Why were we created? Why is anything created? Usually to serve some purpose of the creator. The creation may solve a problem or meet a need, or perhaps just bring pleasure to the one doing the creating. There is an old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Haven’t we all seen examples of this?
Bearing children is a form of creation that, in an ideal situation, meets fundamental needs in the hearts of the parents; the need to nurture, the need to be needed, the need for the comfort and security of a family, the need for companionship. Most people at some time in their lives feel the instinctual desire to procreate and ultimately take the steps necessary to become a parent. If we were created in the image of God, why would it be any different for him?
Perhaps the reasons we were created are the same for God as for any man or woman wanting to become a parent. Is it so hard to imagine God wanting someone to nurture, someone to satisfy the need to be needed? Of desiring a family to provide companionship?
Where did we ever get the idea that God created us to worship him? What kind of parent wants children who spend their lives bowing down and praising their name on bended knees, hands in the air, singing songs of adoration in endless repetition?
Those who do not suffer from megalomania would probably find such behavior uncomfortable and would quickly become annoyed. Most parents would demand that the child stand up, drop their hands, stop the mindless worship and try to relate on a more adult level.
God is not a megalomaniac and he does not want your mindless worship.
God wants to nurture you, to be there when needed and help you grow into someone who can be a part of his family. He wants to help you become capable of providing companionship on a more meaningful level.
Ultimately, I believe God wants you to grow to the point where you are a fully functional being, able to relate to him as a peer. Isn’t that the goal of any parent?
November 24, 2007 at 1:04 am |
Good thoughts. God created us out of love, by love, for love. When we grow in our relationship with God, we grow (up) in love.
November 24, 2007 at 8:41 pm |
I did a keyword search for the word worship on BibleGateway. What’s interesting is that in the vast majority of cases, the word worship is used in the Bible when humans have elected by choice to worship Him. The ratio of times people choose without coercion to worship God greatly outnumbers the minuscule number of times God asks to be worshiped.
You may, then, be right to a certain degree, though it is false to say He doesn’t want to be worshiped. We were created in His image for the purpose of having mercy on us (Romans 11:32) as parents love their children.
It is also notable that our primary purpose in creation is good works.
November 25, 2007 at 4:04 am |
Thank you both for your comments. I appreciate them.
What I meant when I said that God does not want your mindless worship is that he wants his children to grow beyond the need to endlessly “praise his holy name”, saying things like “praise you Jesus” over and over in endless repetition.
What kind of God would get off on that, year after year, forever? Dictators and megalomaniacs might, but even one such as Hitler or Ramses would tire of it eventually.
I believe God wants us to relate to him in a more meaningful way, not in wide-eyed awe, but in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We should love God as we would love a perfect parent, with trust and admiration, but not gushing with meaningless praise and adoration.
As for our primary purpose in creation being good works, that may be part of it, but ultimately what God wants for us in this life is to grow as spiritual beings and to seek perfection. Good works are certainly a way to achieve this goal, and an example that one is maturing, but good works in and of themselves are meaningless.