Ryan Gawrych, Pastoral Resident, discusses the importance of God being creator and that creation is good despite sin's impact. They also talk about engaging with culture and the countercultural aspect of believing in God as the creator.
God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule.
Engaging with culture allows for transformation and redemption to take place, enabling Christians to be agents of change for the common good.
Deep dives
The Theology of Catechism Question 5
Catechism Question 5 focuses on the theology of God's creation. The shorter answer highlights that God created all things and that His creation was very good. Pastor Ryan discusses the importance of memorizing this concise answer, especially for parents. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of God's creation flourishing under His loving rule. The longer answer mentions that God created all things by His powerful word. The discussion explores the idea that God's word in Scripture can be interacted with and is living. The conversation also touches on how humans, as part of God's creation, reflect both the physicality of the natural world and the heavenly aspect of their spirits. It encourages Christians to engage with culture, understanding that although it has been corrupted by sin, it can still be a place for the common good and flourishing.
Creation as Very Good and the Impact of the Fall
A key theme in Catechism Question 5 is the declaration that God's creation was very good. The conversation highlights Genesis 1:31, which emphasizes how God saw everything He made and deemed it very good. The discussion explores the impact of the fall on the directionality of creation, rather than its structural goodness. The distinction between structure and direction is made, where structure remains intact, but directionally things have gone astray. The conversation also acknowledges that the fall affects not only humans but all of creation, resulting in broken relationships and the groaning of creation. However, it is important to recognize that sin cannot make bad what God has made good.
Engaging with Culture and the Countercultural Nature of Christianity
A critical insight from Catechism Question 5 is the call for Christians to engage with culture. The conversation challenges the idea that Christians should retreat or view themselves as separate from the world. Instead, it encourages believers to understand that engaging with culture allows for transformation and redemption to take place. By embracing the countercultural nature of Christianity, Christians can be agents of change, reflecting God's good creation and working for the common good. It is important to strike a balance between engaging culture and being aware of the potential for malformation. Community plays a crucial role in this engagement, as Christians move into spaces together, supporting and encouraging one another in their pursuit of being light in the world.
In this episode, Nate talks with Pastoral Resident Ryan Gawrych about New City Catechism Question 5:
What else did God create?
God created all things by his powerful Word, and all his creation was very good; everything flourished under his loving rule.
They discuss the importance of God being creator, and especially that creation is good, though sin does affect it. They also talk about the importance of culture and about engaging with the world that we live in rather than retreating from it.
And, Ranger Rick is still apparently around and you can check it out here.
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