His people doing His work. When Gods people are living in obedience His Kingdom is present. In the church we see the Kingdom of God in our worship, our teaching, our prayers, our serving one another. Gods Kingdom is where healing and deliverance and peace are found. If these things are in the world, in our relationships or in our church then that is where the Kingdom of God is.
Our final destiny is eternal life (which isn’t final at all). We are already living eternal lives. The way we live now, however, is only a dim reflection of how we will live in heaven. “Earth and heaven were made to overlap with one another, not fitfully, mysteriously, and partially as they do at the moment, but completely, gloriously and utterly” [2]. This is where human history is going and, in its current form, is where it will end. Those who choose God as their King and accept his grace will live in this complete kingdom as true image bearers of the living God.
[1] Wilt, Dan: Essentials in Worship Theology: The nature of the human being p26
[2] N.T. Wright. Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense p.217
Good work, my man!