This very odd (and Scriptureless) explanation of a doctrine that changes nothing about our obligations or privileges as Christians.
Particularly since the author is a theologian, we must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.
-------------------------
I love this question for a number of reasons. First of all, this question helpfully reorients our expectations for our relationship with God. It’s easy for us to flatter ourselves when we think about our relationship with God, because we tend to think that our relationship with God works very similarly to our relationship with other people. I am affected by other people, and I affect other people. There is this mutual kind of push-pull thing going on with relationships with other humans.
It can be very easy for us to imagine that my relationship with God works very similarly. I affect him and he affects me in that mutually impactful way. Well, the doctrine of divine aseity contradicts that way of thinking. It says God is not dependent on us in any way whatsoever. (??? The author term-switches. Before it was "affects," now it's "dependent." These are two very different ideas.)
I love this question for a number of reasons. First of all, this question helpfully reorients our expectations for our relationship with God. It’s easy for us to flatter ourselves when we think about our relationship with God, because we tend to think that our relationship with God works very similarly to our relationship with other people. I am affected by other people, and I affect other people. There is this mutual kind of push-pull thing going on with relationships with other humans.
It can be very easy for us to imagine that my relationship with God works very similarly. I affect him and he affects me in that mutually impactful way. Well, the doctrine of divine aseity contradicts that way of thinking. It says God is not dependent on us in any way whatsoever. (??? The author term-switches. Before it was "affects," now it's "dependent." These are two very different ideas.)
We are pure beneficiaries. We simply receive from God. He is a pure benefactor. We are pure beneficiaries.
Sometimes that can rub people the wrong way because it doesn’t pamper our self-flattery. (What sort of self-flattery? How does this tie in to the subject? Please explain.)
Sometimes that can rub people the wrong way because it doesn’t pamper our self-flattery. (What sort of self-flattery? How does this tie in to the subject? Please explain.)
But it’s actually very good because it means that God is not forced to create. (?? Who thinks God is forced to create? What does Him creating have to do with self-flattery, or even how we might "affect" Him? Please explain.)
He’s not creating because he is enriched in any way whatsoever. God is not benefited by creating, redeeming, and glorifying his people. (It sounds like the author wants us to believe that there's nothing in it for God. Why this is important is unknown. Where it is found in Scripture is not said.)
The reason why that is good news for us is that it means that God created out of the pure freedom of his own generous love. Pure generosity is on full display in God’s creation, redemption, and glorification of his creation. (So God created out of His character and nature. Fine. But that does not address "aseity.")
The reason why that is good news for us is that it means that God created out of the pure freedom of his own generous love. Pure generosity is on full display in God’s creation, redemption, and glorification of his creation. (So God created out of His character and nature. Fine. But that does not address "aseity.")
He didn’t create because he needs us. (The author finally uses the word contained in the title. He has used a variety of words to describe the doctrine, none of which speak to the point.)
We need him. He does not need us. (Define "need." Does God not "need" us in the sense of depending on us for His happiness? That's probably true. Or, is it that God derives absolutely nothing in terms of pleasure from us? We would disagree, and we would ask the author to document his position from the Bible.)
He’s not enriched by us, but he enriches us. (More terminology. The author is obligated to do more than make bare assertions.)
And that is good news for us.
Samuel G. Parkison is the author of The Fountain of Life: Contemplating the Aseity of God.
Samuel G. Parkison (PhD, Midwestern Seminary) is associate professor of theology at the Gulf Theological Seminary in the United Arab Emirates. He is the author of several books, including Irresistible Beauty: Beholding Triune Glory in the Face of Jesus Christ and To Gaze Upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment