Westminster Catechism

New Leaves	the conviction of things not seen

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Posted by: NewLeaves77 Original: 9/21/2008 5:54 PM Views: 53 Comments: 4 eProps: 0 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

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The Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns and Sacred Songs
By Fernando Ortega
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Wow, I haven't been here in so long, I almost forget how to do this. Hmmm...

Q1: What is the chief end of man?

A1: The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

My Sunday School girls have rightly, and very astutely I think, surmised that the answer to the first question of the Westminster Catechism makes our God appear selfish. An unselfish person, assuredly, would not do anything purely to glorify themselves and themselves only, and it does not seem that a selfish God could be a good god; an opinion which I can understand having held it myself at some recent date.

Of course we can say that it is unfair to hold God to human standards - that what would be an unpleasant characteristic for a mere human being is not so in an all-powerful god - but this line of reasoning does nothing for a person who believes in a non-existent, or very small, or very mean god. In order for Question 1 to make sense to a person, the girls say, that person needs to be convinced, by God but probably through human means, that our God is worth glorifying and that His desire to have us glorify and enjoy him is not selfishness on his part, but necessity. The person needs to understand that things could be no other way with a perfect God.

My question for you is: How did you come to understand that God's glory is something to be desired, and not only desired but required, by Himself and ourselves? Was it a Bible verse? A life experience? A John Piper book? (ha ha) What can we do to help other people understand this?

Posted 9/21/2008 5:54 PM - 53 Views - 0 eProps - 4 comments

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4 Comments

I think acknowledging that God has saved my bacon numerous times (in an eternal way and in current life) has drawn me to the belief of "how could I not glorify Him and enjoy Him.

If I asked someone to glorify and enjoy me for the piddly little tings I've done, it would be foolish, because my goof ups far outweigh the good I've done in the world. I think if I asked you to do that even with the limited knowledge of the goof ups I've made, you might smirk.

On the other hand, God's always come through and never goofed up.

Posted 9/22/2008 8:13 AM by grantcthomas - reply

i struggled a lot with this question when i first became a christian. how could God be so selfish and self-centered where everything is about Him?

as i've come to realize God's perfection, especially in light of my imperfection, i began to understand that He is one worthy to be given all worship and praise. this went hand in hand with seeing how holy God is. and as these ideas trickled down, i'm beginning to understand how God's glory should be desired and required.

Posted 9/22/2008 11:28 AM by ramona - reply

Hi!

So do you think that this understanding of God's holiness and perfection and bacon-savingness something that precedes or, em...postcedes...true saving faith? Some of both, perhaps?

Here's the sticking point in my mind: Imagine I'm a 12 year old - this is where the Sunday School girls are coming from - having a conversation with an unbelieving friend. We get around to the point in the conversation where the friend says, " But I can't believe in a selfish God!" What should I say? What verse should I relate? Should I regale them with life experiences? Shut up and pray? :)

On the one hand, I feel like anything I might say at this point would seem like circular logic to an unbeliever. On the other hand, one need to have a sense of the holiness and perfection and therefore the ultimate worth of God to truly put your faith in God. The line between the two places is totally fascinating and I would like to know what goes on there.

"There is some water! Why should I not be baptized?!?" So great. :)

Posted 9/22/2008 11:41 PM by NewLeaves77 - reply

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I Cor 1:18. I don't know if an unbeliever can become convinced of God's necessary glorification unless the Holy Spirit is working within him/her to help.
I agree with what grantcthomas and ramona have said above. We can only understand the holiness and glory-deservingness of God as we begin to understand our sinfulness (without Christ) and undeservingness (yeah, I know that's not a word)-- and that is something that grows as we do in faith-- but I think we need faith/the Holy Spirit working in us to understand to begin with.

Posted 9/25/2008 4:09 PM by gardengeekette (site) - reply

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