If it is right for man to have the glory of God as his goal, can it be wrong for God to have the same goal? If man can have no higher purpose than God’s glory, how can God? If it is wrong for man to seek a lesser end than this, it would be wrong for God, too. The reason it cannot be right for man to live for himself, as if He were God, is because He is not God. However, it cannot be wrong for God to seek His own glory, simply because He is God. Those who insist that God should not seek His glory in all things are really asking that He cease to be God. And there is no greater blasphemy than to will God out of existence.
— J.I. Packer (1926–2020), Theologe und Autor
Topics: God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, Wisdom & Understanding
Occasions: For Reflection
J.I. Packer
James Innell Packer (1926–2020) war ein britisch-kanadischer anglikanischer Theologe und Autor, der nach Stationen in England langjährig am Regent College in Vancouver lehrte. Er verband puritanisch geprägte reformierte Dogmatik mit praktischer Frömmigkeit, verfasste das Standardwerk »Gott erkennen« und wirkte maßgeblich an der Chicago-Erklärung zur biblischen Irrtumslosigkeit mit. Für Bibelleser gilt er bis heute als prägender Vermittler klassischer reformatorischer Theologie, wenngleich seine Beteiligung an der ökumenischen Initiative »Evangelicals and Catholics Together« (1994) unter Konservativen zu scharfen Kontroversen führte.
All quotes by J.I. Packer (48)
You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
Augustine of Hippo
Jesus calls us not to a new religion, but to life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I would not be able to seek you if you had not already found me.
Augustine of Hippo
When you see a child, you catch God in the act.
Martin Luther
God does not love us because we are lovable, but because his nature is love.
Oswald Chambers
God seeks you more than your offering.
Augustine of Hippo
God has his ear at your heart.
Augustine of Hippo
God is closer to us than we are to ourselves.
Augustine of Hippo