Redemption is literally in our DNA (pt. 1)
TLDR by ChatGPT:
Redemption is not limited to religious assimilation but extends to the intricate beauty of nature.
The Lake District, shaped by volcanic eruptions, showcases the emergence of new creations out of destruction.
Nature's resilience and capacity for renewal reflect God's intentional design for redemption.
The Redemption Remix
When your church talks about "redemption", we often associate it with turning something secular or less desirable into something "Christian".
Take, for instance, altering lyrics in a secular song to become like contemporary worship music. Just click here if you want an example (I find it funny sometimes. But also a little cringe. All in good fun though).
While these endeavours may hold meaning for some, it just feels like we're assimilating things into Christian culture. Is that really all that redemption is?
Nature's wake-up call (not just talking about the birds)
My journey to the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, United Kingdom, completely changed my perspective in profound ways.
What captivated me the most was the intricate ecosystem of the Lake District.
On the map the whole park looks like a road with potholes, but on a larger scale, where the holes were glistening lakes, surrounded by majestic mountains.
This national park teemed with an abundance of vegetation and wildlife.
Every corner revealed a captivating scene, something so raw, so divinely beautiful.
You don't really get many of these views in Singapore.
How can Perfection be Imperfect?
If you look at the whole park, you'd never think of how it came to be. At first glance, everything seemed to function seamlessly, in a perfect harmony.
Most of us would assume that this ecosystem was simply the way things were created.
However, after consulting my AI tour guide (ask me about it if you ever see me), I uncovered how the Lake District was actually formed.
This picturesque region had its origins in a series of ancient volcanic eruptions, and long periods of erosive processes.
(For the nerds, it was home to a caldera, similar to the one found in Yellowstone National Park).
These tumultuous geological events gave rise to the majestic mountains that now adorn the landscape. The beauty we see now was founded on destruction.
Nature is just built different.
Some creationists theorise that destructive natural forces like volcanic eruptions couldn't have been part of God's initial creation.
When sin came into the world, it affected the Earth as well. But in the destruction and disasters that occur, how can beauty still sprout from it? Just look at my photos.
It's an understatement to say that nature is resilient.
Somehow, amidst the consequences of sin and death, life finds a way to prevail, creating a completely new ecosystem teeming with vitality.
Did this park have a glow up or glow down?
Consider the Lake District before the volcanic eruptions, when its terrain was likely less mountainous and more uniform.
In its original state, not many would dispute that it was perfect, since it was crafted by God.
What can we then say of the current Lake District? It was broken by the eruptions and changed from its original state of perfection.
It’s like that Japanese kintsugi thing everyone keeps talking about
One could argue that it is even more perfect now. It was not restored to its former state, so it no longer possesses that initial state of perfection.
But through the destruction, beauty emerged in an entirely unprecedented way. Mountains now grace the landscape, transforming it into a captivating sight.
We might not be able to compare whether it was more or less beautiful ("jAkiN, aEstHetiCs aRe sUbjEctiVe!!" ☝️🤓), but it is still beauty, and completely new.
That's what it means to redeem. It's creating something out of nothing. Something new and good out of something broken.
Reflect:
Why does God choose to redeem things that are broken? Why doesn't He just start over?
How does Abundance (exceeding all expectation) relate to this idea of redemption?
Reflecting on the concept of creating something new out of brokenness, what are some broken areas of the world around you that you care strongly for?
