BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW ESSAY
CHARLIE MITCHELL
THEO 104-D59
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”
(2 Chronicles 7:14). When one speak of, “foundational to the Christian faith is the belief that mankind is created in the image of God” (Biblical Worldview Essay instructions).It goes without saying, we cannot overlook the passage that indoctrinate our thoughts of this phenomena event. Very early in the writing of the bible, God set the stage for what his intentions were to be. The writing of Genesis sets that stage in the creation, from the first verse, “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1). Through the final creation, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
Thesis: There is no argument, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us” (Etzel, Gutierrez, 2012). The question lies in, is he (man) living out that creed? Has man’s perspective of God’s commandments gone off the beaten path? Where did man sway?
In my profession, there are no less than 10,000 personnel that makeup our company structure. All with varying demographic makeup, yet all are considered as one from our CEO perspective. We have a product to market to the general public, each employee are given the necessary tools to provide that service. Be it a computer terminal, a set of product features, or a screwdriver to complete the order process. Even the support staff, that do not have direct contact with the customer, plays an integral part in the process of satisfying the customer needs. Although, with the different levels of skills, interactions, and support, all work as a well-oiled cogwheel. No matter the nature or position the co-worker holds, we are all created as one, with one common goal customer satisfaction. No one person can do one specific job, given any employee can step in and complete the customer process. This principle of operation illustrates the same course God has for his creation. This synopsis lives out God’s purpose of man, “So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, if man is created in God’s image, we are all of the same mold.
Our department makes up a small portion of our company personnel structure. As allured to earlier, our company has a complexity of ethnic background, as in our department as well. While not directly connected to our customers base, we are one of the cogwheels in the company overall structure. We consider ourselves as a cohesive team, with different backgrounds, demographics and educational achievements. Yet we all hold the same philosophy as the scripture so eloquently states, “But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:14).
Thinking along the lines of equality and being equal, mankind creation so dictate our equality with one another. Yet I’ve noticed so many a states south of The Mason-Dixon Line takes a deem view of scripture, “But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6. It seems most take on the person not of God’s intent and purpose. Some of them think as the movie of the 1980’s, “Above the Law” (Whitlock, 2005).
In our household as a youth, our parents instilled the Golden-Rule doctrine that, “you must treat others as you wish to be treated.” And in Luke 6:31 it also teaches us, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” God created purpose were for his creatures to have a fellowship, and worship The Creator. Often I ask myself, who died and left them in charge of an entire group of people (people below The Mason-Dixon Line)? Why do some not follow the scripture, Leviticus 25:17 instructs us to do, “Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear God: for I am the Lord your God.” Surely god’s creation of Adam and Eve, did not take that viewpoint. “They had direct communication with God” (Article; Original Creation of Man in The image of God). Beyond the resurrection, and even today with the introduction and passing of several equality bills before legistrature bodies, man continues to live not only above the law, but mostly seriously “God’s law/”
How old is the earth? From a Masoretic calculation, “experts has predicted earth to be 6,000 years old (Hoage, 2009).” Just as each of us were given a birth certificate, so has earth formation. Genesis 1:1 gives us earth’s birth certificate, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Therefore, from a biblical worldview, that’s one less argument to debate. After 6,000 years in existence have not perfected the purpose of his existence. It is so noted throughout scripture that mankind were created in the image of God, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Mark 10:6). “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be” (Mark 13:19). “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:” (Revelation 3:14). Man has fallen short of god’s commandments, and given of himself to the beast of the fields and birds of the air as prey.
In my workplace, even with resentment by one Atheist co-worker, we have discussion frequently on how man sins has condemned mankind. In our talks of god, sin and various topics of Christianity. Our Atheist co-worker contributes his knowledge and experiences in the discussion. That leaves me with the conclusion, even Satan knew the many miracles and power of Jesus Christ. Satan, as our co-worker isn’t totally naïve of the power of God and his Son, Jesus Christ. “And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for life” Job 2:4). If Satan can have commune with The Creator of the Universe, what makes it that man himself can’t? After all he is Our Father. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6-7).
References
Biblical Worldview Instruction.
Etzel, Gabriel, Gutierrez, Ben, Praxis: Beyond Theory, 2012, Academy Publishing services Inc., ISBN: 1600365353.
Hoage, Bodie, Article: How Old is the Earth, February 21, 2009.
Hold Bible, King James Version
Mackenzie, John, Article: A Brief History of The Mason-Dixon Line, APEC/CANR, University of Delaware.
Online Excerpt: Original Creation of Man in the Image of God.
Whitlock, Brian T., GOWBTW: Above The Law, February 9, 2005.