ok...well, this doesn't exactly have anything at all to do with your post, but I have a question. If that's ok... so God's all-sufficient right? Everything we need and then some. So how come we have these desires in us for things other than God? like marriage, or jobs, different goals and things like that? are those just side steps for what we're really after? are they part of God's plan and will for us? are they from Him? and if so, how come God created us with these desires that He didn't have any intent on fulfilling with Himself, so even if we were seeking after Him with everything, it still wouldn't satisfy completely? I don't know. just thinking about that and couldn't settle on anything. so yea. :) oh, and ps. www.xanga.com/deveras (I had left the bloging world for a while, but decided to re-emerge...for better or for worse.) anyway. thanks.
Let me do this first. Most everyone in the theology world will be willing to talk about God's exhaustive control right? (except maybe Process theists) Anyhow, among the spectrum of thinkers, people work out the answer to that questions differently. A theological determinist might answer that God indeed has complete exhaustive control, even in minute details. R.C. Sproul comments something like if there is one maverick molecule in the universe then God doesn't have control. Then you have someone like Al North Whitehead who would say God exist along side of creation, but is not in control of it.
Can the same be applied to your comment? I think so. A strict theological determinist might reply that we desire what we want because it is exactly what God wants us to desire. I tend to lean more towards human freedom having a lot to do with it. So now we might have several answers. One might answer that one desires other than God because of the fall and we are sinners. This is true, but not entirely clear what meant. For example If I have an affair, I would call that an un-Godly desire and action. Why in this case did I want other than what God wanted, because I’m sinful. Now if I choose to go mountain biking, I don’t think I am choosing other than God at all. In fact I think I am choosing for God. Mountain biking helps me worship God. Because I mountain bike I thank God for the beautiful creation, my healthy body (i.e. legs and arms that allow me to pedal and steer and lungs to breathe), friendship (my mountain biking buddy), etc. So by desiring to mountain bike, I don’t desire other than God, because it in fact brings me closer to God. I would say that same is true of many things in my life including my marriage, my desire to someday teach at the university level, to have kids, to attend UBC. These are all things that corroborate God’s and his presence in my life, not compete with it/Him. Iraneus said that “The glory of God is man fully alive.” These things both make me feel fully alive and glorify God, and therefore do not compete with one another.
Somehow though I don’t think I’ve answered your question, as I assume you’ve thought about much of what I’ve said. Let me know.
Josh, I just think that Merideth has had a hard life and could really use some counseling and healing, not judgement. That doesn't make it okay, but still, cut her some slack.
4 comments:
ok...well, this doesn't exactly have anything at all to do with your post, but I have a question. If that's ok... so God's all-sufficient right? Everything we need and then some. So how come we have these desires in us for things other than God? like marriage, or jobs, different goals and things like that? are those just side steps for what we're really after? are they part of God's plan and will for us? are they from Him? and if so, how come God created us with these desires that He didn't have any intent on fulfilling with Himself, so even if we were seeking after Him with everything, it still wouldn't satisfy completely? I don't know. just thinking about that and couldn't settle on anything. so yea. :) oh, and ps. www.xanga.com/deveras (I had left the bloging world for a while, but decided to re-emerge...for better or for worse.) anyway. thanks.
Greetings Lauren,
Well,
Let me do this first. Most everyone in the theology world will be willing to talk about God's exhaustive control right? (except maybe Process theists) Anyhow, among the spectrum of thinkers, people work out the answer to that questions differently. A theological determinist might answer that God indeed has complete exhaustive control, even in minute details. R.C. Sproul comments something like if there is one maverick molecule in the universe then God doesn't have control. Then you have someone like Al North Whitehead who would say God exist along side of creation, but is not in control of it.
Can the same be applied to your comment? I think so. A strict theological determinist might reply that we desire what we want because it is exactly what God wants us to desire. I tend to lean more towards human freedom having a lot to do with it. So now we might have several answers. One might answer that one desires other than God because of the fall and we are sinners. This is true, but not entirely clear what meant. For example If I have an affair, I would call that an un-Godly desire and action. Why in this case did I want other than what God wanted, because I’m sinful. Now if I choose to go mountain biking, I don’t think I am choosing other than God at all. In fact I think I am choosing for God. Mountain biking helps me worship God. Because I mountain bike I thank God for the beautiful creation, my healthy body (i.e. legs and arms that allow me to pedal and steer and lungs to breathe), friendship (my mountain biking buddy), etc. So by desiring to mountain bike, I don’t desire other than God, because it in fact brings me closer to God. I would say that same is true of many things in my life including my marriage, my desire to someday teach at the university level, to have kids, to attend UBC. These are all things that corroborate God’s and his presence in my life, not compete with it/Him. Iraneus said that “The glory of God is man fully alive.” These things both make me feel fully alive and glorify God, and therefore do not compete with one another.
Somehow though I don’t think I’ve answered your question, as I assume you’ve thought about much of what I’ve said. Let me know.
lauren,
p.s. gutsy post
Josh,
I just think that Merideth has had a hard life and could really use some counseling and healing, not judgement. That doesn't make it okay, but still, cut her some slack.
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