A Right Relationship

I facilitate a bible study/small group here in Ballarat on Sunday nights when I'm not out and about around the division. This bible study is based on the Nooma DVD's (which are great by the way) but the DVD is really just a starting point and the conversation can go anywhere after that.

While thinking about some of the stuff in my prep. for the study/group i began to think about what it meant to be in a right relationship with God, and also what it meant to be in a right relationship in general.

The more i thought about this the more i felt led back to where it all began; the garden of Eden.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, before the whole Apple incident (not the computer, for those who don't know the story grab a Bible and check out Genesis chapter 1), they had a right relationship with God. Genesis 3: 8 says that Adam and Eve heard God walking through the Garden at the time of the evening breeze. Imagine what that would have been like to walk through creation with the creator at your side. Adam and Eve spent time with God naming the animals, they knew what it was like to hear God directly, to actually be in his physical presence!!!

Adam and Eve had a right relationship with the animals. They did not have to fear any of the animals because they all ate plants (see Genesis 1: 30) and the animals didn't have to fear Adam and Eve because they too were vegetarians (as much as i hate to admit that, being firmly against not eating meat) (see Genesis 1:29). It was only after they ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, realised that they were naked, hid from and were found out by God that this changed. Because Edam and Eve ate the fruit (not necessarily and apple, but it will do for the example) God had to kill an animal to provide them with clothes (so a vegetarian caused the first animal to die!!!).

Before the 'Apple Incident' Adam and Eve had a right relationship with nature, not having to work so hard to cultivate the food that grew from the earth. After their expulsion from Eden this changed (check out Genesis 3: 17-19)

Before the 'Apple Incident' Adam and Eve had right relationships with each other. They understood each other, in fact the bible tells us that they were as one (check out Genesis 2:24). Now no one really understands each other, and peace is far from a reality in our world.

So how do we as Christians restore ourselves and our world to right relationships??

Here are a few of my ideas:

Right with God:
This side of eternity what Adam and Eve had is impossible, but, anything that vaguely resembles that would be awesome!! The best way to get right with God is to stop sinning. Christians often call this Holiness. I dont know about you, but I know that I'm not perfect, I still make mistakes, but I'm trying to make those mistakes less frequently. Also, lets try to seek God more intentionally, because the bible tells us that when we seek Him we will find Him (Jeremiah 29: 12-13). Lets try to spend quality time in devotion prayer and bible reading with God.

Right with others:
This one should be easy, Jesus taught us so much about how to be right with others (check out Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7). Love those who hate us, care for the poor and oppressed, go the extra mile, don't retaliate, return good for evil, etc,etc.

Right with animals:
Probably not really possible this side of eternity, but lets care for them, stop cruelty towards them (it is still ok to eat them, just kill them cleanly), care for their habitat, which leads me to my next point...

Right with nature:
Let me preface this by saying that I don't consider my self to be a "Greenie" but I do think we need to be careful in what we do. I hope to have kids one day, and would like to leave them and their kids a planet to live on (assuming Jesus hasn't already come back!!). So lets look after the resources we have. The ozone hole is a perfect example of us being out of a right relationship with nature; we pollute, disrupt the natural balance and then get skin cancer because of it. Lets try to use renewable energy, reduce the energy we are using, blah, blah, blah. I'm sure you get the idea.

Being in right relationships is not going to be easy, but it will be beneficial.

Remember the right thing to do isn't usually the easiest thing to do, in fact, the right thing to do is often the hardest.

"The popular thing isn't always right, and the right thing isn't always popular."
-Someone very wise, I just cant remember who (is it in the Bible??)