We Live In A Political World: #360 / For God So Loved The World...

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 KJV

Each one of us has been mysteriously born into a world that was not, as Jerry Garcia lets us know in his wonderful song, Ripple, "made by the hands of men."

I count it as a blessing that I finally became aware of that song, Ripple, during this past year. Actually, it is pretty embarassing to admit that I didn't know about it before. On the other hand, I probably have a better handle on Bob Dylan's theology than most people do, and the friends I have who aren't up to speed on that aspect of Dylan's work don't seem to be a bit embarrassed. If you're not tuned into what Dylan has to say about things like the significance of that baby in the manger (pictured above) - and if you'd like some pointers - then please utilize the links that you'll find right here.

In terms of that "baby in the manger," the significance of that birth is what Christmas is all about, and what many are celebrating today.

Anyone who regularly reads my blog postings will remember my preoccupation with what I call the "Two Worlds Hypothesis." I outline my thoughts in a blog posting from 2020, "Worldview 101." Naturally, I encourage anyone interested to use the link to check out my explanation.

I don't, generally, get too "theological" as I talk about those "Two Worlds," but I do often say that the "World of Nature," which I think may be pictured best in those wonderful portraits of Earth from Space, can also properly be called, "The World That God Created."

So, when we read in the Bible that the "Christmas Story" can be summed up in a claim that God "so loved the world...." what "world" are we talking about?

In my reading of John 3:16, the Bible is talking about exactly what most of us, most of the time, call "The World." We generally conflate the "Two Worlds" that I insist upon, which means that what we mean by "the World," when we talk about it, is both of them - both "The World of Nature" and the "Human World," taken together. And, of course, they are together. The dissection that I keep bringing to the fore is really only useful to us as a way to help us understand the nature of "The World" in which we live. We live, ultimately, in a World that God created; that's the key. Our own actions, as we increasingly understand, are what puts "The World" in peril.

If you believe the claim of John 3:16, then the Creator of all that exists loves "The World" in its entirety, which includes what I call our "Human World," brought into existence by our own actions and activities.

The idea that the Creator of everything cares about us, and about the "Human World" that we have created, is either the biggest ego-trip in recorded human history or a profound insight. What the Bible verse says is that our belief about this - that God loves "The World," including ourselves, and our own contributions - provides not only reassurance to us, in the face of danger and uncertainty, but testifies to a power that will, in fact, defeat death and all its legions.

Speaking of songs, here is one that comes to my mind right now (as it has so often come to me in the past). This song is not considered a traditional Christmas Carol, but it brims right over with the Christmas message: