Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Do you consider it a generally accepted Christian belief that "man" was made to glorify God and enjoy him forever? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Now, you said do I believe it's generally accepted. I do not believe that most Christians accept this. But I believe it is true. Did you mean to word it that way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Now, you said do I believe it's generally accepted. I do not believe that most Christians accept this. But I believe it is true. Did you mean to word it that way? :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabeline Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Now, you said do I believe it's generally accepted. I do not believe that most Christians accept this. But I believe it is true. Did you mean to word it that way? :iagree: I think of that statement as from the Westminster Confession catechism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in C-ville Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I would tweak it, along with John Piper, and say that the chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrresistibleGrace Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I would tweak it, along with John Piper, and say that the chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever. :iagree: well said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 We are made to know, love and serve God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds, and all our might. CCC 201 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Now, you said do I believe it's generally accepted. I do not believe that most Christians accept this. But I believe it is true. Did you mean to word it that way? Hmm. Interesting point! I have always heard this and thought it was solid Christian doctrine, even before I ever went to a Presbyterian church or ever looked at the Westminster Shorter Catechism. In 15 years of being a Christian, I have never heard anyone say something that called that belief into question. In 2 days, I had 2 people recommend a certain book to me. I am only 1/2 way through, but the whole book, written by a pastor, seems to be saying we were created for a different reason. So, my question stands for when I talk to the people who recommended it to me. Now, I am wondering if it is solely a Presbyterian belief. If you voted no, what do you believe??? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I'm curious to know what the other belief is :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Gotta know . . . what's the other reason you're reading about? I might say at the end of the thread, but I don't want it to turn into a discussion about the book. I haven't finished it either, so maybe it gets better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Any of the no votes willing to share what you believe? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I am saying no. The term Christian covers a very broad spectrum. It is, however, what I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Like some other posters, I believe this is true but I also believe that it's been/being jettisoned in mainline denominations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I agree and so voted yes. However if that is generally accepted in the wide arena of Christianity I'm not sure. I think a great many Christians don't consider God past his ability to help them solve their problems. (Not those catechized with the Westminster Shorter. ;) And in my background that would be a vast, vast many. That is not to say that Christians can't or don't come to such a conclusion in ways other than the catechism. I believe they can and do. The catechism is based on Scripture. It's not just invented out of thin air. Rambling here.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Mankind was created to love and adore God and to serve Him with the talents He has given each one of us. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 We are made to know, love and serve God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds, and all our might. CCC 201 :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I voted other. I believe the statement to be true, but I don't think it is a generally held doctrine. I also like John Piper's spin on it. I highly recommend Desiring God, by Piper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 ummmm, yes. What else could it be? I might put it in slightly different words, but that's pretty much it, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 (edited) I voted other. I agree with the general sentiment that we were created to be in fellowship with God, but not that our point in life is to glorify God - that wording is too Calvinist for me, too "humanity only exists to serve God's needs". Sometimes the Calvinist emphasis on God's sovereignty gets a little too "narcissistic God" for my taste :tongue_smilie: (besides, I don't agree that God's sovereignty is the foundational doctrine of Christianity in the first place). ETA: I would say that it is not clear in the Bible *why* God chose to create people, only that he wanted too. Speculation as to why is just that, speculation. The Bible does make it clear that He loves us, though, and I see the foundational doctrine of Christianity as the expression of that love in reconciling us to Him through Christ's death on the cross. Edited February 16, 2012 by forty-two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Do you consider it a generally accepted Christian belief that "man" was made to glorify God and enjoy him forever? Thank you! Definitely WCF there. We are made to know, love and serve God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds, and all our might. CCC 201 Yes and yes, but so much more than just these. (voted other) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Definitely WCF there. What does WCF mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I would tweak it, along with John Piper, and say that the chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying him forever. :iagree::iagree::iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 I voted other. I believe the statement to be true, but I don't think it is a generally held doctrine. I also like John Piper's spin on it. I highly recommend Desiring God, by Piper. Or Dangerous Duty of Delight for those intimidated by the longer book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 :iagree: I think of that statement as from the Westminster Confession catechism. This what I would have thought of too. We are made to know, love and serve God with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our minds, and all our might. I think I agree here with Chucki. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 What does WCF mean? Westminster Confession of Faith (though some Reformed Baptists will use the same thing as the WCF was a basis for the LBC, London Baptist Confession). What you stated is the first catechism question, I believe. Why was man created? To Glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Westminster Confession of Faith (though some Reformed Baptists will use the same thing as the WCF was a basis for the LBC, London Baptist Confession). What you stated is the first catechism question, I believe. Why was man created? To Glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Oh, okay. I have never heard it called that. I have always heard it called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Yes, that is what I was thinking of when I wrote the question. As I said though, I have always heard something similar as to why we were created, my whole Christian walk, by every denomination I have been in, which is more than I care to admit. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Generally accepted, yes. Believe it personally, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankcassiesmom Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Generally accepted, yes. Believe it personally? WHOLEHEARTEDLY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Growing up, I attended a church that had very little Bible teaching (some of the stories) and absolutely no doctrine. As an adult, I have studied the Bible more, but still not much theology. So I voted "no", since in my experience, it isn't being taught so it can't be known and accepted or rejected. I, too, want to know what book you are reading that teaches we are created for a different reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 No. I do not believe the majority of Christians believe that. By "Christian" I am speaking about all traditions. I didn't vote because I couldn't decide what the question meant. I used to believe this but now I believe that man is created as the fruit of the love of the Holy Trinity, and that the point of my existence (and of every human's) is union with God. Communion, not fellowship. It's complete unconditional love. This best describes what I believe. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I voted other. I agree with the general sentiment that we were created to be in fellowship with God, but not that our point in life is to glorify God - that wording is too Calvinist for me, too "humanity only exists to serve God's needs". Sometimes the Calvinist emphasis on God's sovereignty gets a little too "narcissistic God" for my taste :tongue_smilie: (besides, I don't agree that God's sovereignty is the foundational doctrine of Christianity in the first place). ETA: I would say that it is not clear in the Bible *why* God chose to create people, only that he wanted too. Speculation as to why is just that, speculation. The Bible does make it clear that He loves us, though, and I see the foundational doctrine of Christianity as the expression of that love in reconciling us to Him through Christ's death on the cross. ... I believe that man is created as the fruit of the love of the Holy Trinity, and that the point of my existence (and of every human's) is union with God. Communion, not fellowship. It's complete unconditional love. Agree with both of these. My church does not teach this and I don't believe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 I really appreciate all the replies! :001_smile: It is always good to re-evaluate that which you just assume. I don't want to post the name of the book because SWB has had enough problems with authors being upset about what is said about their books here. I will tell you if you PM me though. Since posting, I looked into the book and although it gets 4.5 stars on Amazon, pastors are tearing it apart on their blogs as being doctrinally dangerous. Basically it said Eve was made because God wanted to be loved. I can't even put into words why Adam was made; it was convoluted. The biggest issue is that this pastor seemed to be grappling with why we were made. I found that really odd, because I thought that was one of the few things in Christianity that is not debated. I guess the thought that anything isn't debated is silly! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Basically it said Eve was made because God wanted to be loved. I can't even put into words why Adam was made; it was convoluted. The biggest issue is that this pastor seemed to be grappling with why we were made. I found that really odd, because I thought that was one of the few things in Christianity that is not debated. I guess the thought that anything isn't debated is silly! :lol: OK - I agree with the Westminster Confession. But this? No. God wants our love but does not need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halftime Hope Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Basically it said Eve was made because God wanted to be loved. I think Scripture is pretty clear in what it tells us about why God created Eve. Gen 3:18: Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.†I know you knew that, but my goodness, why would someone come up with the conjecture that you mentioned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 I know you knew that, but my goodness, why would someone come up with the conjecture that you mentioned? He said as he was sitting in counseling sessions with women and kept wondering what God was trying to say through Eve. He eventually comes to the conclusion that He wants to be loved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 He said as he was sitting in counseling sessions with women and kept wondering what God was trying to say through Eve. He eventually comes to the conclusion that He wants to be loved. *insert eyeroll* Sounds the person should not be sitting in on counseling sessions if this is what he jumps to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I believe it is true, but I don't believe it is generally accepted. I think the phrase - "I was created for God to make me happy and fulfilled" - is more on par with reality, although not likely vocalized. An interesting blog post on the topic of the "narccisistic God": http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/god-magnifying-god-a-contemporary-debate/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.