The Scriptures tell us that as Christians we have a new nature that is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). And Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 3:18 we are progressively being transformed into the “same image,” or as The Message puts it, “our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” Redemption is not just deliverance from eternal destruction or merely moral reformation. It involves a re-orientation of our thoughts, assumptions, presuppositions, conclusions and the way we see and work with creation.
2 + 2 = 4 then, not because of some a priori mathematically “neutral” assumption, or conventionalism, or evolutionary determinism, but because God has ordered and ordained it to be so. As we grow in Christian maturity, we progressively should grow in our knowledge of and work with God’s created order and in greater likeness to Him. Thus, science becomes Christ-centered science. Medicine and faith are wed not in some obtuse way, but seamlessly and beautifully. Such knowledge does not come naturally, due to the salient fact that we still are finite, imperfect and retain a distorted image, but it does come progressively and hopefully.
If you are a Christian student, teacher, researcher, doctor, lawyer, economist or trash collector, your work should be “redeemed.” That means you find the “good” in it that God has placed therein. It means that the methods we use and the moral implications we employ reflect Christ’s teachings. It means that at the end of the day, God is glorified and we are satisfied in Him.
Lord, today I thank you for the redemption that is mine in Jesus Christ. Help me see and treat Your world out of that renewed insight and creativity. Help me show those around me Jesus in my attitudes, desires and goals. May my work and study reflect His glory not only today, but throughout the whole week. . . .
About the author:
A Christ-follower and mentor of leaders and churches whose life plan is to make an eternal difference in lives for Jesus Christ. Carl currently serves as the Executive Pastor of Cross Roads Brethren in Christ Church (Mount Joy, PA), President of Carl Shank Consulting, and as a Board Member of the Mount Joy Chamber of Commerce. B. S. in Mathematics from Dickinson College. M. Div. and Th. M. from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia Campus). Carl's insights have been a great encouragement to Thomas B. Grosh IV, Associate Director, Emerging Scholars Network. To God be the glory!
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