As I have written before, this book by Ron Martoia sets to explain how we can share our faith in this new postmodern context that we fund ourselves in. One of the "texts" that we mentioned earlier was the "biblical text". Martoia explains that we often share God's story starting at the fall of man in Genesis. However, Martoia argues that we need to start at the creation, or at the beginning of the story. And if we do not do this, we will miss something crucial." As we learn about seeing our lives in narrative, it may be an obvious observation that God made us this way and that he made us unique and special in comparison to all other created things. We are made in imago dei. This truth, as it grips a human spirit, has the power to transform. We may conclude that from the very beginning we have been made to be a part of a grand story, to gravitate toward compelling stories, and to be mesmerized by great story telling." (Page 92)Martoia wants us to start to go back to the beginning of the beginning. And on a nice little side note, Martoia explains that he believes that the author of Genesis did not provide this account in order for us to explain all the questions concerning dinosaurs, age of earth, and evolution. This is crucial because many of our teaching on Genesis gets to far wrapped up in this sort of thinking, and this may not allow us to see how the story truly begins. Now that being said, how should we treat the creation text, and how should we put that into context within the grand narrative? Martoia rightly points out that God is not only creating, he is also separating.
"We must not miss something that is often overlooked: God has the ability through his speaking to do this separating work, and it is called good. God's wholeness, his completeness, his integrity, in the truest sense of the word, isn't jeopardized as he splits things into groups. As he judges one thing from another and puts one thing in once category and another thing in another category, it is all good, according to the author." (Page 94)The fact that God is able to judge something as being "good" means that it may have been possible for God to judge creation as being bad or evil, and Martoia rightly emphasizes this very point. Martoia then moves to show us one of the key pieces in the creation account;
"Something unique happens in this part of the story. God marks man and woman as different from all over the other living creatures... Man and woman are made imago dei, in the image of God, and they are giving the authority to rule over the rest of creation." (Page 95)Martoia suggests this very point in the story is where we should start when sharing this story with others. Instead of presenting the typical propositional narrative, we present this story, created humans having the "image of God". But what exactly is Martoia suggesting when he says that this is the starting point? And what does it mean exactly to be created in God's image?
"But most compelling to the biblical and cultural context is the fact that Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to benevolently and creatively serve/ rule the world, the birds, in the sky, and the fish in the sea.... Is it possible that this transfer of royal rule is, at least in Part, what it means to be made in the image of God?" (Page 96)Martoia suggests that this could be the inner transformational architecture that humanity has within us. Our job, in part, would be as followers of Jesus, to point and guide others to listen to this transformational architecture. Where would Jesus fit into this new frame of God's story? Perhaps Jesus came to show us in its perfection, what this would look like in humanity.
Something interesting to note, Martoia suggests that this concept maybe important to understand idolatry. God wants us to be co-creators, partners with him, as we represent him to his creation. The problem with idolatry is that we choose something that is physical for God's representation, rather then allowing this "image" that is stamped on humanity, to represent His presence on this earth. Idolatry by nature is going against what God has designed for us.
This framing opens up responsibility to humanity to carry out the work of God and to allow God's Spirit to beam His presence to everyone we encounter on a daily basis. This is why Jesus is so important and essential. He is the very nature of God, and his the very nature of humanity that is stamped with this "Transformational Architecture". Without Jesus, we would have no clear direction or hope. He has shown as a new kind of humanity that has allowed us to plug into what it really means to live as God has intended us to live. If I were to recommend only one chapter to read from this book, it would be this one. Martoia does a nice job of framing this story as I believe it was intended to be framed. Martoia's presentation of this has given me fresh ideas on what it means to follow Christ, and share that with others.
I will be concluding the book review with one more post. I will be hitting the remaining book on a very high level, not because I feel its not important, but I feel that I will conclude the very essence of what it so very important in this book, while not recreating the full text myself. (This porbaly good news to readers out there.)
-dj
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