What Are We Doing Here?

 

What Are We Doing Here?

This is the Westminster Shorter Catechism Answer:

The original text of 1647, with the Assembly’s proof texts:


Question. What is the chief end of man?
Answer.    Man’s chief end is to glorify God,(1) and to enjoy him forever.(2)

    

This is what I was taught being a good Presbyterian coming of age.  I even tried running my new family off these precepts, but something was missing.  Something intimate:

Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (My italics)16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.:”

And even:

Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

     The Westminster Shorter Catechism of Faith says by deduction that Jesus came from Heaven, was nailed to a cross, suffered death, then arose that His Father’s creatures may glorify Him.  That is it.  That is the end.  That great hoopla about His meteoric ministry going out like a bang then ascending to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God Almighty rings a chord doesn't it?.

     Surely this was the drive of the early church. “Glorify God!  Glorify God!”  I can almost hear them chanting “G.O.D!  G.O.D!” as they entered the colosseum.  This was long before European soccer and the need of the Americans to stomp the bleachers yelling the “U.S.A!” fight song.  Yep, that had to be it.  After all, it was the new Christian God in competition with every other on the horizon.  That’s why Jesus started the movement, right?  “Let’s get things clear here and beginning steamrolling kingdoms and nations in My Father’s name.”  Weird.

     People murder themselves today.  It’s called suicide.  When you are in that hole of outright despair, it’s not about proving your God is greater.  It is about the One who knows you.

     God does not care much about His own glory.  Doesn’t need it.  He doesn’t need subjects.  He needs you.  “Oh, but God doesn’t need anyone.  He is self-sufficient.  Baloney.  Ask any father if he had much of a need before his wife conceived.  Then ask him what happened when the baby was born.  God created within Himself a need for Man when He created Adam and Eve.  He on purpose made Himself emotionally vulnerable.  He rendered Himself a way to be hurt.

     If God, as our Father, isn’t hung up on the glory thing, what does He want?  He wants us to know Him.  This is eternal life.  This is life abundantly.  His friendship only leads to glory.

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