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This episode is my modernized version of William Ellery Channing’s 1828 sermon “Likeness to God.” In it Channing takes as his starting point the text, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)
Human beings imitating God, which entails being like God?
Yes. His thesis is that
“…true religion consists in intending as our main goal a growing likeness to the Supreme Being. Its noblest influence consists in making us more and more partakers in the divine nature.”
But can a sinful, limited human like you or me really come to resemble God, to in that sense be “divine”? Channing argues that this is possible, and is the goal of Christian teaching.
Is he right?
Links for this episode:
2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 5:8; 1 John 4:15; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 3:4; Luke 15:7; Ephesians 3:19; Romans 2:7; Genesis 1:26; Psalm 19:1-4; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7; Matthew 13:43.
This week’s thinking music is “Great Expectations” by Kai Engel.
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That is good preaching! I talk to folks about Channing, whenever I have the opportunity; I consider him to be a cure for sloppy thinking about Christianity, and a return to vibrancy and moral keenness.
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