God and His Creation

Paul Holland

APA

THEO 201-B32

God is active in His creation in many ways, “The God of the Bible is an active architect, builder, freedom fighter; advocate of the poor and oppressed, just judge, empathetic counselor, suffering servant, and triumphant deliverer” (Elwell, 1984, p. 494). Being a children/family pastor for almost two decades I will focus on two entities that God has created—the church and the family.

There are many views of the church’s role as there are theologians and experts and even churchgoers. But I would like to suggest that there seems to be one primary function of the church in society. As one of the two primary entities that God has positioned to have influence in the world, the church is uniquely and strategically placed on this planet to display God’s glory to the world, to show the world who Jesus is—to turn on a light in a dark world. “The one essential ministry of the church is, the ministry of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (Elwell, 1984, p. 248).

A study in a prior class into the book of Revelation takes this concept a step further and gives us a powerful metaphor for the church’s purpose: the lampstand in the tabernacle. The Apostle John writes in the opening chapter of Revelation (1:20) that Jesus compares the church to a lampstand; it is a strong reminder of the church’s responsibility. Anyone reading these words in the early church would have immediately understood the image of the lampstand. In Exodus, it was one of the few pieces of furniture that God commanded to be put in the tabernacle. God gave specific instructions on how the lampstand was to be built, the kind of oil it should burn, where it was to be placed, and what it existed to illuminate.

One of the most important details about the lampstand was where it was placed, next to the table that held the “shewbread,” the loaves known as the “bread of presence.” The lampstand was positioned strategically to do one thing: cast its light on the table and on the...