The Monday Morning Quarterback

In my sermon yesterday I tried to recapitulate the themes that I have addressed in the "On Being Human" series. Using Scot McKnight's terminology, I noted that we are broken or cracked icons of God. We are meant to be "images" (icon comes from the Greek work meaning "image" or "likeness") of God but because of the fall we have become broken and distorted. Jesus, the perfect icon of God, came to restore us as God's icons. Through Jesus life, death, and resurrection--all of which is God's doing--we are restored. Our part of the restoration is trusting in God's grace and making the Jesus Creed--loving God and others--the goal of our life. The way of becoming restored icons is not through trying to be perfect, but trying to make the Jesus Creed the center of our lives, and when we blow it, seeking God's forgiveness and continuing to live the Jesus Creed.

Referring to the story of Moses descending from Mt. Sinai (Exodus 34:29-35) and with his face shining as a result of his being in God's present, I noted that disciples of Jesus should "glow" with Jesus' love. The church's purpose is to "glow" in the world with God's love because of the time that we spend in God's presence.