"for: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen's University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Tehology Course with Dan Wilt"
It has been about a year since the first time I watched the "What Is Worship?" (1) DVD, done by Dan Wilt (my original review is available here ). I thought I had understood the concept of the "Imago Dei". But today, as I watched this resource DVD again, I learned something from a fresh perspective. Wilt builds the scriptural portions of Genesis into an expose of the imago dei, then hands off the concept to N.T. Wright who clarifies it by articulating the role of human beings as "mirrors" through whom the reflected image of God can shine. But Wright sees this as a two-way mirror. Not only does it reflect God's image to the rest of creation (which makes us His image bearers), but we are also to serve the reverse role of reflecting creation's praise back to God.
Not only was this new to me, but it rather shook me to see that we hold a responsibility to exclaim the praise of creation back to God. He doesn't leave us wondering, but immediately refers us to the books of the Psalms and the Revelation. In the Psalms, Wright contends, the "trees clap their hands" and "the valleys shouting for joy and singing" as a rudimentary expression of honor to God- but it is the work of the psalmists and humans to bring that into articulate praise. Wright then quickly jumps to the Revelation chapter 4 text and explains that this is another example of how humanity is an agent representing creation and expressing worship with intelligence. The creation calls "Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty", but humanity clarifies the reason for this by saying "...You are worthy to receive this praise, because You created all things..."
What was additionally interesting about Wright's use of the "mirror" metaphor, is that he continues this theme of humanity's responsibility when he writes the book "Simply Christian"(2). In the first section of the book, Wright contends that another type of reflecting is going on- this time with a set of metaphorical "echoes" instead of the visual "mirror". Wright's case is that those looking for God can see evidence of Him, and His deep connection with creation, by hearing the echoes (rather than seeing reflections) of justice, spiritual hunger, relationships and beauty as they "sing" an evidence of a Divine source.
What Wright has done is not only use excellent literary metaphors (reflections and echoes) but teach wonderful theology to believer or skeptic alike. Ultimately, we learn that humans are given this task of standing on the liminal space between Creator and creation and bring them together in a brilliant kaleidoscope and resounding aria of glorious revelation. Showing God's image to creation, and declaring creations praise to His ears.
(1) Dan Wilt, What Is Worship? (Houston: Vineyard Music USA, 2006), DVD
(2) N.T. Wright, Simply Christian:Why Christianity Makes Sense (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006), 1-51.