Creation

         After reading the Weight of Glory by Lewis and Plantinga on the same day, it is easy to draw connections from one to the other. Lewis implies that Glory is found by gaining God’s approval and thus through humility. Plantinga says “According to God’s intelligence the way to thrive is to help others thrive; the way to flourish is to cause others to flourish; the way to fulfill yourself is to spend yourself.” The way to glorify God is to be humble and aid others on a path that is beneficial and helpful to them.  Both Lewis and Plantinga show the necessity of humility in the walk of a Christian life, and it is this path that we attempt to pursue.

The next point from reading in Plantinga that stuck out to me was the need to convince us that the world was not created by accident. “Creation is neither a necessity nor an accident. Instead, given God’s interior life that overflows with regard for others, we might say creation is an act that was fitting for God” I would like to understand why this point is necessary. It seems that Plantinga is trying to come up with a reason for our creation and I do not think I can accept that he knows the answer to that question. Yes, I see his point that the relationship shared and happening in the trinity is full of a love and of a nature we cannot perceive. Yes I understand that God has an abundance of grace, life, goodness and joy that pores out of Him. But with the argument that Plantinga uses it seems that the question next would be why then and not sooner or later (although really we would not know either way).  I am grateful that God has created us, but I do not think that anyone can even grasp at the why. Plantinga makes a sound argument for his proposal, I just happen to think that no one can explain the actions of God. 

Finally, I come to the image of God. It is an incredible blessing that God has bestowed upon man to be formed in His image. Plantinga gives three reasons why we are like God: dominion over the animals; living in a loving communion with each other; and conforming to Christ in suffering and death. These things are parts that are given to each human being, but every Christian should strive to perfect. Dominion over the land is a task to preserve the natural beauty and to empower the creatures of the world rather than to overtake them. The idea that we could live in a perfect communion with each other as the trinity does would change the world if only a small effort were made. The final point is one that I struggle the most with. How are we to conform to Christ? Willing suffering and enduring pain is not something that I am very good at, but I will continue to try.