Opening Thoughts On God And Play

[Apologiaphoenix]

Let the games begin!

Link

[Sparko]

Are you saying God was lacking Joy?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Not at all.

[Christianbookworm]

Are you saying that creating the universe and us is His hobby?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Not in the sense of a plaything, but I think He did it for joy. There's an ancient tradition that says that the Trinity was involved in a dance of love for all eternity, and mankind was created to join in the dance.

[Christianbookworm]

I meant in the sense someone might paint a picture, write a story, or design a computer program. For the joy of creating something. Considering the variety of exoplanets out there, Someone is clearly creative for the sake of being creative. No one but God would have known about those planets until recently. Does it bring glory to God when we keep discovering more details of the world He created?

[Apologiaphoenix]

I don't see why it wouldn't.

[Sparko]

Not at all.

If he created us for joy, then doesn't it mean he was lacking that joy before creating us?

[TheWall]

If he created us for joy, then doesn't it mean he was lacking that joy before creating us?

Not necessarily. He created the universe and called it good doing so out of love. Being God he doesnt really need anything.

[Sparko]

Not necessarily. He created the universe and called it good doing so out of love. Being God he doesnt really need anything.

Didn't say "need" - said, "lacking"

[Apologiaphoenix]

No. It does mean though that He wanted to expand that joy beyond Himself and have others share in that joy.

There have to be others for that to happen.

[Sparko]

No. It does mean though that He wanted to expand that joy beyond Himself and have others share in that joy.

There have to be others for that to happen.

OK. then you might want to reword your blog.

It wasn't clear that is what you meant when you said, "What if we replaced it with playing? What if part of the reason God does all He does is for joy? After all, there was no need for creation. God was not lacking anything. There was nothing wrong with God or no task He was assigned. Why create? For joy."


But I don't find it wrong that God wants MORE Joy so he created. Like I sad above there is a difference between NEEDING and LACKING. You NEED air, but you might only be lacking in a big screen TV. You can want to have something you are lacking, or do without. So I don't see why God couldn't be lacking in the joy of his creation and wanting to create so he could have that joy. He didn't NEED it, he just wanted it.

[Apologiaphoenix]

Exactly. He never needed anything. If I say He never needed anything then it would follow He's not lacking in anything. God creates to share the abundance of love.

[Sparko]

Exactly. He never needed anything. If I say He never needed anything then it would follow He's not lacking in anything. God creates to share the abundance of love.

God is lacking in many things. He is lacking in being mean. He is lacking a uterus. He probably doesn't have a computer or big screen TV either.

He doesn't NEED those things though.

[Christianbookworm]

God is lacking in many things. He is lacking in being mean. He is lacking a uterus. He probably doesn't have a computer or big screen TV either.

He doesn't NEED those things though.

Well, since He created all the atoms in your computer....