Great post, Jacob. Honestly, I have adopted the idea put forth by a writer named Peter Elbow that "Meaning is not what you start out with but what you end up with." Your essay, on the surface, appears to challenge this notion; but I'm not so sure the two ideas aren't reconcilable. When Elbow says that meaning is not what you start out with but what you end up with, he's inferring that, in essence, "you won't know until you get there" . . . in that, so many people are "waiting" to be struck by purpose while they should, instead, be taking action to cultivate it. I don't think this means, however--because I do agree with everything you said in your essay--that this meaning is not ultimately distilled to us by God. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. I think I would agree that we have to kind of enter into meaning by participating in the meaning God has made. In other words, we don't make our own meaning, but we have some choice as to whether we live a meaningful life or not according to whether we pursue the things which God has ordained to fill our lives with good. Does that make sense?
I agree, though what does it mean, exactly, to glorify God? And might we end up at square one by simply saying that I get to determine what glorifies God and thus smuggle in my own meaning?
Great post, Jacob. Honestly, I have adopted the idea put forth by a writer named Peter Elbow that "Meaning is not what you start out with but what you end up with." Your essay, on the surface, appears to challenge this notion; but I'm not so sure the two ideas aren't reconcilable. When Elbow says that meaning is not what you start out with but what you end up with, he's inferring that, in essence, "you won't know until you get there" . . . in that, so many people are "waiting" to be struck by purpose while they should, instead, be taking action to cultivate it. I don't think this means, however--because I do agree with everything you said in your essay--that this meaning is not ultimately distilled to us by God. Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. I think I would agree that we have to kind of enter into meaning by participating in the meaning God has made. In other words, we don't make our own meaning, but we have some choice as to whether we live a meaningful life or not according to whether we pursue the things which God has ordained to fill our lives with good. Does that make sense?
All good friend, and yes absolutely--I'd say that's spot on.
"Creatures cannot create meaning, they can only borrow it."
I agree, though what does it mean, exactly, to glorify God? And might we end up at square one by simply saying that I get to determine what glorifies God and thus smuggle in my own meaning?
Great question. That was the first question and answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Here is the second:
Question 2: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
In other words, God himself tells us how to glorify him.
I’ll be sure to read the WSC. Thank you!