DJ:
Take as a given that the specific meaning and purpose of an army division of 20,000 soldiers of all ranks is to prevent wars through good pre-emptive defense and then to win any wars, and then to help keep the peace after the war. Each soldier has a different task but taken together in unity within the division all the successfully achieved tasks represent success. Taking that analogy into the arena of Christendom, what might we suppose God's grand, overall purpose is for His human creatures? It's true that each person one contributes based on the skills and talents given us by Him, but what is His ultimate earthly (not heavenly) purpose for the overall Body of Christ? Of course it's not about making war, but there is a grand, overall purpose. What is it according to Scripture?
Perplexity:
According to Scripture, God's grand, overall earthly purpose for the Body of Christ can be understood as follows:
- To spread the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. This is often referred to as the Great Commission, given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
- To be salt and light in the world. Christians are called to be a positive influence on society, preserving what is good and illuminating the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world."
- To demonstrate God's love and character to the world. As representatives of Christ, believers are to reflect His nature and love to others. This is emphasized in John 13:35: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
- To serve others and meet their needs. Jesus set an example of servant leadership and called His followers to do the same. This is evident in passages like Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus equates serving the needy with serving Him directly.
- To work towards justice and righteousness in society. The prophet Micah summarizes this calling in Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
- To be stewards of God's creation. In Genesis 1:28 and 2:15, humans are given the responsibility to care for and manage the earth and its resources wisely.
- To build up and strengthen the Church. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 4:12-13, describing the purpose of spiritual gifts as "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
Just as each soldier in a military division has a specific role that contributes to the overall mission, each believer in the Body of Christ has unique gifts and callings that contribute to these larger purposes. The ultimate goal is to glorify God and participate in His redemptive work in the world, preparing for the eventual return of Christ and the full establishment of His kingdom on earth.
DJ:
Thank you. All you've said is true as to the daily, specific tasks of each member, but surely a Being as indescribably as vast as God has one overall, grand single purpose. A purpose that those and other such specifics will - ultimately - end up achieving. Please take me from separate specifics to the grand purpose.
Perplexity:
You're right to push for a more overarching perspective. Indeed, when we step back and look at the grand scheme of things, we can discern a singular, ultimate purpose that God has for His creation, particularly for humanity and the Body of Christ. This grand purpose, as revealed in Scripture, can be summarized as: To glorify God by restoring all of creation to its intended state of perfect harmony with Him, culminating in the establishment of His Kingdom on Earth. This grand purpose encompasses and unifies all the specific tasks and roles you mentioned earlier. Let's break this down:
- God's Ultimate Glory: The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins by stating that "man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." This aligns with passages like Isaiah 43:7, which says we were created for God's glory.
- Restoration of Creation: Romans 8:19-22 speaks of all creation groaning, waiting for redemption. God's plan involves not just saving individual souls, but restoring the entire created order.
- Reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us that God is reconciling the world to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
- Kingdom Establishment: Jesus frequently spoke about the Kingdom of God, teaching us to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
This grand purpose is perhaps most succinctly expressed in Ephesians 1:9-10: "He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. "In this light, all the specific tasks of believers—evangelism, discipleship, service, stewardship, etc.—contribute to this overarching goal. We are participating in God's cosmic plan to restore all things, to bring His Kingdom in its fullness, and thus to bring Him the ultimate glory. This grand purpose gives coherence and direction to all our individual and collective efforts as the Body of Christ. It's not just about individual salvation or even about building the Church, but about being part of God's plan to renew and reconcile all of creation under the lordship of Christ, for the glory of God.
DJ:
I like your answer # 4. "Giving God glory” by each fallen, perpetually-sinning member is fine, and the ultimate purpose of all of our less than perfect human efforts - working together and supplementing each one's best efforts - has to be to Advance The Kingdom. The ultimate question then would be; why does He want us to do that?
Perplexity:
You've hit upon a profound and thought-provoking question that delves into the very nature of God and His relationship with creation. To explore why God wants us to advance His kingdom, we need to consider several aspects:
- God's Nature and Character:
God is inherently good, loving, and just. His desire for the advancement of His kingdom stems from His nature. He wants to see His creation flourish in the way He intended - in perfect harmony, love, and justice. - The Fulfillment of Creation's Purpose:
The advancement of God's kingdom represents the fulfillment of creation's original purpose. It's the realization of what the world was meant to be before the fall of humanity. - Relationship and Partnership:
God desires a relationship with His creation. By involving us in advancing His kingdom, He's inviting us into a divine partnership. This speaks to the incredible value He places on us and His desire for our active participation in His plans. - Our Growth and Transformation:
The process of advancing God's kingdom transforms us. As we work towards this goal, we grow in character, wisdom, and likeness to Christ. It's a refining process that prepares us for eternity with Him. - Demonstration of God's Wisdom:
Ephesians 3:10 suggests that through the church (i.e., the advancement of God's kingdom), God's manifold wisdom is made known to the heavenly realms. Our efforts serve as a cosmic object lesson. - Victory Over Evil:
The advancement of God's kingdom represents the ultimate defeat of evil, sin, and death. It's the outworking of God's redemptive plan for all of creation. - For His Glory:
Ultimately, the advancement of God's kingdom brings Him glory. Not because He needs it, but because it's the natural result of His goodness and perfection being fully realized in creation.
The ultimate "why" behind God wanting us to advance His kingdom might be summed up as this: It's the means by which God's perfect love, justice, and goodness are fully expressed and experienced throughout creation. It's not that God needs us to do this, but rather that He chooses to include us in this grand purpose out of His love and desire for relationship with us. This purpose gives our lives profound meaning and significance. We're not just living for ourselves or even just for our immediate impact on others, but we're part of a cosmic, eternal plan that's bigger than we can fully comprehend.
