A Sign of Love, a Sign of Hope (RJS)

A Sign of Love, a Sign of Hope (RJS) July 25, 2017

creationgonzalezThe final chapter of Justo González’s short book, [Creation] The Apple of God’s Eye, ends on a note of hope. At several places in the book González has described creation using an analogy with human parenthood. There are limitations to the comparison of course, but it also helps direct our understanding. God’s act of creation is an act of love comparable to the act of love involved in deciding to bear children.  “When properly made, the decision to have children is both a sign of love and a sign of hope.” (p. 95) Because the children have freedom of will, there is no guarantee that they will provide joy – in fact there is the very real chance of great heartbreak. God has chosen to give us the freedom to mature and follow him or to rebel against him. (Human parents don’t have a choice – their children inevitably have the ability to rebel.)

Creation is an act of hope for the future. Christian faith is grounded in this hope.  A key passage illustrating this hope is found in Romans 8.

I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. (18-23 CEB)

González draws several points from this passage.

First, we are children and heirs not slaves.  We, too, should hope for the future age.

Second, the subjection of creation is not an act of oppression but in hope for what will come. “God has not subjected creation as a master subjects a slave but rather as a loving parent subjects a child. This means that, like a child, creation is not yet what it will be. Like a child, it is going through growing pains, but these pains lead to a future maturity of love, peace, and justice.” (p. 93)

Third, the image of creation groaning is an image of hope for what will come. To emphasize the pain is to miss the point.  “The reference is … to the whole of creation as a mother about to give birth.” (p. 94)

Fourth, we also groan as we await to be set free – born into the new age, “the day when our adoption as God’s children will be made manifest.” (p. 94-95)

But God’s hope is not like human hope. When we hope for something there is the possibility of failure or disappointment. Not so as we rest in Christian hope.

[Christian hope] is the firm knowledge that God’s power is such that we can rest in the knowledge that, despite the rebelliousness of creation, ultimately the future is in the hands of God, and God’s love is such that we know that whatever the future might be it will be one of love.

The God who has made – and continues making and sustaining – all things out of love is the same God who out of the same love will bring all things to their intended end. Meanwhile, we live by faith in that God of love and by hope and expectation of what God will bring about. (p. 95-96).

For Gonzalez a Christian doctrine of creation is founded first and foremost in God’s love and plan for creation. Most of the arguments around origins in the church get bogged down in details that lead us away from this key point. Humans are not able to thwart God’s plan for the future. Creation – Fall, when taken to mean perfection defiled contrary to God’s will, is an unfortunate perspective.  “It is to [love] that the doctrine of creation points: to God’s love for all and for all things – to God’s love at the beginning, to God’s love now, to God’s love at the end.” (p. 96) We are called to rest in God’s love.

This is an excellent little book. It is thought provoking and ought to lead to a wide range of profitable discussions in any small group or class.

What is the significance of our role as God’s children?

What responsibilities or privileges doe this give?

How does our understanding of God as love shape our doctrine of creation?

If you wish to contact me directly you may do so at rjs4mail [at] att.net.

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