Where does the bible begin again?

So I was playing football manager 10 (which is unreal and in which Michael Kerr stands even less of a chance than he did with fm09) and decided to listen to Rob Bell (marshill.org). I haven't listened to him in a very long time- partly because I wanted to give it a rest due to my addictiveness and partly just because I hadn't. This changed though recently when someone mentioned to me that he had heard through the dripping evangelical grapevine that Rob's theology had gone off. I'm not really sure what that means, but if it means what I think, I would reply 'whose hasn't?'

Anyway, it made me think 'o yeah...Rob Bell'. And listening to it tonight while bringing Gourcuff to Arsenal made me think about something which I've wanted to write about for a very long time (since I had a talk with Darrin about it driving one day) and which effects absolutely everything in our lives.

The question is- where does the Bible begin- does it begin at the beginning, or does it begin a few chapters in? How we see this (and for most of us I think it's subconscious) effects a whole lotta stuff- how we view ourselves/mankind/sin/redemption/God's story/salvation/heaven/end times/evangelism....

(disclaimer: while most of this has been sitting inside my head for a very long time, it had taken listening to Rob to get me to try and articulate it, so if parts of it sound like Rob Bell, well, that's because it is)

If the story begins in Genesis 3 (most of the time here when i refer to Genesis 3, you could simply read 'the sin part' of Genesis), then the primary issue becomes the removal of sin- people are sinners- how do we get rid of the sin problem? (answer- so are you and we don't). How do we get rid of sin- Jesus gets rid of sin. The bumper sticker comes to mind 'Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven'. That is true and despite my general distaste for bumper stickers in general and 'Christian' bumper stickers (whole other blog about how the word Christian had become an adjective instead of a noun...disgusting) in particular, I have an especially large problem with the word 'just'...really....JUST forgiven...but I digress.

But that's it? Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. I would have to ask- then what? Is that all Jesus did? A simple problem solver?

However, if we start at the beginning (imagine that!) then we're shown part of a story were I am not God's plan B. Where we are not created differently to Adam. The story then becomes more about the restoration of Shalom (which does not exclude Genesis 3- it does include the beginning, removal and freedom from/of sin...but it includes so much more- all things).

If we start in 3, the fundamental posture towards people can be making sure they know what they aren't- aren't good enough, pure enough, holy enough, acceptable enough, sanctified enough, blessed enough, doing your quiet times enough (enough for what by the way?), trying hard enough (hard enough for what? for approval...!!??)

If we begin in Genesis 1, it seems more likely our posture towards people will be making sure they know what they are- you are a child of a Father who loves you more than you will ever understand and there's nothing you can do about it and there's nothing you need to do for it.



Fundamentally different



With a Genesis 3 beginning of our understanding of how God is and works, there may always be a danger that we feel the need to go up to someone you have never met and convince them how hateful, wretched and sinful they are. And if I can just get them to feel bad enough bout themselves I might be able to (fill in the blank- give them a pamphlet, invite them to a meeting, have coffee with them) and get them ‘in’ (no wonder some places find it difficult to keep those converts…)



Maybe it’s easier to begin in the beginning, because maybe it’s more helpful to learn how we got where we are. Rather then just focusing on how to get somewhere else- unfortunately some glad morning we will not fly away (but that also is a whole other blog(s) once I’ve finished this NT Wright book on heaven).



Because with a Genesis 3 beginning, God’s beautiful, , holistic, loving, exciting act of redemption is not located here amongst us, but rather somewhere else. The real point of the story is not somewhere else. Also, I’m not really sure if clouds and harps and up there sounds that exciting.



I have so much more to say about this but this, and I realize that this may not make sense toe veryone, but it will have to be a start.


If we start the movie late, a whole lot of things w ill not make sense. When we miss the beginning it makes it even harder to immerse out ourselves in a movie which ischallenging enough. Also, when we miss the beginning, the end is never as good.