2.
Icon of God

‘God became human, so that we could become His icons once again’

It is as if the Orthodox begin the God-story with creation and incarnation, while I grew up with a God-story that started with salvation. The difference seems subtle, but where we put the magnifying glass makes a difference how we experience the God-story, and how we live it out in our lives. My belief system is about salvation; ‘I was rescued from sin because Jesus came to save me’. The Orthodox marvel at the incarnation; ‘God became human’ so that we could become His icons once again!

As I explain this the following week to Father Stephan, his response is rather straightforward: “Yes, the Protestant idea is: ‘We’re all bad and rotten, but God puts on His ‘Jesus glasses’ and therefore He doesn’t see any more how sinful we are.”

While I prepare a cappuccino, Father Stephan continues: “With that kind of thinking it is as if God can hate people, but God is love. We forget about Genesis 26, we are created as living resemblances of Him. We are made after God’s image; we are icons of God. It’s the kind of thing you say about a child: ‘Wow, he looks just like his father!’

Father Stephan sounds almost childish exited as he talks about the concept of ‘being made after God’s image’: “Think of a footprint in the sand. It’s a resemblance. Just imagine: we have seven billion people on the earth, seven billion resemblances and yet all of them are totally different beings. It’s like comparing a mandarin with the planet Mars, you wonder sometimes from what planet that other person comes from. Yet, it shows how multiple, how much greater, how diverse and how different God is.”

As we sit down to have our coffees, I think about the icons within the Orthodox Church. I’ve been around the Orthodox now for a while and am not as taken aback anymore by their habit to kiss icons (paintings of saints) during church services. I remember the first time I met Father Stephan and asked him about it. He responded at that time with a bit of surprise and asked me: ‘You kiss someone you know when you greet him or her, don’t you?’ Indeed, in my Dutch culture that’s what we do. It showed me that, while my only hero is Jesus and may-be some other Biblical figures, the Orthodox have many more examples of heroes of the faith. They live out more explicit what Paul exhorted: ‘remember those who have gone before you, and follow their example’.

As I sip my coffee, I ask Father Stephan: ‘Can you share a bit more about icons?’

“I’m a living icon of God, and would love others to recognize hat for themselves.You can’t force that, but I can live a contagious life. Tradition is a heartbeat within the Orthodox Church. With Tradition I mean passing on something precious from generation to generation, as if we say: ‘I have received something and I want to hand it to you. It has become very precious to me, so take care of it and further develop it.’ We venerate icons within the Orthodox Church, because these saints have gone before us and inspire us. Their exemplary life shows us that life in Christ is doable, desirable.
I also think it’s an honor to resemble God. I’m not just a genetic being, who happens to live by change. God wanted to express His love, that’s why I exist! I want to add that icons are not some sweet Madonna, it’s not about curly hair and that kind of thing, it’s a spiritual portrait. A good icon painter will catch the soul, the inward beauty of a person, which is Christ. The Apostle Luke was a physician, but few know that he was also a painter. He painted Jesus, we know how he looked like. He had reddish hair, like his forefather king David.”

I’m still not used to this kind of information. It’s interesting, it’s a bit intriguing, but it’s far off from what I’m used to within my own Protestant culture.
Meanwhile Father Stephan continues:

“God is into renovation. We are encouraged to do certain things like forgive, pray, celebrate, fast, but also make love, eat and shop. These kinds of activities all help towards the renovation process.”

‘Shopping?!’

“Yes, but when I shop I do it thoughtful. I read what’s on the package, what’s Fair Trade, that kind of thing. Christians have their identity also in their culture. And yes, when you look around you on a busy day in a shopping mall, it can be difficult to see the resemblance of God and to see the inward joy and beauty within people. But it’s easy to detect it in people, who truly experience and enjoy their humanity. I don’t mean in a hedonistic way, but people who could say, if they were believers: ‘Thank you, God, this is a wonderful day.’

When you take the time to let it sink in that you’re an icon after the image of God, it will change your life. It won’t make you pious or religious, but it will be life changing. God is into this process of transformation, you can see it over the ages. The apostle Peter was from a primitive part of society, as a fisherman he would work naked in the water, but when he followed Jesus he walked on the water and became the bishop of the Church. Paul could have been like a SS Colonel in the Second World War, but became the thirteenth Apostle. Emperor Constantine changed the law even before he became a Christian; when still a heathen he stopped torture. When you look over 2000 years Christianity, you can see everywhere evidence of the Christian influence, which has changed society. As Christians we have a task in society, on the place where we are. We are meant to do the good works, those works which God prepared and are waiting to be done by us.”

The conversation with Father Stephan raises many questions. His worldview differs much from what I’m used to. So much I’d like to know, but I have to choose. Mission, evangelism and our place as Christians within society has very much my interest. That will be the theme of our next talk.