Monday 16 June 2025

Psalm 29

Background
These first verses of the Bible may be familiar to you, and in their familiarity there is a danger that we lose touch with their immensity. Go back for a moment and read verse one.

Isn’t it just amazing? Do the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? It speaks of the majesty, power and glory of our God who created all things.

In her book Reading Genesis Marilynne Robinson writes "The biblical vision of Creation is structured around there being no pre-existing reality of any kind, an absolute difference from other myth." Moreover she suggests that this ‘out of nothing’ beginning invites comparison to scientific cosmology.

The suggestion that God created out of nothing is explored in depth by the Methodist minister and professor of theology Frances Young in her book The Making of the Creeds. She finds that while Christianity shares with Judaism the belief in one Creator God, it is Christianity’s insistence on a God who creates out of nothing that distinguishes it from all other philosophies in the ancient world. Furthermore Marilynne Robinson suggests, "It is one example of many where Christians did not in the end adopt the cultural norms of their society."

This may seem to be a minor point but it is vitally important because from a God who creates out of nothing, all are created in his image. Losing the image of God in us and others leads to death and we return to nothing. God taking on flesh, becoming human in Jesus is a re-creation and connects God as Creator to salvation so that humans can, through Jesus, be with God.

Balancing difference, defining belief in relation to others' beliefs, is hard to get right. In early Christian times, monks chopped down trees around pagan shrines because the Creator God, not creation, was to be worshipped. Throughout its history Christianity stands accused of lacking respect for other cultures' beliefs. Some of these matters are explored in a film called After the Flood made by the Movement for Justice and Reconciliation which looks at the Church’s role in slavery. The Methodist Church has endorsed the film and you can watch it here.

To Ponder:

• In what ways do you think Christianity does not adopt the cultural norms of our society?
• How can Christians celebrate diversity while still maintaining a unique and relevant answer to people’s spiritual needs?

Prayer
Creator God, you are always making something new. Help me to recognise the new springs of water you are drawing me to. Amen.

Bible notes author: Dr Tom Lunt
Dr Tom Lunt is a Methodist local preacher, prison chaplain and lecturer. He lives with his wife Liz in East Sussex.