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9 months of fatherhood
11.26.2007 by Tim Reed
Recently there’s been a big dust up in the ol’ blogosphere amongst theology nerd bloggers about the Reformed view that everything God does is for the sake of his glory. You can go here if you want to get the blow by blow. John Piper has been the primary Reformed thinker leading the charge on the side arguing for God’s motivation being for his glory, and in support of his position posted 50 proof texts from scripture.
I’ve been a father for 9 months now, and that 9 months has taught me a lot about God. The metaphor of God as father is one that is found throughout scripture, and is one of the most powerful. After experiencing fatherhood for nine months I can’t imagine trying to cast God as doing everything for his glory. That strikes me as perhaps the furthest thing from the mind of a father.
I know this isn’t a very academic argument, and would probably get me an F if I used it as the basis for a paper, but if we’re going to take the metaphor of God as our father as seriously as scripture seems to, we may have to ditch the God doing everything for his own glory theology.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I’m really not a Calvinism hater, but things like this controversy bring it out in me. I saw this thing get started and knew that it would spread like wild fire.
They start with the basis that Reformed theology is correct without question and will voraciously defend all aspects of it even if it is ridiculous. The result is something like this statement one of the Witherington attackers made: “God is at the center of his own affections. The supreme love of God’s life is God.”
Bend Scripture around to defend that statement if you must, but it’s still ridiculous.
If you tire of this argument, stick around; a new one is right around the corner.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
\”After experiencing fatherhood for nine months I can’t imagine trying to cast God as doing everything for his glory.\”
Yeah, \”if I was God…\” The single dumbest things any human being could ever say - \”if I were God.\”
What possible reference point could a finite human being possibly have to compare themself to an eternal Self-existing disembodied Spirit Who is infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and Truine in nature?
I\’m sorry, what was that you were saying; \”if I were God…\”
November 30th, 2007 at 1:29 am
And now here’s some wisdom from Leave It To Beaver:
“Aw shucks Tim, you’re my hero!”
November 30th, 2007 at 4:14 am
I don’t know, Tim. It seems Silva quoted more Christian-friendly entertainment. I think he’s got you pinned here.
December 5th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Tommy Boy. Nice. Chad, I believe Tim is one up with his quote. It was apropriate, accurate, more witty, and closed out his comment with humorous flair. Also, the source of the quote is irrelevant the second the person uses the quote in a negative way. Seeing as both quotes were used in a negative sarcastic fashion, that places them on equal ground.
Also, this is a first for me, Tim, you just pwned Silva. Nice.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
If I were Calvin, I think I’d stick with what the Bible says, without trying to extrapolate into a tight theological system. Seems like the thinking of man. Is God really enslaved to his own glory? Does he also lack the freewill required to do otherwise?