Tough Questions for Christians March 13 Devotional

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 | ¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, ¹⁶ for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Gains in human knowledge and wisdom are cumulative and generally work by trial and error. Cultural, political, and scientific experimentation yield results that require evaluation and further testing. The process is imperfect and never ever automatically progressive. Insight can be lost, false trials followed, and lessons mislearned. These are features of the contingent historical character of human life and root in the limitations that inhere in us. We are short lived creatures with partial and heavily conditioned perspectives.

Except for Jesus. Christians believe that one person within the stream of history, in one location within general geography, of one race and religion and background, is the center of ultimate truth: Jesus gives meaning to the entire human story!  This claim is called the scandal of particularity.

Do you grasp this “scandalous” claim?

Do you endorse it?

Gracious God,

Your Son Jesus is the only real answer to relativism. His teaching and example are the pivot of this world’s history and the key to its renewal. He is the Alpha and Omega, but also the center of creation’s story. Let me trust this and live out of a strong conviction.

Amen.