The act of creation is a theme that reverberates through many faith traditions. In Christianity, the narrative of creation is central not only to understanding the origin of all things but also to apprehend the nature and purposes of God.
Why did an incorporeal God choose to create a material universe? The answer spans a spectrum of theological perspectives, reflecting the depth of wonder summed up in Christian thought.
At the heart of this exploration is a question that has challenged theologians, philosophers, and laypersons alike: if God is perfect in every conceivable way, what could possibly motivate him to create this universe? Is it an expression of overflowing love? Is it a desire for relationship? Or is there a grander purpose that our mortal minds can scarcely grasp?
“The Six-Day War in Creationism”
This book offers insights into this mystery, particularly in the chapter “Why God Created this World,” where it suggests that the debate over creation has immense implications for both the mission of Christianity and the integrity of its message.
One traditional answer to why God created the world lies in the inherent goodness of existence. The idea that being is inherently better than non-being offers a philosophical explanation: God created it because it is the nature of the Good to infuse himself.
To create is an act of generosity—a divine outpouring of being and goodness into what was once void and formless. It is a testament to the magnanimity of the Creator in the Bible in contrast to deities in the Ancient Near East that created for selfish reasons. God, in His benevolence, willed others to share in the joy of his existence symbolized by the 7th day Rest of creation week.
Creation as an act of divine artistry is another compelling perspective that affirms the creativity of God. Contrast is foundational to art; bright light and intense darkness underpins the universe visually, and in the crucible of an unfolding creation. The universe is viewed not merely as functional but as a masterwork of beauty, variety, and intricacy. God, as the consummate artist, brings forth the cosmos in a gesture that celebrates the splendor of infinite possibility. It’s not really about creating a static world but one brimming with potential, developing grand narratives of space and time, where every creature plays a part in this work of art we call material existence.
Yet, this canvas of divine artistry comes with both its highlights and darker tones. The question of why a world capable of so much evil and suffering would emerge from a perfect Creator leads us into the realm of theodicy – why evil?
In Christian thought, genuine love requires freedom for rational and relational creatures, and with that freedom comes the possibility of choosing wrongly. Thus, the world becomes a place not only of spectacular beauty but also of moral gravity, where creatures endowed with free will grapple with virtue or vice.
This moral dimension of the world reveals yet another aspect of why God may have embarked on the venture of creation. The world serves as a realm for moral and spiritual development—a crucible within which beings can grow, learn, and ascend to higher states of love and understanding.
Enter the New Testament
Given that the New Testament says Christ brought a New Creation beginning with his coming to transform the human heart into a new person. This shows that the creation of humans was not completed in Genesis but continues: first, a body designed for this universe where we are offered the second spiritual phase for the New Heaven and a New Earth. The spiritual in the New Testament says our old person “dies” and the New one rises. In such a view, the world is not only a gift but also a challenge; we are given a choice, an invitation to engage with the divine through the Spirit living in us creating a union with God. That is what this is all about and why Christ is the foundation and not a literal Genesis.
Contemplating the greater cosmos, with its vastness and the intricacies of life, Christians are often moved to see a reflection of God’s grandeur and care. From the spinning of galaxies to the complexity of DNA, the world, in its dazzling diversity, seems to bear witness to an intelligent and intentional design—a signpost pointing back to the Creator whose wisdom and power are far beyond our understanding.
In the dichotomy between the Christian mission and the YE Reform Movement, as discussed in “The Six-Day War in Creationism,” God’s motive behind creation resonates with Christ who was crucified before the creation of the world, meaning God knew all along He would redeem the world. While the YE Reform Movement emphasizes a literal approach to the Genesis underscoring the mechanics of creation, Christianity has always argued for a theological understanding that focuses on the personhood and purposes of God culminating in the Incarnation where the age of the earth plays no role.
Final Words
The act of creation, as articulated in various Christian doctrines, is a multi-faceted revelation of God’s nature. It’s about love, generosity, relationships, moral existence, beauty, and truth all of which is revealed not in Genesis but in the Incarnation of the Son of God where the full extent of God’s love could be seen from his birth, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Only in a material universe with the freedom of rational beings to do evil or good could this extent of divine love be on display. The motivations attributed to God’s decision to create are a tapestry woven from divine attributes, each strand highlighting a facet of what Christians believe about their God.
So, while the question of ‘why’ may never be fully answered this side of eternity, the act of pondering it directs the faithful’s gaze towards the divine, providing ample ground for a faith that seeks understanding amidst the wondrous expanse of creation.
What does the age of the earth have to do with this