Genesis Questions

January 7, 1997

Happy New Year!

A word about SAYes '97— a time when our church renews and refreshes its mission statement. You're welcome, invited, to get in on the challenge.

New Year also a time for beginnings— for personal renewal.

I begin with Genesis and Matthew - - and again this year was struck with the questions, the first questions in the Bible:

  1. The serpent's question YEA, HAS GOD (REALLY) SAID...?

    In a sense we have come to label people by the way they answer that question.

    • Atheists say "No, of course not!"
    • Fundamentalists say: "Yes— and he wrote it down like THIS! This is IT!"
    • Liberals say: "People have been discovering God all across the centuries! God is probably speaking even today . . we are discovering . . . WE WE"
    • Conservatives: "God has spoken... and this is what Calvin said, and Luther."

    An oversimplification—YES—but this is a question that cannot be dodged.

    THE WORD OF GOD IS ALIVE . . DYNAMIC.

    Ultimately it is a Person — it confronts . . .

    THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION

  2. God's first question ADAM, WHERE ARE YOU?

    The amazing picture of Creator God walking through a Garden looking for Adam and Eve.

    • God knew/knows where they/we are/were . .. but
    • in respect for their person-hood does not drag them out
    • in answering God's question THEY discover where they are

    TWO ANCILLARY QUESTIONS

    • "WHO TOLD YOU YOU WEWRE NAKED?" God addresses "conscience"
    • "HAVE YOU EATEN FROM THE TREE?" "Good" and "evil" are God's business! Can we let HIM have the authority?
  3. Cain's question AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

    In his guilt and sin the first murderer looks up to God and says "Why are you asking ME about my brother?"

    God makes it plain that He is holding Cain responsible . . but also makes it plain that there is mercy . .

THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES ANSWER THESE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS . . .

WE ARE CALLED TO ANSWER THEM OURSELVES.

THE CHORUS: HERE I AM, LORD