It's a fun game, and in a second you're going to understand why it is in Biblical human nature to like the concept behind the game Minecraft. No, this is not a post intended to justify the 3 hours of my life I just wasted playing computer (My wife and I were building an epic cathedral)... Rather I want to draw a connection between a game that I like and the book that I love.
Maybe you'll ponder anew the Image of God that we were created in, or re-think the cultural mandate, or perhaps even look into the game Minecraft.
In my theology classes I've learned a lot about the Image of God (Imago Dei). Thanks to Dr. Kroeze, Dr. Felch, and Dr. Flikkema I've had my fair share of lectures on the Imago Dei. Luckily for you I don't remember many details about those lectures. Here's what I do remember.
In Genesis 1:27 God creates man in His image. Male and Female He created them.
For the sake of brevity and at the risk of over simplifying, this image of God in mankind is often identified through three different relationships.
Man's relationship with God,
Man's relationship with other men,
and Man's relationship with the rest of creation.
When these relationships are in perfect order that state is known as Shalom which according to Neil Plantinga is the webbing together of God, man, and all creation in justice fulfillment and delight... I like the sound of that.
The first two relationships (God, and other humans) are spoken about clearly in scripture and most evangelicals have a clear concept of how these relationships are meant to function... After all the first greatest commandment (Love the LORD your God with all your heart soul and mind) is referring to the first relationship, and the second (Love your neighbor as yourself) refers to the second relationship. Think about it... it makes sense that the whole Bible would be instructing us on how to work towards God's original purpose for mankind. After all, all the Law and Prophets hang on these two commands.
Lets go back to Genesis 1. If you look closely at the verses directly before and after verse 27 you'll notice a theme. Verse 26 talks about God making us in His image that we may rule. In verse 28 God instructs us (through the cultural mandate) to fill the earth and subdue it.
Both of these verses speak on the third relationship having to do with the Imago Dei, our relationship to creation. It is in God's nature to create. We have reason to believe that since God has invited us to participate in creation (through the cultural mandate) it is also in our nature to be creative.
It is these verses that remind me of Minecraft. Confused?
Maybe I should explain the game.
To summarize, you are dropped in the middle of a virtual earth made of various types of blocks (Genesis and the garden). You are meant to gather resources, create shelter, create tools, create technology, and the further along in the game you get, the more and more your settlement looks like a city (Revelation and the New Jerusalem). You can even create art and music... Hows that for filling the block earth and subduing it?
Its like you're dropped off in the garden and God says to you. Go nuts. Make something. Advance and create culture.
It is because of the third relationship implied in the Imago Dei that it is Biblical to like the concept of the game Minecraft. (Im not claiming its Biblical to like Minecraft, calm down) Even if we don't like playing computer games we should like creating and advancing culture.
God may I never get so caught up in carrying out my virtual call to fill and subdue the blocks that I forget to participate in the Biblical Cultural Mandate.
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