Today is Friday the 13th.  To some, just a day to ignore (like any other) but that just happens to have some significance to the superstitious.  To the superstitious, a day to be extra careful, so as to avoid something bad happening.  To the triskaidekaphobe, a day to remain in bed, behind locked doors, and preferably protected by Kevlar and helmets.

So what is the significance of Friday the 13th?  Well, while some can be overly superstitious or even fearful of the day, it does carry a genuine a significance.  The meaning behind this day has Christian roots.

First, Friday is significant because it was the day recognized by the Church as that of Christ’s crucifixion.  This being so, it would obviously carry great significance to those who worship Him.

Second, the 13 is significant because there were 13 people seated at the Lord’s Table for the Last Supper.  Both point to Christ’s death and therefore carry much meaning behind them.

While Friday the 13th is not a day to be superstitious about, the import behind the day is something we can recall and think on when it occurs.

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mattb

Exercising dominion over God’s creation is something that Christians are called to do.  And in doing so, as in anything else, there can be an abuse of it–this abuse I will call hyper-dominion.

One example of hyper-dominion would be the abuse of beasts of burden.  Using horses, cows (or kine as the King James would call them), or oxen to labour in the field is excellent and profitable dominion.

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Abusing them is hyper-dominion.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Labouring six days in seven and resting on the seventh would be dominion, after all we are required to provide for ourselves and our family.  But working so much that your children forget your name and your wife cannot have her own needs satisfied would be hyper-dominion, although we call it by a different name today:  that man is a workaholic.

So what is man’s attempt to control the weather?  Is this the right and proper exercise of dominion?  As the use of oil to heat our homes?  The fertilizing of the land to produce more bread?  The use of cellular and mobile technology to increase productivity?

Or, is it hyper-dominion?  Is it man’s attempt to outsmart God and His curses?

Deuteronomy 28:23-24 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

I’m not sure which it is really, but the Chinese are attempting to do it!  I do think, however, that these are hard questions that will need to be answered as we continue to exercise dominion over God’s creation.  Man has attempted to overthrow God’s curses before (the Tower of Babel) via hyper-dominion, and I’m certain will try again (and again, and again).

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mattb