Frederica Matthews-Greene
Oct. 28 at Point Loma Nazarene University
Chapel message PLNU Oct 28
Frederica (Orthodox Church) speaks about icons and images. (She was also on campus for a two day retreat teaching students how to do the Jesus Prayer.
To learn a little bit about what she and her denomination believes, see: Blind Guides
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Former Nazarene 
It would take too long and too much space to deal with the entire message. So, I would like to address WHO this woman is, WHAT her life-in-brief represents and HOW she starts this message. However, it seems her message is congruant with WHO and WHAT she represents, et al. (This is my opinion based on the limited information gleaned from this one speech and biographic information found on wikipedia.)
I would not give her or her speech another thought had it not been given to a captive audience of college students at PLNU.
I suspect that this is the Frederica Mathewes-Green (born 1952) who is an Eastern Orthodox author and noted as a speaker on the subjects of religion and abortion.
Mathewes-Green is reputed to be strongly pro-life and writes and speaks against abortion, but, she is also critical of the more extreme elements of the pro-life movement.
She supports and promotes more dialogue with pro-choice advocates.
She is also a past vice-president of Feminists for Life of America
Her bio suggests Christians have some common ground with her. However, her bio also suggests that she loves the “middle ground” or to ride the fence on some very important issues. This is not the type of thought, discourse or practice that God tolerates in those who profess to believe and follow Him. (Revelation 3:16)
At any rate, Frederica Matthews-Greene starts her talk by referring to pictures or ‘icons’. She even quotes a scripture verse, Genesis 1:26 by saying “we are made in the ‘icon’ of god’. And ‘icon’ just means image.”
Having set the stage she deftly draws the listener further into her subject by suggesting we all have a favorite picture we love – so much that we would like to kiss it. “Go ahead and admit it. It’s OK”, she says.
This is a smartly used speaking technique: emotional seduction.
The listener is now ready and she moves them, almost hypnotically, to the subject of christian icons – ‘which of course are just another name for pictures’.
This reminds me of another verse or two from Genesis:
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Satan sure came close in his quoting God, and it sure sounded like he said was right.
But it was a lie.
Frederica Matthews-Greene starts her talk quoting scripture, Genesis 1:26 saying “we are made in the ‘icon’ of god’ and icon just means image.”
But is that the truth? Let’s take a closer look:
Genesis 1:27 (with Strong’s concordance numbers) God created man in His own image , in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
image: 06754 םלצ tselem tseh’ lem
from an unused root meaning to shade; n m; {See TWOT on 1923 @@ “1923a”}
AV-image 16, vain shew 1; 17
1) image
1a) images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods)
1b) image, likeness (of resemblance)
1c) mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)
NOTE: It does NOT mean ‘icon’ or a picture.
In fact, there is no use of this word “image” that suggests anything very useful, very substantial or lasting. It is not endearing, it is not lovely and most likely no one in their right mind would want to kiss a “tselem”.
The word “image” from Genesis 1:26, fact it, refers to a ‘mere, empty image’; a mere shadow of something else (God, in this instance).
It does not mean icon. Fredrica Mathewes-Green comes very close and it sounds right.
But, it is a lie.
Is this important or am I just picking? Just wrestling with semantics?
It is important. It is a matter of life and death. Both now and eternal. (I don’t feel I am overstating my case).
Satan lied to his audience (Eve) and it lead to disastrous consequences, not only for Eve, but for her family (Adam and later her children) and subsequently for the entire human race.
We – you and I – are still dealing with the fallout of Satan’s lies.
As a listener, would be very careful when a speaker, purporting to be speaking on behalf of God, the Church or the Bible, starts by misstating, misquoting or misrepresenting facts. In this case facts about what the bible says on certain verifiable matters:
Our created image in relationship to God.
In this case she changes the meaning of a key verse to make a point from her own point of view. It is not biblical. It is not the truth.
Yes. It is important. It is a matter of life and death.