This past weekend I was listening to podcasts on C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and one phrase stuck with me - "God is more than you want Him to be." I think life, the universe, and everything is also more - much more - than we want it to be.
We want a cosmos we can understand, fit into a box, and above all, control. That's where I think the problem lies - the issue that popped up when Eve ate the apple - as it says in Genesis 3:4-6:
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
To be like God - that burning desire, according to Christian tradition, was the sin of Lucifer, who became Satan and talked Eve into embracing the same desire in the Garden of Eden.
Yet, Hebrew and Christian tradition also states that we are made in the image of God. So what gives? When are we co-creators with God and when are we playing God? Christians have struggled over that ethical question for centuries - coming up with different answers.
I think that maybe the heart of the issue lies in control - as in who is in control. If we seek to be in control, then we fall into the trap of playing God rather than playing with God. If we allow God to be in control, rejoicing in the diversity and moreness of life, the universe, and everything, then we fulfill what it means to be made in the image of God.
You are right--it comes down to who do we want to be in charge. It's been a while since I read the story, but in my memory, Lucifer's actual desire was to "unseat" God from the throne, to take over Heaven.
ReplyDeleteWhereas if our desire is to be God's instrument, His hands and feet on t his earth in order to accomplish His will--then we can experience the joy of "playing WITH God," indeed.
I was musing once on the idea that God doesn't need our praise and worship, nor even our obedience. After all, He could snuff us out like a candle anytime He wanted. Our petty little fits and nonsense can't actually hurt him in any way...
But if He loves us, then not only does He not want to snuff us out, lol, but He wants us to be RIGHT. So much like we want our children to grow up to be ladies and gentlemen; to be strong, tender, good people.
And part of being a fully mature being is having a sense, if you will, of propriety. By that I mean knowing how to act, when to show reverence. God wants us to reverence Him because it is so very appropriate, and right. He is a divine being, the very source of love and goodness. It is only right that we treat Him with respect and reverence and worship.
All of which agrees with your post today. If our hearts and attitudes are right, we don't want to de-throne God--we want to agree with Him, and be allowed to work with Him and for Him...