Now
to the third point, "...why does God need me?"
Before
tackling the question, it is well to bring a previous thought to the fore. Since need indicates an inadequacy,
insufficiency, or lack one might dismiss the question based upon the
supposition that God is perfect in person and power and therefore, experiences
none of these thing.
Therefore,
one might rephrase the question to be in terms of "want." In doing so that "want" must be in
light of the previous statement. Why God
"wants" us in large part is what the historic church has termed a
"mystery." Simply stated there
are some things that about the infinite that the finite will never understand.
Examples
are insufficient but try this one. Imagine Albert Einstein trying to explain relativity to a
toddler. There is simply not enough
capacity for conceptual understanding and therefore there is no effective explanation. Now suppose that Einstein reduces it down to
the toddler level. In the process of
that reduction certain elements would be lost.
Such does not mean those do not exist, only that they are
"mysteries" to the toddler.
So
it is as the infinite God seeks to make Himself available (accommodates
Himself) to be understood by finite man.
Just because there are certain things not conceptually grasped by the
finite does not mean that those mysteries do not exist and function. As previously noted, these are
often referred to as "mystical" or "spiritual" elements of
faith.
As
a part of the discussion of "mystical" and "spiritual,"
there is a principle that underpins one's insight into these things. It has been expressed in various ways but
reduced down it simply means that there are some things that must be believed
to be seen. Stated else wise, some
things need to be believed to be understood.
More later.
In
order to grasp the Judeo-Christian faith system on some level (Einstein level
down to toddler level) there is a necessary supposition. It is that "God is love." Two considerations. First, the expression of God's love, whatever
that looks like, fits within "God is love" but never exhausts the
truth that gave the statement.
Second,
Divine love falls into one of the previously discussed notion of the finite
understanding of the infinite God. From
the finite view the expression of that love may appear as other than love. So what is the point of God being love and
God expressing that love?
Christian
apologist Ravi Zacharias develops the ramifications of Divine love in the
following manner.*
- The greatest love leads to the possibility of the freedom
of choice.
- Freedom of choice leads to the
possibility of there being sin and evil.
- Sin and evil leads to the
possibility of there being a savior
- A savior leads to the possibility of
there being redemption.
These
will be further developed and discussed in Part IV.
_____________________
*adapted from discussion available
in the series titled, "Conversations with Chuck: Abraham" (7-11 November) at:
http://www.insight.org/broadcast
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