In the beginning...

"In the beginning..." God's purposes in creation.

Rather than starting with a theological examination of what makes a church, I will start with a simple definition. People together with God equals church.

Mt 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (NIV).

Church starts with people and God. Therefore the place to start is Genesis to see what God's orignal plan was.

We begin with nothing, an empty page, and God starts creating. Therefore what is here is here because God made it so, unless of course it has gone wrong since because of sin. However, very importantly God gives us a glimpse of the original, and it was good. God is a Deity with a purpose, He says let it be, and it is. The majestic power of God is emphasised, let there be light, and there is light. There was no light switch to flick to light the heavens, but God says let it happen and it happens.

During this people are made (male and female) in God's image, blessed and given a role to steward the earth. Humanity is given a place and a purpose under God.

God does it all in six days (ages/stages I'm not getting into that debate) and then sits down for a rest. Both work and rest are important in his character. This is no austere world, God does not create us with just the bare necessities for life, but gives far more. Food is not just some sludge but an array of plants (in Genesis 1 it is just plants). There is an extravagance, and even God sits down to enjoy it. God made the world and it was good.

God created us to enjoy good things. There is always the tension created by sin, as we will look at afterwards, but we need to keep sight of God creating us for good.

We sometimes have an idea of an austere mean God, but the most exuberant church building does not compare with the riches of God's creation. God wants people to be blessed with good things, that is the character of God, and part of the purpose of the church!