A Letter to Steve

A brilliant letter written by Josh Harris. Harris makes the point that Steve Jobs is able to create culture because he is made in the image of God. It echoes the great point made by Andy Crouch in Culture Making. His point is that part of what it means to be in the imago dei (image of God) is that we have the desire to create and make something of the world we live in. Further reflection shows how profound this is. It's why only humans create art and beauty with no functional purpose (even a beautiful spider web is spun to catch bugs or a flower has beautiful colors to attract bees, etc.) Humans paint something, frame it, and hang it on a wall.

It's when sin fractures this desire that the creative bent seeks to become self-glorifying and self-exalting. Instead of making something of the world, we want to use that to make something of ourselves. Crouch gives us some good things to think about when it comes to how the Gospel interprets and explains our desire for creativity and cultivating culture. Let's pray that Steve Jobs sees this one day as well! (Can you imagine a redeemed Steve Jobs creating redemptive IPads? )

Dear Steve Jobs - Joshua Harris