PPT-Education-and-Creation-Order. Materi Edukasi

Materi tentang Penciptaan

1. ‘And God said . . . : Education and
the Importance of Creation Order
Michael GoheenMichael Goheen
Trinity Western UniversityTrinity Western University
Langley, B.C., CanadaLangley, B.C., Canada

2. Starting with the Gospel

Restorative: Good news! God is Restorative: Good news! God is restoringrestoring
creationcreation

Comprehensive: Good news! God is Comprehensive: Good news! God is
restoring restoring allall of human life in the context of of human life in the context of
allall of the creation of the creation

Story: Climax of long story of restorationStory: Climax of long story of restoration

Mission: Given to church to make knownMission: Given to church to make known

3. Introductory remarks:

Lives not shaped by a doctrine of creation Lives not shaped by a doctrine of creation
as much as it should beas much as it should be

Understanding of creation essential for Understanding of creation essential for
educationeducation
Genesis 1 shows us God’s original intention Genesis 1 shows us God’s original intention
for worldfor world
Genesis 1 must be understood in original Genesis 1 must be understood in original
contextcontext

4. Historical and Cultural Context

Moses writing just after exodus Moses writing just after exodus
from Egyptfrom Egypt

Polemic against the myths, Polemic against the myths,
religion, gods of paganismreligion, gods of paganism
Genesis one contains “doctrine” so rich in meaning that “it
cannot be easily over-interpreted theologically.” (Von Rad)

5. “Moses’ concerns were exclusively
religious. His intent was to proclaim
knowledge of the true God as he
manifested himself in his creative works,
to proclaim a right understanding of
humankind, the world, and history that
knowledge of the true God entails--and to
proclaim the truth concerning these matters
in the face of the false religious notions
dominant throughout the world of his day.”
-John Stek

6. Literary Structure of Genesis 1
Stage One: Gen. 1:1-2
“In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth.”
“The earth was dark, formless, empty.”

7. ‘Very Good’ Cosmos
Stage Two: Gen. 1.3-2.3

Darkness banished by creation of light (day 1)Darkness banished by creation of light (day 1)

Formlessness removed by creation of sky, dry Formlessness removed by creation of sky, dry
land and seas (days 2-3)land and seas (days 2-3)

Emptiness remedied by creation of creatures to Emptiness remedied by creation of creatures to
dwell in four ‘areas’ (days 4-6)dwell in four ‘areas’ (days 4-6)

Accomplished by commands of GodAccomplished by commands of God

Powerful wordPowerful word

Good wordGood word

Wise wordWise word

8. God’s Creating Word

9. Creating words of God
‘‘By the word of the LORD were the heavens By the word of the LORD were the heavens
made, their starry host by the breath of his made, their starry host by the breath of his
mouth.’ (Ps. 33.6)mouth.’ (Ps. 33.6)
‘‘For he spoke, and it came to be; he For he spoke, and it came to be; he
commanded, and it stood firm.’ (Ps. 33.9)commanded, and it stood firm.’ (Ps. 33.9)
‘‘By faith we understand that the universe was By faith we understand that the universe was
formed at God’s command, so that what is formed at God’s command, so that what is
seen was not made out of what was visible.’ seen was not made out of what was visible.’
(Heb. 11.3)(Heb. 11.3)

10. Word of God

Originating word: Word that creates wise Originating word: Word that creates wise
and good order of creationand good order of creation

Continuing word: Same word continues to Continuing word: Same word continues to
bring order (2 Peter 3.7; Ps. 147, 148)bring order (2 Peter 3.7; Ps. 147, 148)

11. God’s Upholding Word
God has called the universe into being out of God has called the universe into being out of
nothing, and hence at every moment it ‘hangs’ nothing, and hence at every moment it ‘hangs’
suspended, as it were, over the abyss of non- suspended, as it were, over the abyss of non-
existence. If God were to withdraw his upholding existence. If God were to withdraw his upholding
Word, then all being . . . would instantly tumble Word, then all being . . . would instantly tumble
back into nothing and cease to exist. The back into nothing and cease to exist. The
continuation of the universe from one moment to continuation of the universe from one moment to
the next is therefore as great a miracle and as fully the next is therefore as great a miracle and as fully
the work of God as is its coming into being at the the work of God as is its coming into being at the
beginning.beginning.
- Bruce Milne- Bruce Milne

12. Two Storeys of Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Spiritual realm Spiritual realm GRACEGRACE Supernatural Supernatural
SoulSoul ChurchChurch Christian lifeChristian life
FaithFaith RevelationRevelation TheologyTheology
____________________________________________________________________________________
Material realm Material realm NATURENATURE Natural Natural
Body Body SocietySociety Cultural life Cultural life
Empirical reasonEmpirical reasonNatural lawNatural law ScienceScience

13. From dualism to secularism
““. . . in connection with the history of his . . . in connection with the history of his
influence the fact cannot be overlooked that influence the fact cannot be overlooked that
the Christian mediaeval synthesis presented the Christian mediaeval synthesis presented
by Thomas is one of extreme tension, and in by Thomas is one of extreme tension, and in
the dynamic of historical development had the dynamic of historical development had
effects which were to prove self-destructive: effects which were to prove self-destructive:
there was to be an unprecedented and all-there was to be an unprecedented and all-
embracing embracing movement of secularization and movement of secularization and
emancipationemancipation ‘at the lower level.’”‘at the lower level.’” (K (Küng)üng)

14. Secularism in succeeding centuries
While scholastic theologians granted a While scholastic theologians granted a
limited degree of autonomy to the realm of limited degree of autonomy to the realm of
our natural life (and natural reason), the our natural life (and natural reason), the
Renaissance humanists so greatly expanded Renaissance humanists so greatly expanded
the autonomy of nature that there was no the autonomy of nature that there was no
longer any need for the realm of grace. If longer any need for the realm of grace. If
God and Christianity were already basically God and Christianity were already basically
irrelevant to most of life, why not make irrelevant to most of life, why not make
their irrelevance complete? (Walsh and their irrelevance complete? (Walsh and
Middleton)Middleton)

15. Two Storeys of Thomas Aquinas
Spiritual realm Spiritual realm GRACEGRACE Supernatural Supernatural
SoulSoul ChurchChurch Christian lifeChristian life
FaithFaith RevelationRevelation TheologyTheology
____________________________________________________________________________________
Material realm Material realm NATURENATURE Natural Natural
Body Body SocietySociety Cultural life Cultural life
Empirical reasonEmpirical reasonNatural lawNatural law ScienceScience

16. Historical results

Creation separated from presence of GodCreation separated from presence of God

Natural laws built into creationNatural laws built into creation

Can be discerned by autonomous reasonCan be discerned by autonomous reason

Controlled to harness laws for social usesControlled to harness laws for social uses

Technology and rational organisation of Technology and rational organisation of
societysociety

17. Creation according to Scripture

18. Secular world devoid of God’s
presence

19. Deistic world devoid of God’s
presence

20. Christian education . . .
. . . resisting secularism that teaches about . . . resisting secularism that teaches about
God’s world as if his presence did not God’s world as if his presence did not
matter.matter.

21. God’s presence permeates the world
““In Him we live and move and have our being.” In Him we live and move and have our being.”
(Paul, Acts 17.28)(Paul, Acts 17.28)
God “has so implicated Himself with [the God “has so implicated Himself with [the
creation], and taken it into His very bosom, by His creation], and taken it into His very bosom, by His
presence in it, His providence over it, His presence in it, His providence over it, His
impressions upon it, and His influences through it, impressions upon it, and His influences through it,
that we cannot truly or fully contemplate it that we cannot truly or fully contemplate it
without in some aspects contemplating Him.”without in some aspects contemplating Him.”
(Cardinal Newman)(Cardinal Newman)

22. God’s immanence in creation
““There is not an atom of the universe in There is not an atom of the universe in
which you cannot see some brilliant sparks which you cannot see some brilliant sparks
at least of his glory.”at least of his glory.” 
God is immanent in all
 
God is immanent in all
creation.
 The pure of heart see God
creation.
 The pure of heart see God
everywhere.
 Everything is full of God. 
everywhere.
 Everything is full of God. 
“I “I
confess that the expression, ‘Nature is God’ confess that the expression, ‘Nature is God’
may be used in a pious sense by a pious may be used in a pious sense by a pious
mind!”mind!”
(Herman Bavinck, quoting John Calvin)(Herman Bavinck, quoting John Calvin)

23. Charged with the grandeur of God
The world is charged with the grandeur of The world is charged with the grandeur of
God. God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil.It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil.
CrushedCrushed . . . . . .
(Gerard Manley Hopkins)(Gerard Manley Hopkins)

24. God’s presence and knowledge
He is One who is sovereign over, operative He is One who is sovereign over, operative
amidst, independent of, the appointments which amidst, independent of, the appointments which
He has made; One in whose hands are all things, He has made; One in whose hands are all things,
who has a purpose in every event, and a standard who has a purpose in every event, and a standard
for every deed, and thus has relations of His own for every deed, and thus has relations of His own
towards the subject-matter of each particular towards the subject-matter of each particular
science which the book of knowledge unfolds; science which the book of knowledge unfolds;
who has with an adorable, never-ceasing energy who has with an adorable, never-ceasing energy
implicated Himself in all the history of creation, implicated Himself in all the history of creation,
the constitution of nature, the course of the world, the constitution of nature, the course of the world,
the origin of society, the fortunes of the nations, the origin of society, the fortunes of the nations,
the action of the human mind . . . the action of the human mind . . .
- Cardinal Newman- Cardinal Newman

25. Life coram Deo

‘‘Before the face of God’ or ‘in the presence Before the face of God’ or ‘in the presence
of God’of God’

Latin phrase, 50x in VulgateLatin phrase, 50x in Vulgate

Oriental court where servants live in King’s Oriental court where servants live in King’s
presence, alert, ready to respond to his presence, alert, ready to respond to his
biddingbidding

26. Christian education . . .
. . . resisting naturalism that teaches about . . . resisting naturalism that teaches about
non-human creation as if God’s word and non-human creation as if God’s word and
activity does not matter.activity does not matter.

27. God’s activity in upholding in the
non-human creation

Psalm 147.7-9, 15-18Psalm 147.7-9, 15-18

28. God’s Ruling Word
The Bible shows us a personalistic world, not The Bible shows us a personalistic world, not
impersonal law. What we call scientific law is impersonal law. What we call scientific law is
an approximate human description of just how an approximate human description of just how
faithfully and consistently God acts in ruling faithfully and consistently God acts in ruling
the world by speaking. There is not the world by speaking. There is not
mathematical, physical, or theoretical cosmic mathematical, physical, or theoretical cosmic
machinery behind what we see and know, machinery behind what we see and know,
holding everything in place. Rather God rules holding everything in place. Rather God rules
and rules consistently and rules consistently
- Vern Poythress- Vern Poythress

29. Three uses of word ‘law’

Word God speaks to give creation orderWord God speaks to give creation order

Lawful regularity we experience in creationLawful regularity we experience in creation

Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation Attempt at scientific, analytical formulation
of these regularitiesof these regularities

E. D. Fackerell E. D. Fackerell

30. Christian education . . .
. . . resisting relativism that sees human life . . . resisting relativism that sees human life
as ‘free’ from God’s ordering word.as ‘free’ from God’s ordering word.
. . . teaching for wisdom that finds true . . . teaching for wisdom that finds true
freedom by discerning God’s order for freedom by discerning God’s order for
human life.human life.

31. What is wisdom?
‘‘. . . the practical knowledge of . . . the practical knowledge of
the laws of life and of the world the laws of life and of the world
based on experience.’ based on experience.’
- Von Rad - Von Rad

32. Divine and human wisdom

‘‘Wisdom [is] wrought into the constitution of the Wisdom [is] wrought into the constitution of the
universe’ so that human wisdom is ‘ethical universe’ so that human wisdom is ‘ethical
conformity to God’s creation’ (Fleming). conformity to God’s creation’ (Fleming).

Kosmos: ‘the world held a divine order’ and Kosmos: ‘the world held a divine order’ and
therefore wisdom was ‘fitting oneself into’ this therefore wisdom was ‘fitting oneself into’ this
divine order. (Gladigow).divine order. (Gladigow).

God’s wisdom (order); human wisdom God’s wisdom (order); human wisdom
(conformity to that order)(conformity to that order)

33. God’s Word as Law
. . . the Ten Commandments are a brief . . . the Ten Commandments are a brief
summary of the Christian ethic and an summary of the Christian ethic and an
unsurpassed rule for our life. There are also unsurpassed rule for our life. There are also
many other laws to which we are bound. God many other laws to which we are bound. God
also laid down laws for our thinking, for our also laid down laws for our thinking, for our
appreciation of the beautiful, for our social appreciation of the beautiful, for our social
life, for heaven and earth, for sun and moon life, for heaven and earth, for sun and moon
and stars, for day and night, for summer and and stars, for day and night, for summer and
winter, for seed time and harvest. winter, for seed time and harvest.
- Herman Bavinck- Herman Bavinck

34. Scope of God’s Ordinances
. . . All created life necessarily bears in itself . . . All created life necessarily bears in itself
a law for its existence, instituted by God a law for its existence, instituted by God
himself. . . . Consequently there are himself. . . . Consequently there are
ordinances of God for our bodies, for the ordinances of God for our bodies, for the
blood that courses through our arteries and blood that courses through our arteries and
veins, and for our lungs as the organs of veins, and for our lungs as the organs of
respiration. And even so are there ordinances respiration. And even so are there ordinances
of God in logic, to regulate our thoughts; of God in logic, to regulate our thoughts;
ordinances of God for our imagination, in the ordinances of God for our imagination, in the
domain of aesthetics; and so also, strict domain of aesthetics; and so also, strict
ordinances of God whole of human life in ordinances of God whole of human life in
the domain of morals. the domain of morals.
– –Abraham KuyperAbraham Kuyper

35. Diversity and lawfulness
PCredal/Faith
PEthical
PPolitical/Judicial
PAesthetic
PEconomic
PSocial
PLingual
PHistorical/Formative
PAnalytical/Rational
PSensitive/Emotional
PBiotic/Life
Religious Beliefs
PDirecting power
PChrist or idol

36. Diversity and law
The merit of the much-disputed The merit of the much-disputed Philosophy of Philosophy of
the Cosmonomic Ideathe Cosmonomic Idea of the philosophers of the philosophers
Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven (Free Dooyeweerd and Vollenhoven (Free
University) is that, from the perspective of the University) is that, from the perspective of the
idea of creation, it puts such a strong emphasis idea of creation, it puts such a strong emphasis
on the variety and plurality of the various levels on the variety and plurality of the various levels
of existence, and points out the confusion that of existence, and points out the confusion that
results from the failure to discern the laws results from the failure to discern the laws
which hold for those different levels.which hold for those different levels.
– – Hendrikus BerkhofHendrikus Berkhof

37. Word of God and education
The University must be bound to the The University must be bound to the wordword of God, in every of God, in every
way in which God makes known to us his word: in nature, way in which God makes known to us his word: in nature,
in history, in our own heart, and in his Scriptural revelation. in history, in our own heart, and in his Scriptural revelation.
Do not forget that the University does not only have a Do not forget that the University does not only have a
Theological faculty, but also investigates nature, history, Theological faculty, but also investigates nature, history,
the juridicial sphere and so much more. It is therefore not the juridicial sphere and so much more. It is therefore not
enough to say that it is bound to Scripture. Wherever and enough to say that it is bound to Scripture. Wherever and
however God speaks, the University must always give ear however God speaks, the University must always give ear
and follow. Materially, therefore, there is no difference of and follow. Materially, therefore, there is no difference of
opinion; the University must be bound to God and to God opinion; the University must be bound to God and to God
alone, whenever and wherever God makes manifest his alone, whenever and wherever God makes manifest his
Wisdom, his Will, and his Ordinance, or renders them Wisdom, his Will, and his Ordinance, or renders them
knowable through investigation and research.knowable through investigation and research.
- Abraham Kuyper- Abraham Kuyper

38. Life as religion
Everything has been created was, in its Everything has been created was, in its
creation, furnished by God with an creation, furnished by God with an
unchangeable law of its existence. And unchangeable law of its existence. And
because God has fully ordained such laws because God has fully ordained such laws
and ordinances for all of life, therefore the and ordinances for all of life, therefore the
Calvinist demands that all life be consecrated Calvinist demands that all life be consecrated
to His service, in strict obedience.to His service, in strict obedience.
-Abraham Kuyper-Abraham Kuyper

39. Historical unfolding and cultural
embodiment
Now the peculiarity of all revelation is, that Now the peculiarity of all revelation is, that
while it posits principles and lays down while it posits principles and lays down
foundations, it charges men with the application foundations, it charges men with the application
of these principles and the building upon these of these principles and the building upon these
foundations. Creation was the first revelation. . . foundations. Creation was the first revelation. . .
thought and speech life and history, science and thought and speech life and history, science and
art, have all had their commencement in art, have all had their commencement in
principles which are laid down by God’s principles which are laid down by God’s
creative power.creative power.
- Herman Bavinck- Herman Bavinck