To Christians: What is our purpose. Why did God create us?

Question

Only thinking answers please, no scripture or flaming.

And please, think outside the "to worship god" box.

Can anybody counter the argument that God did it for self-fufilling needs of veneration? It seem to me that is the purpose given to us, worship him or hell awaits.

So why would God create a planet of people for the sole purpose of worship only? Seems rather egotistical

To Bookish:

That is an ethical standpoint called Ethical Egoism. Take an Ethics class and you will understand it better. Ethical Egoism basically states that everything is done for self-fufillment. If you help an old lady across the street, you are not doing it to help, you are doing it to be seen and to feel better about yourself. It is very nihilistic, though truly universal. You could even apply it to the firefighters rushing into the WTC. Under this reasoning, they were not hero's, but suffered from a hero complex of perpetual fame and slaps on the back.

Answer 1

Work with me on this analogy:

God saw that Adam was lonely, and made woman. I think he understood the emotion of loneliness, because, before he'd made mankind, he was feeling it himself. You don't see this in any Bible or theology, as far as I know, however. But how could he NOT feel very alone? He was alone in a void, after all, no?

I think he made us for company, for things to watch, to occupy his time.

I consider myself a Christian and hope this isn't blasphemous without my realizing it. I really do care.

Answer 2

Well there's the need to put a Starbucks every 100 feet from each other all over the planet.

GOD made us to share the things He made, and enjoy them with him. Sun sets/rises, and snow flakes, large and small stuff too. Why else are all these and more different each day?
I don not know humanities purpose - as it could be millions of years in the future from now, before humanity is smart enough to understand the question GOD will need answered, or job worked on.
With our free will - humanity could be a netter companion - instead of a yes man type creature. Not having a yes man up my butt I never know if they are annoying or not - I hear they are because all the morals teach that to speak the truth is more important. (see emperors new clothes,etc.)
We are created by GOD, and need to praise HIM for this, many forget this. After we die maybe this becomes no big deal and is understood easier than while we are alive. Eternity with GOD, in his presence - can't be a bad thing. As there is no worries in heaven...

Answer 3

I am a Christian or so I thought. Lately; I am questioning the fact of " Is there a God"? I'm getting older and see, read about, and watch the news which generally consists of actions that people commit that are absolutely unbelievable. I really try to live by the word and it seems as though my life gets worse every year and people who are basically greedy and cruel seem very happy. I have been taking a workshop in reference to the "Last Days" at our church BUT I cannot help but ask myself "Is there anything after death"?

I'm sorry that I have not answered your question but maybe your opinion could help other confused Christians.

Answer 4

i dont really think any human can answer that question correctly. because we are imperfect, our brains are limited, while God is smart beyond our comprehension. it's a fact that humans only use less than 5% of their brain, while satan has far more brain power than we do, ( the reason why we cant overpower him when he tempts us ) (and the only way we can resist him is with
God's help) so he can easily control us. ofcourse only with God's permission. So because there is this little spot that we cant look past cuz we r led 2 believe that, what we see is true, we dont really know why God created us. Or an exact reason of why He tests us or keeps us here. Its just the way He wants things done, and He's perfect, we're not, so we shouldnt assume he just uses us for pleasure.

Answer 5

You are absolutely right. So many who believe God created us only to "gaze upon his perfection for all eternity." These are clearly not reading or understanding the Word of God, nor the Gospel, nor the love of God, etc.

The rest of the universe is left as the earth was in Genesis 1:2 "waste and empty." Yet clearly, this is not the way God intended the universe to look. It is also stated that it awaits the revelation of the sons of God. Why would it be waiting for that if it weren't that God intends that his children have possession of it and beautify it and make it habitable like God did for the earth?

God desires to be joyful. The most joy is achieved with interacting with others of equal intelligence and desires. To put it simply, God wants companions (friends) do fun things with.

Those "fun things" is an open ended purpose, because eternity is open ended. Life is meant to live and enjoy, but not selfishly or short sightedly. Joy for all is achieved by giving as well as doing. God is going to give us ALL things! And he wants to enjoy them with us -- he wants to share his toys with us, and make new ones forever.

Answer 6

Think about this one:

If God's plan was to create humans only to worship Him...we wouldn't have free will. He would be happy with all the angels in heaven who already worship Him 24 hours a day for eternity...

God created us to rule over the earth. We were the ones that messed everything up. God's plan for us was to be kings and queens but the human nature was selfish. And we sinned and were expelled from paradise.

That's why Jesus came over to pay for all those sins and rebellion. We're only truly free in Jesus.

Answer 7

You raise a good question, and while I don't believe in any type of god, your suggestion that if there were one, it created people for an egotistical reason is intriguing. It fits with a theory a friend of mine has that everything is done for selfish reasons, even if good thing result from them. The more I think about that, the more right it seems. Even when you love someone, you love that person because of how great you feel when you're with that person, etc.
But, really, the whole god thing is a form of laziness because it's easier to believe in a god that created everything than to do the scientific reasoning and work that's required to find the real answer.

Answer 8

God created us out of his bounty and love.

God respects our choice to hate him. If we hate him--that is, if the free love given is not freely returned--he may not pour out his blessings upon our lives, because we are purposely blocking his power, and he respects our blockage.

God wants our worship so that the love he gives may be returned, and that the channel may be opened.

Have you ever loved someone who hated you? Have you ever hoped that the channel of the relationship could be opened instead of blocked by the other person? Have you ever tried to give to someone who did not want anything from you?

If you have ever had this experience, then you know how difficult it is to share yourself with one who denies you the opportunity.

God desires our worship and praise so that he may share himself with us. Forced love is not shareful. Force is force.

Also, God is different from humans in that he deserves our worship, having given us our lives and everything that is good. We must approach him in humility. In other words, there is a crucial distinction between human love and divine love, and human power and divine power...and in order to know God, we must know that we are not him. And if we know him, we wish to praise him. This is just the way it goes.

If we don't know him, we will continue to project petty human perceptions onto an almighty being. I.e., we may see him as egotistical, when in fact he is the only one worthy of praise, and so it is right to praise him.

Answer 9

Well, what do you think the purpose of the animals is, the ones who aren't eaten by greedy men? Don't they just bob around like a rudderless ship as you describe humans? Why should humans be different? Come to think of it, doesn't God just bob around like a rudderless ship adrift at sea? Of course, I am just writing this for the benefit of others who are reading this. I know it won't penetrate your thick skull.

Answer 10

He created beings of all sorts not just man. God's purpose for creating man..Was to create a being in his image that is capable of having a relationship with him. God is worthy of worship it isn't even a logical debate. God created man for a relationship with him worship is the logical result of that relationship.