The Oneness of the Creator

If Oneness really is the dominant theme of the Bible than it should be seen from the beginning of the written word if not before it. And Oneness should be a trait visible in the very nature of God. In the opening three chapters of Genesis (which forms sort of a mini-Bible, sharing many of the basic tenets of the Gospel,) Oneness is a dominant theme.

It is important here in the beginning to define Oneness. Wikipedia defines it as, "the quality of being united into one." So, 'oneness' is having the quality of 'one', though comprised of more than one thing. Oneness is multiple pieces being united so perfectly they function as one instead of as multiple pieces. With that definition let's look at Genesis the Oneness of the Creator.

We see the multiple forms of God as expressed in the trinity at work in creation. In Genesis 1:1-2, from the CEV,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water."

We see God creating and God the Spirit hovering, as a mother does her chicks, over the creation. We know from Colossians 1:16 that God, the Son was with the Father and was in fact, the creator:

"Everything was created by him (Jesus), everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him."

So the 'God' of Genesis 1, 2 is depicted as Oneness; the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as One are speaking, creating, and caring for the creation. And if there is any more doubt about Oneness in the creation, in Genesis 1:26, we hear God say,

"Let us make human beings in our image and likeness."

"Us" and "our" leave no doubt that God as Oneness is the creator of everything. So according to Genesis, God existed as Oneness and created the world as Oneness. God is oneness. And the beauty and wonder of creation is a testament to the power of Oneness.

Genesis 1:26 also shows us clearly God's plan for creation which we will discuss in the next article, the Oneness of Creation.

The "One" Truth

I will never forget the dicussion in my Biblical Theology class in college. Part of our work that year was to define and defend our view of the "center" (the main point) of the Bible. What appeared easy quickly became agonizing. Narrowing so much--the entire Bible--to one word is difficult. One word excludes so many others or includes too many more. What would you say? Some said holiness (logical and and maybe a little political in a holiness college). Others said, love, or mission, or life. One really smart person said, God...teacher's pet!

I felt good about love. Afterall the most famous verse says, "For God so loved..." But now it seems a little too nondescript...right up there with God. Maybe I am the teacher's pet. Or maybe it was just too broad of a word. Now that a few years have passed I see a better word: one.

Now maybe that was not the word you were thinking of but I find it powerfully descriptive. I know the Bible is like a diamond--you see one image while I see another. But as I continue to look in the Word I see, "one" everywhere. Not just as a word but as an idea, sown like the destinctive, defining thread in a tapestry. One is the picture of two or more things that join and function as one. One as defined in the word is big, powerful, and beautiful.

The truly defining characteristic that God shows from the very beginning of creation is that he is relational and desires us to be one with Him and one with each other. This is the "One" truth and I believe it is the center of the Bible.

This idea has become so big to me that I am going to continue to write about it in this blog for a few weeks. This may even evolve into a book. Needless to say with the direction The Crossing has recently taken, The "One" Truth is about as relevant as any discussion we could have. So how's your oneness...with God and others. If One is the center is the one thing we have to get right!

The Relational Discovery

Our board, staff, and small group leaders recently took a journey of self-discovery called Church Intentional Design. The result was amazing clarity about what our church is and maybe more importantly, isn't. What we are is listed below in the Way of The Crossing. But understanding what The Crossing isn't may have been more exciting for me than anything else.

For years, I have focused a lot of energy on making us relevant musically, keeping the messages culturally connected, and making sure outsiders "got it." I am now of the opinion that those efforts, however well intentioned, did not match who we were/are. Now I do not believe in being irrelevant, especially to new people. But our best way to touch them is through relationships not through worship relevance. Anyway, people are looking for friends with whom to take the journey of life. The cool thing is we can do that.

The thing that now drives me is making sure new people are getting connected with others and that those who are not new are growing in the relationships they have. The messages and the music must move us all closer to one another and to God. We analyze each gathering based on its relational value not whether it impresses anyone new or old.

That is why we can have a Sunday like July 6th where the primary focus is on people getting to know each other. Almost all of the spiritual growth that occurred in the New Testament happened in a relational context (in a culture by the way that was much more relationally oriented already.) Being Western, we are much more separated from one another than any NT culture was. In fact, in spite of the "strangeness" of a Sunday like July 6th, (we had food and did some intentional relationship development through games) I think a few more Sundays like it would do us a great deal of good.

Simply put, many of us are just not used to an emphasis on relationships. Getting to know other people better and becoming more connected to each other hardly seems as important as hearing a sermon or singing a worship song. But think of this. In Jesus last prayer to the Father before going to the cross he prayed for one thing primarily...let them (his disciples and all those who come after them) be one! When he could have prayed for anything-spiritual growth, faith, preaching power, you name it-he prayed that they would be relationally strong.

I have begun to believe that something monumental has occurred. I believe we have seen something foundational at The Crossing...we'll call it the Relational Discovery. We will be exploring it and expanding on it a lot over the next several months.

A Day In Children's Church

This past Sunday I got Pastor Karl to speak for me so I could lead Children's Church. Shelli came in and helped me with music. I learned a few things that might help us with the kids in the future. They said it was good (shew!) so I asked them what made it good. Here is what I learned.

First, they are smart so you better work hard to make it meaningful. They can tell when something is not put together well. Second, make things interesting because they are not easy. They have been exposed to some pretty outstanding things and they have sophisticated, highly developed senses. They loved the music. It had high energy but also some meaningful worship songs too. They loved going outside and seeing an illustration relevant to the lesson. (We looked at weeds in the grass as an example of anger: it is something that takes root and robs us of spiritual life.) They loved the "Pastor R.D. Dollars" I made to purchase things from the candy box I had. (I took dollars away from them to demonstrate that when we lose our temper we lose more than our temper.) Thirdly, I realized that they have spiritual needs and need God's work in their lives. They are very aware of their needs and want God to help them. At the end we prayed for them personally to be strong in the specific ways that each of them gets mad. One asked God to help them when they don't get want they want at the store. Another prayed that their anger would be under control when they lost a ballgame. It was truly a meaningful time. And I left feeling as if I have been in just as meaningful a time of ministry as when I preach on Sunday mornings to adults.

This has prompted me to challenge everyone to get involved in Children's Church. Janine and Glenn are so gifted but they need our help and they will help you. We have great curriculum that will show you exactly how to be effective with the kids. You can be a part of the big things that are happening with those "little people." Contact Janine at richesg@bellsouth.net or call the church office at 678-546-5355.