My Sunday Thought for 12112016: Did God Create a Man and a Woman?

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created.

-- Genesis 5:1-2

Did God create a man and a woman, or did He, as Genesis proclaims, create man, male and female, and name them Man? Isn't this written so as to leave it all open to interpretation? It would seem you can read it as all-inclusive of the rich variety of mankind, of those peacefully seeking His grace, thus evidencing yourself as all accepting and tolerant of all around you.  On the other hand, it could be interpreted as exclusive which would thereby evidence you as a hateful, unforgiving, bigot who is programmed by misguided faith, and against their own scripture, to deem it proper to stand in judgment of others.  If God had meant this statement, as put forth in Genesis, to exclude humans of His own perfect creative abilities would it not clearly state God created "a man and a woman" and not address the whole as man and woman?  However, as stated, "He made man in the likeness of God" and "He created them [Man], both male and female," not a male and a female.

Now there comes the argument of Eve, made from the rib of Adam.  And yet, if we accept the precept that Adam was created by God as being both male and female, thus genderless and, therefore with an ability to love unconditionally, and if we accept that genetic material was gleaned from Adam's rib to create woman, then we must assume the duality of Adam's sexuality would be present in both of them, yes?  Adam would seem to have been created, originally, as a lonely caretaker.  Before God brought Eve on board, of what use were Adam's private parts?  Yeah, we'll assume there were sheep, but thank God for Eve.  If any of this holds water, the reason for gender identity issues would be that rib and a bit of genetic creativity by, wait for it.... God!   

So it would seem it is, in fact, all in the way we interpret it, and in the way we twist our scripture to meet our seemingly un-Christian agenda of "us and them."  We act like journalists as we add and subtract from facts in order to push our particular religious agenda, our own definition Christianity and faith.  According to the sign posted (left) by the Back to the Bible Holiness Church, it would seem the congregation has not read Genesis 5-2.  I read the verses twice and found no mention of "Satan made gays & transgender," any more than it said "God created man & woman."  It makes me wonder which "Bible" the Back to the Bible Holiness Church is going back to.

As a side note, has everyone come to grips with Michelangelo's depiction of God as a creation of man's mind?  God actually looks as if he is reaching out from the inside of a human brain.  Considering Michelangelo's penchant for hiding his own thoughts and beliefs, disguised as art within art, this would not be unusual for the artist as he was constantly trying to avoid the admonishment of the Church for any imagined heresy.  Most forward thinkers of his era were all tap dancing around heresy which was redefined daily by the Christian Church.   

The rest of us, however, also seem to take artistic license where God is concerned.  We, and all of the other 33,000-plus Christian sects, create in our minds an image of God which suits our agendas, and we seem do it with little regard for scripture which we declare to be the "Word of God."  Where I would say to read scripture and take a critical eye to what you read, most others will accept scripture as the definitive "Word of God" and then go about misinterpreting what it says and finding excuses for the countless contradictions, all while judging others and condemning folks to eternal damnation for some perceived offense for which the accuser would seem at least as guilty, if not more so.

We were given ten simple commandments, not one of which says thou shalt not be LGBTQ+, et al.  What scripture does say of the Ten Commandments is there are two which are the foundation of all the others; two great commandments which contain the whole law of God:  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

And one of them, a doctor of the Law, putting him to the test, asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" Jesus said to him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

-- Matthew 22:35-40

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  From what I've encountered, this would seem to be the most forgotten commandment of all Christian philosophy, or the most misinterpreted of the ten very simple rules for finding salvation.  

Next time you deign to love thy neighbor, will you ask if they are man or woman?  What if they don't identify with either?  What if they identify with both?  Will you judge them, and if you do, what gives you the right?  Do they not deserve, by the very Word of God you hold so holy, the same respect and love you would expect for yourself?  Are they not children of God?

Just "My Sunday Thought" for December 11, 2016.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to the intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain at a regional medical center.