Katechismus

Confucius Craze

What is it that we say we believe? We believe in a Triune God, self-disclosed in both special and natural revelation, who has decreed all that comes to pass for the purpose of manifesting his glory.

There is meaning in life and what is around us; God designed his creation in such a way as to lead us toward finding that meaning. “The universe, rather than being devoid of meaning is, like a great work of art, full to overflowing with meaning, complex, integrated and intelligible order, rather than senseless piles of gibberish. Contra nihilism, the universe has more meaning than we can imagine – layers of meaning that scientists, among others, continue to discover.” Wiker and Witt, p 17 We live in a universe as part of a creation that was not only designed, it was designed according to a plan with a purpose. It is purpose, value and relationship which gives true meaning to life.

“Wiker and Witt have convinced me. At each point I started out with "Aw, c-mon!" and ended with "How come nobody told me about this before?" Years ago I felt a little embarrassed for God, that He knew so little about science. Now I'm embarrassed for our scientific establishment. This book definitely bolstered my faith. It's clear enough for a dumb sheet metal worker (me) to understand.” Michael Lux, Santa Clara, CA, Amazon Review

Evelyn Waugh, author of Brideshead Revisited, said, “Conversion is like stepping across the chimney-piece out of a Looking-Glass world, where everything is an absurd caricature, into the real world God made; and then begins the delicious process of exploring it limitlessly.” “Modern novelists try to represent the whole human mind and soul and yet omit its determining character – that of being God's creature with a defined purpose.”

A. Purpose

1. God's purpose

a.the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness – Romans 1:20

b. his “theater of operation” - Colossians 1:16

i. The universe was built by the Creator to be his own property; to be the theater on which he would accomplish his purposes, and display his perfections. Particularly the earth was made by the Son of God to be the place where he would become incarnate, and exhibit the wonders of redeeming love.

2. Our purpose

a. glorify God and enjoy him forever – 1 Corinthians 10:31

i. “fit unto that life to God; for which they were Created”

ii. ID fails to go far enough – it stops short of God's purpose that those who view his creation should honor him as the Creator; the Designer of ID is a far cry from the immense, wise and good God of the Bible

b. Productivity – Genesis 1:28

i. producing the results of labor

ii. reproducing

iii. adding value and/or beauty

B. Value

1. God's estimation

a. good – each element of creation: Genesis 1:4, 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25

b. very good – the sum total Genesis 1:31

2. imaging – Genesis 1:26-27

a. value derived from the original

i. knock-off of Rolex vs. Timex

3. inherent

a. who we are, not what we produce – Exodus 21:22-23

i. impacts both ends of the life spectrum

C. Relationship

1. with God – Genesis 2:15-17

2. with man – Genesis 2:18, 21-22

3. both are bi-directional

a. God does for man and he responds

b. man does for man in a complementary way