The Goings on and Work of Sam Mahlstadt

This post will get The Conversation rolling. In case you haven’t read what The Conversation is, click here.

Let me begin by stating the obvious. I am one who believes that Jesus came to live, suffer, die and be resurrected to set things right between God and His creation. So my end of conversation will always be grounded in this belief. However, I would love to have an open dialogue with those who believe differently than I believe.

Let’s begin the conversation with Creation. Genesis 1:26, in the Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation:

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.”

Scripture says that we (humans) are made in the image and likeness of God. This means a couple things. First of all, when mankind was created, God was creating beings that would reflect Himself. When we look at the words image and likeness, two different concepts are at work. Image is something we would equate to a stamp – a direct replica. Likeness is more like an aura or personality, or as it Peterson renders it “reflecting our nature.” However, in the Hebrew language, even though the two words “image” and “likeness” have different basic meanings, they are used synonymously. Some scholars believe that the words compliment each other, rather than compete in meaning.

Either way, it is clear that God has created mankind to reflect his divinity. There are many creation stories in different religions, many with gods who are either bored or mad or vengeful, who create humans as their play things. In the creation story found in Genesis, however, God is creating humans to reflect His very nature.

Let’s remember that in the Genesis account of creation, the audience of this text would have been the Israelite nation. This nation was ruled under the heavy fist of the Pharaoh in Egypt. Pharaoh would have been said to be the incarnate of Ra, the sun god. It would have been said of Pharaoh that he was the direct image of God.

The text is saying to a nation that was under the boot of the Egyptian empire that they are created in the image of God, the creator of heaven and earth. This understanding would completely hijack the value system of an empire, and turn it on its head.

-Sam

RESPONSE

Let me begin by stating the obvious. I am an athiest, and I will always respond from that perspective. I, too, enjoy engaging in a meaningful dialogue with those who believe differently than myself.

I’m glad that you picked this topic, because I have had questions concerning this particular issue in the past that have gone unanswered. If humans are supposed to reflect God’s divinity, then I wonder to what end? Humans are not meant to have the same knowledge or power as God, are they? What is meant by divinity? The discussion of “likeness” and “image” is interesting, but in the translation that you included (which may very well be the same as others with regards to my point), I am more interested in the use of the words “our” and “us.” “Let us make human beings in our image.” Is there more than one god? If not, does this deity frequently refer to himself in the plural? Why? Is this deity addressing an audience of other divine beings?

I understand what you’re saying about the impact this kind of text would have on a nation like the Israelites, but I wonder if you may have considered how this text may have been used to control and manipulate the same people that you are asserting would have gained power or inspiration. As Seneca said, “To the common man, religion is true. To the philosopher, religion is false. To the politician, religion is useful.”You say, “There are many creation stories in different religions, many with gods who are either bored or mad or vengeful, who create humans as their play things.” I can think of several examples where the god you are speaking of is awfully mad or vengeful, and to me a fair amount of the old testament stories seem as if God is having a bit of fun. “You really like me? Then sacrifice your son!….No, really, you don’t have to do that. I was just joshing.” I know that often times people dismiss examples of a mad or vengeful God with a flick the wrist and a little “That was the old testament!” But since we are talking specifically about the old testament, and I don’t quite understand how believers just dismiss half of their sacred text, I don’t feel as if this is an appropriate response (Not to say that would be your personal response).

I’ve always found it odd that a deity would create beings in his own image or likeness to take care of his other creations, and that on top of caring for other creations these beings should also worship the deity that created them in his image. Not to be overly offensive, but this has always seemed tremendously self-serving if not masturbatory.

-Nikèl Bussolati

To the readers of Creating Culture: please continue the conversation. Get your comment on.

2. The Conversation: Science vs. Faith or Science & Faith?

3. The Conversation: Worldviews

Did you know the word the Israelite nation used for God in Scripture is “Elohim” which carries a plural ending?

So what?

Glad you asked.

I had a rabbi say to me, “it’s as if by proclaiming the name of elohim, the Israelites would have been saying, ‘all of your gods are contained in our one.’”

Beautiful.

In a college religion class we studied the cultural background of the Jesus movement.

Did you know?

• There were many religions that claimed to center around the son of God
• The Roman Caesar called himself the Son of God – and came up with the phrase, Caesar is Lord.
• There were religions that believed their god was raised from the dead on the third day.
• There were religions that used wine as a foundational element.
• There were religions that believed their god went into the underworld and came out with all power.

My roommate asked me one day after class if all these things made me question my faith. You see, there were many kids in the class who had grown up in Christian homes, but never learned these things in Sunday School (I hadn’t either). It made them uncomfortable, to say the least. They saw these facts as threats to the validity of their faith. I saw it differently, thanks to that rabbi who explained Elohim.

I responded to my roommate, “I think it’s a beautiful thing. It’s as if God said, ‘Look, you see all these gods, all these beliefs? I am going to send my son in order to show you who I am. I will encompass them all.’”

I was able to catch ND Wilson, author of Note From The Tilt-A-Whirl, which I reviewed recently, for a quick interview.

The writing was often very lyrical when dealing with creation, did the content dictate the style?

Yes it did. But it wasn’t the only factor. I would say that the content combined with our default view of said content dictated the style. As western Christians we have some real mental callouses developed in certain areas (defenses against seeing things as they are). I tried to write around those callouses (or rip right through them when I could). So, when dealing with some of the things we would normally dismiss as humdrum or dull or tacky, you can expect me to wax poetic. When dealing with some rather more transcendent and metaphysical issues, you’ll find clipped and blunt communication. The goal is always to get the reader to blink and then see what has often been hidden in plain sight.

You make several references to mythology and philosophy, how much of a role have these each had in shaping the way you view your faith?

There’s a lot to navigate here. Mythology and philosophy (as they are typically understood) are to my faith what sogged and floppy green beans are to an otherwise excellent meal–less than unnecessary. The smell of Fall has shaped my faith more than they have. But the story of Christianity isn’t just mythology, it’s The Mythology–the story bones upon which all else hangs. And the Christian life isn’t meant to be dotted with the occasionally philosophical (and ponderous) moment. The Christian life is meant to be Philosophia–a true love for and pursuit of wisdom. Even understood this way, they don’t really shape how I view my faith–my faith shapes how I view them. Faith provides new eyes. New eyes see a new world (and all the strange creatures therein, including philosophy).

How was the writing process different for writing this book than the children’s material you have written?

Pretty much in every way. The most notable difference was in how personal it was. Writing kid lit is terrific. You get to be a cook in a kitchen, well hidden behind swinging doors, but listening to the woops and hollers as the dishes make their way to the table. Writing Tilt was mechanically similar (sitting at a desk, typing), but much different in delivery. My own life, thoughts, and personality were far more directly part of the product. I hadn’t stayed back in the kitchen. Sending the book out into the great, wide, Christian world felt a little bit like streaking through a megachurch. A very new and not altogether pleasant sensation.

If you could bring back one dead philosopher to have a one-on-one conversation with, who would it be?

Don’t bring any of them back. Let sleeping dogs and philosophers lie. But if I could chat with anyone where they are now, it would be Camus. Primarily for narrative reasons. Since I believe his life of despair ended in faith, it would be a startling privilege to see true joy and peace in a French Existentialist–like looking up at the moon to see it suddenly lush with forests and warm seas.

Thank you to N.D. Wilson for taking the time out to field my questions! If you haven’t checked out his book, I promise it is worth the read! Go read and enjoy.

I went to the Catalyst Conference this past week, and had an incredible time. Plenty of great speakers, leaders, and musicians made for several beautiful moments. One of my favorites, that has stuck with me everyday since has been the performance by a guy I had never heard of before, named Zach Williams. You can find him at zachwilliams.com.

Here is a video of his performance at Catalyst. The video is shaky and the sound isn’t great, but you can get an idea of how great the guy is.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXpN3SeGhto&hl=en&fs=1&]

Here is the same song with great video and sound, recorded at the House of Blues in Orlando: Names that Fell from Zach Williams on Vimeo.

Go buy his new album, Story Time, on iTunes – there is a link on his website.

Enjoy!

Jesus was pretty radical. I think most would agree on this regardless of your personal belief in Jesus as the messiah. I think we often times miss how radical his thinking was and is when we read or hear one of the most famous passages of scripture in our culture.

When the dudes who followed Jesus asked him how to pray, he responded with what we now refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. If you can recite it without thinking, clear your mind and read it again. If you have never heard it, check it out in Matthew 6:9.

It starts, as many know; Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

I would like to stop there for a moment. Read the beginning of the prayer again.

Read it one more time.

Often times, we measure the success of Christianity and the success of the local church on how many people recite a prayer that confesses Jesus as their savior. Still others measure success on how many people show up on Sunday morning. Neither of these things are wrong or vain ambitions, but I think we have missed the point, at least partially.

The reason so many people stay away from Christianity, away from the church, and away from a relationship with Jesus is because we have short-changed the Gospel. It’s good news not only because of an eternal relationship with God the Creator, but also because it means bringing God’s kingdom to earth. Right now.

When you have a packed out auditorium on Sundays, or get thousands to profess Christ as the messiah, but don’t do anything to advance the kingdom of God on earth, you are missing out on the breadth of the Gospel. Call it social justice, call it missional living, call it what you will, but if we aren’t living out the Gospel we aren’t maximizing our impact.

Creativity and anguish are linked.

You do not have to go through personal anguish to be a brilliant artist, but personally, I think it brings something out of you that would otherwise go untapped.

Think about the last time you went through something rough, and I mean real rough. Tear your clothes rough. That one.

Lost a family member

Lost a baby

Lost a job

Lost a dream

Walked out on

Abandoned

Those moments.

Beauty, absurd, incomprehensible beauty can come out of those moments. Deep, transcendent, ugly bitterness and resentment can come also. Either way, something will come out of it.

That. Whatever comes out of it is powerful. It is a game-changer. Every time. Ignore it if you wish, but it will follow you, haunt you, nag at you everyday for the rest of your life. And you will be taken out of the game. It is a game-changer. Every time.Face it if you can, and deal. Then, beauty will come from the broken mess.

Restoration is necessary for life. Restoration is visceral.

May you respond and allow beauty to win.

Here are a couple photos of the inside of our gathering space. Enjoy!