In the second chapter of "Engaging God's World," Plantinga discusses the creation. First, he talks about why God created. It was not a necessity; God does not need us by any means. However, it was surely not an accident or a random act of God either. According to Plantinga, it is in God's character to imagine and create, as it is in ours. It is just something that is to be expected of God. He wanted to create something and then love it.
Plantinga goes on to talk about the meaning of the Christian doctrine. Instead of copying down all eight points I am only going to talk about the ones that stand out to me the most.
When God created everything, it was good originally. Everything was good. This means that everything that is in the creation today is redeemable because everything was made for the purpose of doing good.
Our interaction with the world needs to consist of loving all of the creation without worshipping it. St. Francis of Assisi gives us a good example of how to do this. In his eyes, our material reality is a good thing. God wouldn't have made matter (and lots of it) if he did not love it himself.
The very fact that we are individually created in the image of God says that no one can show the light of God in exactly the same way. We are all unrepeatable. God has given each one of us abilities to show his love in many different ways. Also, since everyone has been created in the image of God, we are to treat and view each individual as such.
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Dear Jared,
ReplyDeleteYou state beautifully when you mention that ‘we are all unrepeatable. God has given each one of us abilities to show His love in many different ways. Also, since everyone has been created in the image of God, we are to treat and view each individual as such.’ We are ‘unrepeatable’. I.e. we cannot compare, we cannot desire to be exactly like somebody else. We need to develop independently. However, others can show us the way… Faithfulness, that’s the main lesson we all need.
God bless,
Adriana & Paulo