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On second thought, it would be a little weird addressing God, “Dear Heavenly Picasso.” So, scratch that, just stick with Father.
God is creative.
Blog post done.
Then again, I think expanding on this statement may bring light to what’s on my heart today.
Last night (Feb. 20), there was a decent little snow storm that blew its way to my house. I woke up at normal time in order to get ready for school, however, my phone was lit up with texts informing me that class had been cancelled for the day.
JOY.
Naturally, I looked out my window, and saw a thin blanket of snow covering my front yard. Beauty. God’s good. God is so creative in each blessing He bestows.
“To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1
On the contrary though, I think there’s a common thought that pollutes the minds of many in today’s society. That thought being this:
God is predictable.
I see churches gathering with a minute-for-minute agenda on how a worship service will be carried out. I see charismatic churches frowned upon because the Spirit “doesn’t work like that.” I see children being told not to pray about their lost dog or cat because “God doesn’t care.” I see people believing God’s plan will work out whether or not Christians pray.
Now, all these together may sound a little vague. However, I believe these things occur because of the lack of hope we have in God’s creative intervention.
We tend to decide beforehand what God can/can’t do in a certain situation. But, as I look at Scripture, I see a creative God that fascinates.
“The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” John 9:11
Using mud instead of Lasik? Okay, I see you Jesus!
“And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” Jonah 2:10
Making fish spit dudes out? That’s some creative resolve.
“but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkeyspoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.” 2 Peter 2:16
Shrek comes into the scene in the next chapter.
Back to my point, God is creative. I see my Lord and savior using mud to heal blindness, God using a fish to bring Jonah back to Him, and God working through a donkey to bring clarity. Now if that’s not creativity, I don’t know what is.
This is my conclusion: God’s people should always hope in the Lord, but also, hope in His creativity. Trust that He is able to work in all things for the good of those who love Him. Don’t doubt the power of God, for He is capable of all things.
Many readers have heard of Lee Strobel’s popular apologetics book The Case for Christ, but not everyone is familiar with its predecessor, The Case for a Creator. In this book, Strobel travels across the United States interviewing some of the country’s most esteemed professors from a wide range of prestigious universities, both Christian and public. By collecting the proofs from experts across the board, Strobel pieces together the scientific proof that today’s most widely accepted theories on the Earth’s origin cannot work in tandem without a divine creator.
Strobel was not always interested in apologetics. He received a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a Master in Law Studies from Yale University. Strobel then pursued a successful career at the Chicago Tribune where he worked as an investigative reporter. Strobel, a firm atheist at the time, began an investigative study on the scientific and historical proof of Christianity after a debate with his wife, a devout Christian. Strobel’s investigation led to his conversion of faith and several books, four of which have received the ECPA Christian Book Award.
One of the things I value most in Strobel’s writing is straightforward approach. Many of the experts Strobel interviews explain their work in field-specific jargon, and Strobel does not water down these theories. I find this to be the most honorable quality of the book as it lends credibility of his interviews and allows me to dive into the research for myself without being told the conclusion in elementary terms. The Case for a Creator also presents an appreciated diversity of interviews. Strobel speaks with Christian, atheist, and agnostic professors in capturing an objective collection of scientific proofs that do not blatantly align with a particular agenda. As a college student, I am all too aware of the hidden bias professors often have and find Strobel’s source diversity a refreshing point of credibility.
While I respect Strobel for not dumbing down the theories he presents, I think his case could be stronger if he expanded more on the implications of the scientific data he collects. If you are not a molecular biologist, astrophysicist, or theoretical physicist, many of the professor’s explanations will go over your head. Strobel does an excellent job of presenting expert theories and highlighting conclusions but fails to link the two in a way that general audiences will understand.
Although Strobel’s book is at times difficult to digest, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in dabbling with apologetics. I would especially suggest this novel to college students, as it relies on a collegiate-styled research method that will be familiar. His sources are credible and objective, which lend to his airtight argument for a creator. While the book may require outside research on the part of the reader to better understand some of the more complex theories he mentions, it is well worth the time in providing a solid foundation for Christianity’s Case for a Creator.
