a response.

on a previous post i received titled "the great I AM" a comment from a reader named todd which i would like to respond to.

todd wrote:
A thought, though, regarding all of humanity being in the image of God and our defining who gets to use the name "Christian:" - Does your article consider that the image of God in us has been marred by sin? That our sinfulness keeps us all "outside?" That there is a need for the grace of God in Christ to call us and to restore that divine image in us? That there are those who reject such grace?

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first of all, thank you. i appreciate your beautifully challenging comment. now, a response.

i'd like to look back at the metaphor i used of humankind as a portrait/painting of God. this metaphor, in my opinion, recognizes the sinfulness of creation as well as its beauty. if you see a painting of the Grand Canyon, you may be taken back with awe at its beauty, but that reaction could not compare to seeing it with your own two eyes. can humanity truly reflect God perfectly? certainly not. but i do believe that in looking upon creation, beauty can be found. and within that beauty, a feeling can be evoked that may just be as close to being able to transcend humanity and reach divinity as any of us will come, while clothed in flesh.

in regards to your comment that sin keeps us all "outside," i have a simple reaction. exactly. my point (well, part of it) is that within the church we are all outside perfection and that to then point fingers at some, or not love others, shows a sense of spiritual arrogance that seems to suggest we've forgotten the very "need for the grace of God in Christ" that you speak of.

as for those that reject such grace, i cannot bring myself to exclude them from the portrait simply because of their lack of adherence to the same faith we hold dear. being human, they share the same sinfulness, they just handle the issue of faith differently. with that said, my argument was not really towards those that do not follow Christianity, but instead to those who claim fellowship with Jesus and their place within the Church, and then believe that with their title of "Christian" they can formulate a definition of "being a good Christian" that is truly just the definition they give themselves. when issues of belief or unbelief begin to have credentials that encompass race, gender, sexuality, political views, etc the faith becomes more and more like the socially constructed credentials than the radical beauty of divinity.

i hope this helps me explain myself. also, just to note, i didn't write a response to argue with you, but to take consideration to your thoughts. i think we see rather eye to eye. :)

blessings to you!

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note: comments accepted from anyone, not just todd. ;)