1. Good News: Aging through a Theological Lens

2. Introduction
“Get out of the way old man”: Understandable when aging viewed through lens of capacities--physical, intellectual, and productivity.

3. Introduction continued
Another Lens: Theological: What does mean to view aging as part of God’s gift/plan?
Will draw on two resources: de Lang and Warren Kinghorn
Aging through our theological tradition/lens: Creation, Imago Dei, Incarnation

4. Creation as Gift from God and Therefore Good
Two Traditional Readings of Genesis 1-3: Creation and Fall
1. Augustinian (Influential in Western Christianity
Creation was originally good/perfect, no natural evil or challenges
Adam and Eve charged with maintaining that perfection
Fall corrupted whole creation and punishment was both physical death (mortality) and spiritual death (“total depravity)
Goal of salvation is to restore perfection lost in the Fall

5. Creation as Gift from God and Therefore Good continued
2. Irenean (Influential in Eastern Christianity)
Earth was created as “vale for soul-making,” containing all that is needed to support life, but also contains “challenges” to provoke growth.
Adam and Eve created as innocent children. All capacities necessary to grow and were intended to develop both mature knowledge and character (Likeness of God)
The Fall resulted from being foolishly misled by Serpent into assuming they could grow into God’s likeness (and immortality) without remaining “rooted in God.”
The natural result (not punishment) of separation from God is spiritual death, an inability to develop holy character and a weakening of human capacities.
Goal of salvation is to fulfill God’s intention for humanity—development of the full Likeness of God

6. Creation as Gift from God and Therefore Good continued
Creation as Ongoing Process Moving Toward Wholeness and Harmony
Genesis 1:2: “. . .the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”
Order from chaos, light from darkness
From creation to New Creation
Implication for Aging
All life in its complexity and mystery is a good gift from God
Aging is part of ongoing process of creation: all life goes through cycles
Suffering, limitations, losses are opportunities as well as challenges

7. Human Beings Are Created in Image of God, with Inherent Worth, Dignity
What Is “the Image of God”? Popular definitions
The Mind as essence of personhood: Rene Descarte—“I think, therefore, I am.” Mechanistic understanding and dichotomy between “soul” and body.
Capacities: “I am what I can create, produce, achieve.”
John Wesley: Natural, Moral, Political Image

8. Human Beings Are Created in Image of God continued
Potential to Reflect Character of God:
Truth, beauty, goodness
Supremely give and receive love, live in community.
Implications for Aging
Human worth rooted in One to whom we belong: Held secure by and in God. Bonhoeffer: “Whoever I am, O God, thou knowest I am thine.”
Aging does not threaten the core of who I am
Aging has potential to fulfill image of God more fully—Grow into his likeness!
Model for how persons are to be treated

9. Incarnation as God’s Presence and Claim upon Human Existence
John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of the father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
God has entered human flesh in Jesus of Nazareth who was born, grew to maturity, lived and died!
God in Christ shares all the experiences of human existence
God Has Claimed Human Personality as Vehicle of Divine Presence and Work
What did in Jesus of Nazareth does in us
Our identity is in Christ

10. Incarnation as God’s Presence and Claim upon Human Existence continued
Implications for Aging
God shares the aging process with us
Being rather than doing, knowing, having
Incarnation/Presence as model for our relationships with one another
All have gifts to be received and celebrated

11. Conclusion