A CHRISTIAN’S VIEW OF CREATION

The only exclusive timeless spiritual being, Triune God, surrounded by spiritual creatures, angels who worship and serve God eternally, decided to create a species of physical beings, unique, humanity, in whom God would invest a divine similarity. A delicate feature. There would be affinity between God and humanity. To affect this plan, God created a universe of galaxies, and in one galaxy he made one planet suitable to human physical life. Humanity, with this divine resemblance, both genders, should enjoy Earth and wisely govern this jewel of a planet.  God was pleased with creation. Because God knows all things, ends from beginnings, even then God knew humanity would fail to maintain God’s likeness. Sin would interrupt the affinity God had with humanity. Sin changed humanity. Transience and Mortality. God’s penalty on sin. Still God loved this Earth full of people. God’s plan in eternity was to restore this Godlikeness, this affinity in humanity. Restoration would result from God’s greatest of all time demonstration of love. The death penalty would be paid. God determined to take on a human form to briefly reside on planet Earth, then die. God’s eternality would conquer death. Penalty served. Sin’s interruption arrested. God’s prerogative. The benefit to humanity, contingent on individual faith in the efficacy of God’s death. Plus, a promise. Eternal life with God for the believer. It worked. It works.

GOOD FRIDAY 2014 - NOT PERFORMANCE BUT WORSHIP

This was one of the most profoundly spiritual treatments of the crucifixion I have witnessed. Calvin Dyck of course is excellent and his quartet was comprised of remarkable musicians, a cellist and two violas, to do Joseph Hayden's The Seven Last Words of Christ (1787), an instrumental meditation commissioned for Cadiz in Lent. The four instrumentalists sat in a semi-circle with music stands in front of them. To the left on stage was a table with seven large glass containers with a lighted candle inside each. On stage right was another glass-contained candle. A container and glass of wine.

There are seven brief musical sections to express the seven words/phrases.

1. Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do,
2. Today you will be with me in paradise
3. Behold your son: behold your mother
4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
5. I thirst
6. It is finished
7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

Between each section, a reader, so called, with memorized script quoted a relevant scripture selection. Then a young female dramatist walked forward to explain in contemporary narrative language the scene and the theology. Then the reader walked to the table of candles, quoted one line of a prayer, and we, the audience completed that prayer with a statement displayed on the three large screens. 

Calvin Dyck

 of this with uncommon dignity and reverence. was no applause at any point. On a couple of occasions a pianist played a well known hymn inviting us to stand to sing words cast on the screen. When the final movement was played, The dramatist picked up the sole candle (Christ’s Life) on the right side of the stage, and carried it down the centre aisle as darkness overtook the auditorium. Words on the screen read something such as, "And now we quietly leave to reflect and to respond to God's loving gift of his Son." People immediately stood and silently left the auditorium. It was memorable and moving because it was not performance but worship.