Is God Purposeless?
Another chillinatthecabstand question from the ask section. (He asks it in a more detailed form on his blog)
If the point of humans is to worship God, what then is the point of God’s existence?
Response: The question has a “could God make a rock He couldn’t lift” quality to it, but I defintely think that it is a good discussion to have. Let me clear up some misconceptions in your post first. God exists for Himself and in community with Himself. You claimed in your post that God cannot talk to Jesus or the Holy Spirit because they are paradoxally the same being. While this is true, we see God refer to Himself in plural pronouns and named in the the plural Elohim in Genesis and conversing within Himself. Also, you claimed that God cannot be friends with His created beings, which is also not theologically and biblically accurate. Moses was called a friend of God and that phrase is used several times throughout Scripture to define His followers. The Bible is very clear that God created man in order to fellowship with them.
I noticed some comments on chillin’s post that appeared to claim that God just exists with no clear purpose. This is definitely not true. The purpose of God’s existence is existence. Let me explain. God exists so that everything else can exist. His purpose is to create and give purpose. He is the uncreated Creator and without Him nothing can come into being. Our worship of God is required because He makes existence possible. God also exists for fellowship and community with Himself and His creations. God’s purpose is creation, receiving glory and fellowshipping with His creations.
Chillin: Good thought about God’s existence being boring, but as you documented quite well, God is distinctly different in many ways from humanity and you are assuming that boredom would be in His character and make up.
Look forward to some response.
April 27, 2008 at 3:22 am
[...] Chris Dills: http://undergroundreformation.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/is-god-purposeless/ [...]
May 1, 2008 at 9:40 pm
My post on Chilin’s site referencing Max Lucado….After reading so many comments from the non-believers, the thought occured to me that the impression they have of God (even though I do appreciate that they in “fact” don’t believe in God) is that He is some big meany, sitting up in heaven somewhere, throwing out arbitrary rules, punishments, plagues out of some twisted pleasure he gets from tormenting us.
This is not the God I know and am merely offering a glimpse at God outside the theological “battle lines” – to show the true side of Him….
While it may not offering tantalizing, intellectual debate – I thought it was worth a look – to see Him in a different light….
Anyway, I appreciate the way you approach this topic and enjoy reading your posts.