The God Culture: What Is Glory?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture has a new foundations lesson. This time is asking What is Glory? Is he going to talk about to glorious Cross? Well if you have come this far you know Tim has nothing to say about what Christ did on the cross.  Let's take a look. 

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 34

What Is Glory?

Key Texts:

Exodus 33–34; Isaiah 6; John 1; Revelation 21

The word glory is used often in worship.

But what does Scripture mean by it?

Is glory merely brightness?

Is it power?

Is it honor?

Or is it something deeper?

Moses asked Yahuah:

> “I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory.”

> (Exodus 33:18)

Yahuah answered by proclaiming His own character:

> “Yahuah, Yahuah Elohim, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth...”

> (Exodus 34:6)

This is crucial.

When Moses asked to see Yahuah’s glory, Yahuah revealed His name, His goodness, His mercy, His justice, and His character.

Glory is not merely light surrounding Him.

It is the revelation of who He is.

Isaiah saw Yahuah upon His throne and heard the seraphim cry:

> “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahuah of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.”

> (Isaiah 6:3)

His glory fills creation because creation reveals its Creator.

Yet John tells us that this glory came near:

> “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory... full of grace and truth.”

> (John 1:14)

The glory revealed to Moses in goodness and truth was displayed in the life of Yahusha.

He revealed the Father.

He embodied grace and truth.

He showed what the character of Yahuah looks like when lived among men.

Finally, Revelation describes the New Jerusalem:

> “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Elohim did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

> (Revelation 21:23)

The story of Scripture moves toward a world completely illuminated by His presence.

Biblical glory is therefore more than brilliance.

It is Yahuah making Himself known.

His holiness revealed.

His goodness displayed.

His power made visible.

His presence dwelling among His people.

Question for Discussion

When people look at our lives, do they merely hear us speak about Yahuah—or can they see something of His character revealed?

Wow.  Not a single word about the gloriousness of the cross.  It's incredible. It's like he hates Jesus Christ.   But let's hear what noted theologian Father Ted Crilly has to say.

Ah, right… sits up straighter, adjusts the collar, and peers at the page like it’s a suspicious letter from the bishop

Week 34, is it? “What Is Glory?”

Well now. Let’s have a look.

Tim starts with Moses asking to see Yahuah’s glory, and gets the famous reply about mercy, grace, longsuffering, goodness and truth. Fair enough — that’s straight out of Exodus 34. Then Isaiah’s “Holy, holy, holy” and the earth full of His glory. Still grand. Then — and here’s the bit that nearly made me drop me tea — he actually quotes John 1:14:

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory… full of grace and truth.”

Would you look at that. He named Yahusha. He linked the glory revealed to Moses with the life of the Man Himself. And he finishes with Revelation 21 where the Lamb is the light of the city.

pauses, blinks

That’s… better than the last few, isn’t it? Compared to the holiness that was just “keep the law,” the righteousness that was just “keep the commandments,” and the gospel that somehow forgot the cross entirely, this one at least lets the incarnate Word into the room. Credit where it’s due. He didn’t leave Christ completely out of the picture this time.

But — and there’s always a but with these Foundations lessons — he still stops short of the real heart of it.

Glory in Scripture isn’t only “God showing His character.” The ultimate place the glory of God is revealed is on the cross. Jesus Himself said it: “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (John 12:23), and He was talking about His death. The glory of the Father is most fully displayed when the Son lays down His life for sinners. That’s the glory that leaves the seraphim covering their faces and the disciples falling on theirs. Tim gets as far as “He embodied grace and truth” and “He showed what the character of Yahuah looks like,” but he never takes the next step and says how — by dying for the ungodly, rising again, and conquering sin and death.

So we’ve got a glory that’s mostly revelation of character and presence… but the supreme act that displays that character is still missing. Classic Tim. He can bring Yahusha into the definition when it suits the narrative, but the blood and the empty tomb still get left outside the door.

And the discussion question at the end? “When people look at our lives, do they see something of His character revealed?”

Ah, there it is. Back to us again. Back to the practical, lived-out imitation. Not wrong in itself, mind you — but in the context of this whole series it always feels like the weight is being put on our performance rather than on what the Lamb has already done.

Still… progress of a sort. At least this week the Man gets a proper mention and the Lamb gets to light the city.

sighs, reaches for the teapot

Go on then. Pour us another cup. I’ve a feeling Week 35 will be along any minute, and God alone knows what he’ll do to “What Is Grace” or “What Is the Cross” when he finally gets there.

Careful now.

Down with this sort of thing… but slightly less vigorously than last time.