Science, creation, and diss tracks

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Big Ideas

• Context changes how we understand things
• We don’t think science and scripture are in conflict

Reading Genesis

• The biggest thing to understand when approaching Genesis is that it is responding to the other belief systems around it.
• In order to get what the writers of Genesis are trying to tell their audience, we need to see where they agree, and where they disagree with the other beliefs around them. Those similarities and differences show what’s important, what’s shared, and what is shockingly different.

Genesis

• All ancient near east creation stories started with chaos, deep waters
• Naming = creating
• Genesis isn’t about how everything was made. It is about why things are the way they are.
• These stories are about purpose and function
• Genesis starts with peace, not conflict
• God creates the world, not competing gods
• He rests daily. Other gods created because they could not rest
• Man is given dominion, made to rule
• Other gods made man to serve them. God serves us, and makes us to serve one another with him
• Other gods create man in order to feed the gods. God feeds us.
• Other gods are annoyed by man. God delights in us and tells us to multiply.

Takeaways

• Who is God? He is hospitable, he made a place for us, he is fantastically good
• Who are we? We are rulers in THIS cosmos, not escaping to a distant heaven
• God won’t give up on the good thing he’s started.
• Salvation = RESTORATION OF FUNCTION

Questions

• Have you heard this perspective on Genesis before?
• What does it change about what you think about God?
• What does it change about what you think about yourself?
• Is it easier to believe that God made you with delight in order to care for the cosmos with him if it’s been believed for thousands of years?