When I was in middle school and early high school, my church got super into apologetics. In our teen classes, Genesis 1 & 2 were repeatedly sifted for evidence, proofs, and miscellaneous fodder for our “Here’s Why Atheists (and Old Earth-ers) Are Crazy” bonfire. It was fun because it made me feel smart and right.

That’s what Christianity is supposed to do, right?

In the 30 years since, I’ve become convinced that Yahweh’s primary objective in giving Genesis 1 & 2 to His people was not, in fact, to settle (or better, incite) arguments as much as it was to fill them with awe and to invite them into a deeper understanding of His power and goodness.

(That’s not to say that apologetics as a field of study—and as a part of how Christians engage an unbelieving world—is entirely invalid. Wesley Huff and Richard Bauckham, to name just two, have offered much in this regard both to edify the church and to give thoughtful skeptics a reason to doubt their doubts.)

Anyway, back to Genesis. I’ve been neck-deep in the first two chapters of the Bible since last Fall, when I began writing the material that’s become the first episodes of Holy Ghost Stories Season 7. The months I’ve spent researching and outlining and writing and revising have been deeply enjoyable—it’s maybe the first time in my life that I feel I’ve gotten somewhere close to the kind of experience with Yahweh that Genesis 1 & 2 was always meant to facilitate. My hope is, with this Creation series at the beginning of Season 7, to share my experience with you and perhaps lead you into some similar encounters with the Creator. The created world is an exquisite window into Who God Is, and I hope that comes through in this series.

As I said in the last issue of The Latest, this Creation series will have a different format than the usual HGS episodes: rather than ~30-minute episodes every two weeks, we’ll release ~7-minute episodes twice a week for six weeks. After the 12 parts of this series, we’ll resume our usual programming with another 6-8 episodes to finish out Season 7.

I am very excited about this.

The first episode dropped this morning(!), but before we get there I thought I’d share some of the preface you’ll hear at the beginning of that first episode. It’s an introduction to the series and a bit of a general disclaimer. Here goes:

The first pages of Genesis hold marvels. They beat like a heart. Repeat choruses like a song. Through poetry and imagery and symbol, this account of the Beginning points us to a God who loves making things—a God who says in essence,“I want you to imagine me crafting your world. I want to talk it about in a way that provokes your heart to worship. I want to take you back to those first few moments—I want to remember it with you. Because I loved that time, and I love you, and if we can sit together here for a while, you might find yourself loving me more.”

As modern readers, we’re intrigued—but we come to it with an agenda. We want Genesis 1&2 to explain the logistics of the universe’s origin. Provide a comprehensive, chronological catalogue of hows and whens. Solve our debates about the age of the universe. We’re tempted to saddle Scripture’s gorgeous prologue with our priorities and preconceptions and insecurities. We want an ancient document to be modern. Want an Eastern text to be Western. 

Round peg, square hole. 

It’s not that all our curiosities and concerns are invalid or unimportant. It’s just that they’re ours…and some of them may not be His. So during this telling of the marvelous creation story, I’d like to invite you to set those questions to the side for just a moment.

This series will be an exercise in imagination more than a detailed chronology. Meditation more than education. This is story and song, not textbook or TED talk. It’s a chance to sit alongside Yahweh in one of His favorite memories. 

Here’s to sitting with Him.🥂

CREATION, part 1: Before the Beginning

Episode 1 is live!

This one’s a kind of prologue to the Creation story—a meditation on what preceded Genesis 1:1. Have you ever noticed the Genesis account begins almost in media res? God exists (and has for…well, forever) and the earth (or ‘land’) is “formless and empty.” In other words, there’s a manner in which the earth exists at the beginning of the story. Too, the text tells us “darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” So there was water. Fascinating. Also, the Spirit was hovering. For how long? Why was He hovering? And what made Him decide to begin? Why create the world?

I have so many questions and we’re only two verses in.

In this first episode of the series, we’ll dwell a bit with some of those questions—not so much to entertain our curiosity, but to try and enter the mind and heart of Yahweh. To attempt to understand His motives so that we can go on this journey with Him. it’s an exercise in empathy with the goal of coming to know Him better and love Him more. (This, I suspect you’ll recognize, is the heart behind all of Holy Ghost Stories.)

Before (and After) You Listen

If I may, I’d suggest a simple prayer before you listen to each part of this series. Something like “Lord, I want to encounter you as Creator. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand.” He’s always intended the natural world to be a window into His nature, right? (Romans 1:20) Pray that it would function that way as you listen.

And then after you finish each episode, you might spend a moment talking to Him about what you’ve seen or remembered or wondered or realized. Make it a ‘thinking out loud’ kind of prayer—He loves those.

Since each of these episodes is only about 7 minutes long, this combined prayer-and-listening might become the perfect twice-a-week devotional time for you. I’d be delighted if that were the case.

Hints

Just for fun, here are three things that will get a mention in this one. Anybody know what that bird is? 10 points if you reply with the answer.

Enjoy

I do hope you’re blessed by this series, and I hope this first episode is no exception. Happy Season 7! 🎉

LISTEN ON: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | AUDIBLE | WEB

3 Cool Things

Strings in the Woods - Because this seems very creation-y, here is Yo-Yo Ma playing cello in the forest with birdsong. Go ahead—hit the ‘full screen’ button, turn it up, and don’t do anything else for three minutes and fifty-four seconds. Surely you won’t regret it.

I Didn’t Want to Stop - For some backstory on this season’s Creation series, don’t miss this bonus episode of Holy Ghost Stories.

Aurora for Days - An astronaut captured this view of the famous phenomenon aboard the ISS and it’s incredible.

That’s the latest! Happy listening—I’m delighted to jump into this creation series with you.

Gratefully,
Justin