Why were we created?

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Dark Virtue

New Member
I ran across this question today and thought I'd post it to the group here.

According to you, a Christian, why did God create Man? Bonus points for discussing why God created Angels.

Some points to consider:

Why did God create Man?

What is Man's purpose?

More importantly, what purpose could Man's creation serve that an omnimax God couldn't fulfill on His own?

Thanks!
 
Simple... tis found in the last chapter of that venerable book of Ecclesiastes in the thirteenth verse:

"Fear the Lord, for this is man's all."

God desires to be feared. Not to be scary so to speak, but to be magnified by creation for the infinitely powerful, infinitely beautiful, infinitely gracious One He is. This is often called glorification. We as humans are also to savour and bask in His all satisfying presence. As John Piper would put it:

"The chief end of Man is to Glorify God by enjoying Him forever."

We were created to take joy in glorifying God.
 
Courtesy of Marcylene

This from ICR Days of Praise. Yet another confirmation that we were made to praise/worship/glorify Him.


"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (Isaiah 43:7).

There are three main verbs used to describe God's work of creation in Genesis. These are "create" (Hebrew, bara), "make" (asah), and "form" (yatsar). The three words are similar in meaning, but each with a slightly different emphasis. None of them, of course, can mean anything at all like "evolve," or "change," on their own accord.

All three are used in Genesis with reference to man. "And God said, Let us make man in our image. . . . So God created man in His own image. . . . And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground" (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7).

Although the subject of creation is commonly associated with Genesis, it is mentioned even more frequently by the great prophet Isaiah. The words bara and yatsar are used twice as often in Isaiah as in any other Old Testament book and are applied uniquely to works of God. All three verbs are used together in Isaiah 45:18 in order to describe, adequately, God's purposeful work in preparing the earth for man: "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else."

God created, formed, made, and established the earth, that it might be the home of men and women. But what was God's purpose for the people who would inhabit it? Our text answers this most fundamental of questions, and once again, all three key verbs are used: "I have created him . . . I have formed him, . . . I have made him . . . for my glory."

This Biblical perspective alone provides the greatest of all possible incentives to live a godly and useful life. The reason we were created is to glorify God! HMM
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from the praise and worship Bible Study

Gen
 
Jericho_falls said:
Simple... tis found in the last chapter of that venerable book of Ecclesiastes in the thirteenth verse:

"Fear the Lord, for this is man's all."

God desires to be feared. Not to be scary so to speak, but to be magnified by creation for the infinitely powerful, infinitely beautiful, infinitely gracious One He is. This is often called glorification. We as humans are also to savour and bask in His all satisfying presence. As John Piper would put it:

"The chief end of Man is to Glorify God by enjoying Him forever."

We were created to take joy in glorifying God.
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So essentially God created man so that we would repeatedly tell him of his infinite greatness? Am I correct in making that inference? I hope not. I'd like to think that there is more purpose to life than stroking someone's ego, however justified it may be.
 
Maybe I'm being oversimplified, maybe God created us as a creation that could choose to love him back.
 
Thanks for the answers, unfortunately, they beget more questions.

If God is a perfect and omnimax being, why would He need/want/require worship and reverence? Why would He need to create an inferior being to worship Him?

In the same vein, why would a perfect being need to be loved? Can you be perfect and still have wants/needs/desires? Can you be perfect and need to be loved? If God WAS lonely and needed to be Loved, why not create a peer that could TRULY understand and Love Him in a far greater way than a finite, inferior being?
 
You're looking @ it from a purely analytical viewpoint, no emotion. ***forget this analogy, it's very horrible. I will receive much critisicm for this bad analogy.*** :D ))) added:Now i noticed my post seems to be kind of empty... Arg. I'll add another later, g2g.

He didn't NEED to be loved and he would die. And whoever said that we cannot love him fully? :D I LOOHOOOOOVE camp BAAYF. We have a lot of fun there. Even though it's very NON-modern, it's still fun!

And in response to some posts...
You make it sound like it's NOT fun to do anything

So essentially God created man so that we would repeatedly tell him of his infinite greatness? Am I correct in making that inference? I hope not. I'd like to think that there is more purpose to life than stroking someone's ego, however justified it may be.
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And whoever said it was making him feel proud, like flattering somebody? Urg. Dinner. I'll finish this up later. If I can, studying for finals...

And question to anyone else. Any other ideas of "Why were we created?" or exist if you want to put it that way.
 
Coud it be that some of us were created to keep others on their toes? ;)

We are created in the image of Love, for God is Love, that is our purpose. Praising, loving, and adoring Him, and loving our fellowman.

He wants us to know him:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:24

Love, laughter, joy...we are created in His image

How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139: 17 & 18

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

Created for His pleasure? Me, pleasure the Creator of all things? Is it possible that I could do that for Him? For me, that is simply further proof of His Love for me.

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over the with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

It is truly all about giving and receiving Love that goes far beyond our understanding. It is all about being a part of the greatest love relationship that stretches far beyond our wildest dreams.

I love this poem by Russell Kelfer:

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what He wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones He chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, the trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!

I believe He gives each of us gifts and talents that we can choose to use in His honor. I think there are multitudes of purposes for our lives...and beyond this life. We are only pilgrim's here, for He goes to prepare a place for us. We are in the wilderness now, yet we look for a Promised land whose Builder and Maker is God.

I am not sure why He did things in the manner in which He did. As I grow as a Christian I take delight in knowing that any love relationship must have trust. I choose to trust Him. I take delight and am utterly speechless in explaining the joy that I feel that He chose me. It blesses my heart to know that whosoever will may claim the same thing, for His infinite love, grace, and mercy is more than the world can contain; there is enough for us all, and it is an everlasting Love that will never let us down.
 
Dark Virtue said:
Bonus points for discussing why God created Angels.
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There seems to be a multitude of reasons that He created angels, too. My favorite, for guardianship.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: Luke 14:10

Oh, and another favorite is the messenger angels. More especially the one that stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac because God provides Jesus as the Lamb.

They seem to be very busy working in Revelation.

How many points is that and where do I go to cash them?
 
I like the theory that we were created solely to glorify God, because it answers a lot of the little niggles with Christian scripture. It also explains the Angels - created without freewill, their adoration must lose its savour. Especially as half of them rebelled agaisnt their enforced slavery.

So we come down to this - God created the world so he could collect the souls of a set number of sentients who have CHOSEN to worship him. The rest he will smash and throw away. Initally (Old Testament) he was very hands on, but he found out his interventions were not having the effect he desired so he switched to a much more hands off approach, letting humanity swell in numbers, so he could snatch up the few true believers from a larger pool.

Of course, it doesn't paint a very flattering picture of God, does it?
 
Have u ever thought the popularity of the christian religion over alot of religions that have faded over the years is u believe u were made in gods image. Think how that would stroke your ego.

Would a good analogy be we're the mice in a maze, we have free will to go any which way we want, but we only have a few options., left right, up down. Also if u think of god as the scientist, he played with us for a little time, watched over us and stuff (Old testimate), but got boared and left us.
 
O' contrar! The One True God who cannot lie will never leave us nor forsake us! While you obviously do not hold Him in high regard, you are thinking of Him!

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Without having a love relationship with Him I can understand your boredom when you consider praising Him. He is an understanding God.

Behold, God is mighty, and despisesth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. Job 36:5

When we see Him as the Love of our lives, read the Book of Solomon to understand that He is truly, genuinely, 100% in Lo ooo ooove with us...we are made after His image and part of that resemblance is to have the capacity for Love which naturally breeds praise and worship...He for us, and in turn, us for Him...delighting to praise Him is only natural! Anthropologist will tell you we are hard wired for worship and we will worship something. Did He create us that way for ego's sake? I think not. I think that is simply part of our make up that resembles His adoration for us that we will naturally mirror when our hearts are right towards Him.

Lucifer was the most gorgeous creator, made of precious gems, an orchestra within himself and to this day very cunning. I am not so certain that the angels were bored as much as beguiled. He must be quite the orator, for Eve was willing to leave her beloved God, Adam, and the perfection of the Garden of Eden because of listening to him. Bored? More likely seeking fine jewels and swooning after love songs by a smooth talker beckoning them to come and worship him in place of God.
 
Eon said:
It also explains the Angels - created without freewill, their adoration must lose its savour. Especially as half of them rebelled agaisnt their enforced slavery.
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Eh?

If Angels didn't have Free Will then how did Satan rebel against God? Without Angelic Free Will, how did 1/3 of the angels side with Satan to fight against God?
 
Marcylene said:
There seems to be a multitude of reasons that He created angels, too. My favorite, for guardianship.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:10

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: Luke 14:10

Oh, and another favorite is the messenger angels. More especially the one that stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac because God provides Jesus as the Lamb.

They seem to be very busy working in Revelation.

How many points is that and where do I go to cash them?
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Not so fast Marcy. All these points you make allow for angelic purpose AFTER the creation of Man. There was a period of time when angels existed and Man did not. My question was the purpose of their initial creation, not their purpose after Man's creation.

we are made after His image and part of that resemblance is to have the capacity for Love which naturally breeds praise and worship...He for us, and in turn, us for Him...delighting to praise Him is only natural! Anthropologist will tell you we are hard wired for worship and we will worship something. Did He create us that way for ego's sake? I think not.
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You have only restated my point, you haven't elaborated on it. WHY did an omnimax being create an inferior being to worship Him? Let's look at what worship means:

1 : to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power
2 : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

Why did God feel the need to have beings revere or honor Him? Note that to worship someone you need to show EXTRAVAGENT respect and devotion, no regular respect or devotion will do. Again, why the need for EXTRAVAGENT respect? Revere means to honor and admire PROFOUNDLY.

What were God's needs that we were meant to fulfill?

Note that need is defined as, "a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful". How can a perfect, omnimx being have a lack of ANYTHING?
 
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Oh! Ugh ugh! You best hand over those points, Mister! Check out post numero uno in this thread! Now that you have rephrased your question, my answer still stands and that was naming only a few of the host of angels. We were on His mind from the very beginning of time, He loved us from the first thought of making man. Therefore, they were for us...it is all for us and because of His Love for us.
For that, I get multitudes of bonus points! DV! Shame be unto you! Trying to cheat me out of bonus points! Who'd of thunk it? You owe me BIG time! I think I should receive the grande prize of my choosing!
Note that need is defined as, "a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful". How can a perfect, omnimx being have a lack of ANYTHING?
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When you are bursting with love you must share it! He didn't have everything...He didn't have you to love, DV. :) Truly we can never comprehend with our finite minds and sinful body how much He truly cares for us and what He does for us.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

It is ALL from Him. We could never give Him the praise He rightfully deserves. I think we are all guilty of not recognizing and thanking Him for all that He does...and yet, as the hymn says, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/g/hgmgrace.htm
 
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LOL chill out

You've answered half the question, can you answer the rest?

Are you telling me that legions of angels sat around twiddling their thumbs waiting for God to create Man so they would have a purpose?

They didn't have a purpose PRIOR to the creation of Man and independant of Man? Basically what you are saying is that angels were created to serve Man and that was their ONLY purpose. Is that correct?
 
Dark Virtue said:
twiddling their?
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I am not sure of your idea of fun, but in the glory of Heaven?...they were having the time of their lives!
I am off to study about angels! I have no idea how to answer your question further without studying. Please proudly note that some of my in-depth Bible study comes because of you. Are you certain you aren't called to be a missionary or something?

Now, as for the prize of choice for the points that I have already acquired, thank you very much! Tell the family you will be taking them to church on Sunday. You are gonna' simply love Beth Moore!
 
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If I go to ANY church, it will be Benny Hinn's.

I have this bad knee that I'm sure he could cure! :)

You say the angels were having the time of their lives in heaven. Um...where do you get that from? This goes back to my question...why were they created? To have fun in heaven?
 
Lucifer was the most gorgeous creator, made of precious gems, an orchestra within himself and to this day very cunning. I am not so certain that the angels were bored as much as beguiled. He must be quite the orator, for Eve was willing to leave her beloved God, Adam, and the perfection of the Garden of Eden because of listening to him. Bored? More likely seeking fine jewels and swooning after love songs by a smooth talker beckoning them to come and worship him in place of God.
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I don't remember saying anything about angels being bored. If heaven is so fantastic, how could angels get BORED???

Would you mind posting the bible reference that says Lucifer was made of precious gems? Also, there isn't much to suggest that Lucifer and Satan are actually the same being, but that's for another thread.

Would you mind being more specific and tell us if you believe that angels have free will?
 
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