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WHAT WE BELIEVE
The good, the bad and the very good

Reuben Pauls

The events of last week are fresh in my mind as I write this. A young boy, 12 years old, the son of a friend, died because he ingested his father’s Methadone (a drug prescribed to assist heroin addicts in recovery). He had chosen to move home from foster care because at age 12 it was his choice to make. His reason for returning home was “to help Dad get over his problem”. Imagine the total despair which the father is experiencing now. What was intended for good ended up terribly wrong. As I ministered at the funeral, the overarching feeling was: “This shouldn’t have happened.”

Article 3 of our Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith begins with something “very good”, creation, but quickly moves through a phenomenal change to something “very bad”, a world in need of redemption. The speed within this Article mirrors the biblical record. Little time is spent pondering the “very good”, because all too quickly the freedom granted humanity was abused. Humanity was God’s crowning act of creation, designed for fellowship and worship and given ruling authority within creation, together with the opportunity to choose – but humanity chose wrongly.

Humanity’s wilful disobedience caused God’s “very good” creation to deteriorate rapidly. This deterioration is expressed by words like “distorted”, “alienated”, “bondage” and “decay”. The downward spiral of humanity longing for freedom began because humanity was granted freedom to choose, and chose badly. Talk about good intentions going bad!

Part of the “going bad” applies to the relationship between male and female. God’s image, described in Genesis 1:27 (“In the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”), consists of a complementary relationship between men and women. To say that either gender is the crowning act of God’s creation violates the biblical concept of “God’s image”; both are necessary, and both are intended to work together in harmony. Yet this is often not how male–female relationships really operate in this world. These relationships are also fallen and await redemption.

As the Article concludes, hope emerges. The future will see a “new creation” where restoration and healing of brokenness will replace the effects of wilful decision-making by humanity. As Christ completes His work, the “very good” will again prevail.

Reuben Pauls is pastor of River of Life Church in Sorrento, B.C. and former executive minister for the Canadian MB Conference.

CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN CONFERENCES OF MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCHES Article 3

Creation and Humanity Creation We believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and they were very good. All of creation expresses God’s sovereign will and design, but remains distinct from the Creator. The universe belongs to God, who takes care and delight in sustaining it. Creation declares God’s wisdom and power, calling all to worship Him. Humanity Humans, the crowning act of creation, were designed to live in fellowship with God and in mutually helpful relationships with each other. God created them male and female in the image of God. The Creator gave them the mandate to rule and care for creation as a sacred trust, and the freedom to obey or disobey him. Through the willful disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. As a result, human nature is distorted and people are alienated from God and creation. Creation is under the bondage of decay. Humans and all creation long to be set free. The New Creation Sin, guilt, and death will not prevail. God will create a new heaven and a new earth in which there will be no evil, suffering, and death. The first signs of this new creation are already present in those who accept God’s forgiveness through Christ. In Christ all things are being reconciled and created anew. Genesis 1-3; Psalm 8:6; Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 24:1-2; Psalm 89:11; Psalm 95:5; Psalm 104; Proverbs 8:22-31; Isaiah 40:12-31; Isaiah 44:24; John 1:1-4, 10; John 17:5; Romans 1:19-20; Romans 5:17, 21; Romans 6:4; Romans 8:18-25; I Corinthians 8:6; I Corinthians 15:20-27; II Corinthians 3:18; II Corinthians 4:6; II Corinthians 5:16-19; Galatians 3:28; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 1:4, 9-10; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:8-11; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:13. View complete Confession of Faith

 
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Last modified December 7, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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