The theological mysteries of the divine being of God are evident to all who explore His inexplicable qualities. Even Herman Melville, a man starkly opposed to the idea of God, had questions for Him. In Billy Budd, Melville asks one of these curious questions. By sending Billy Budd, an innocent, good-natured sailor, to a ship where he would be condemned to death for an accidental crime, Melville asks why a good God would create man and place him on earth, knowing he would sin and be condemned to death. Sadly, it never seemed as though Melville found the answer to that question. But for those who adhere to God’s word, an answer to this mystery is easily found. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says that man is to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” In Mark 12:29-31, Jesus details the two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But ultimately, the purpose of man is described best in Isaiah 43:7 where it calls upon “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
As John Piper says in his book God’s Passion for His Glory, “The invincible end for which he [God] created the world… [Jonathan] Edwards says, is, first, that the glory of God might be magnified in the universe” (31). But this discovery presents another, deeper question. What is glory? What is glory and why would a self-sufficient, self-satisfying, and self-gratifying God desire it? Obviously it is something desirable or He would not seek it. But again, what could be so powerful or so intriguing that the omnipotent God would seek it in everything He does? And furthermore, h...
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...cult questions are impossible to answer. To those who do accept that truth, some things, such as the nature of glory, still cannot be fully understood. However, for the time being, it is better that man at least understand this: that glory is not pride.
Works Cited
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Lewis, C.S. "The Weight of Glory." THEOLOGY (1941). Print.
Melville, Herman. Billy Budd. New York: TOR, 1992. Print.
Piper, John, and Jonathan Edwards. God's Passion for His Glory. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1998. Print.
Piper, John. "How Is God's Passion for His Own Glory Not Selfishness?" DesiringGod.org. Desiring God, 24 Nov. 2007. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
Piper, John. "What Is God's Glory?" DesiringGod.org. Desiring God, 6 July 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
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Edwards, Jonathan. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Paul Lauter. Canada: DC Heath and Company, 1990. 584-595.
Black soldiers were among the bravest of those fighting in the Civil War. Both free Blacks in the Union army and escaped slaves from the South rushed to fight for their freedom and they fought with distinction in many major Civil War battles. Many whites thought Blacks could not be soldiers. They were slaves. They were inferior. Many thought that if Blacks could fight in the war it would make them equal to whites and prove the theory of slavery was wrong. Even though Black soldiers had to face much discrimination during the Civil War, they were willing to fight to the death for their freedom. In the movie “Glory“ the director focused on the African Americans in the north that fought in the 54th regiment led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. During the time of the Civil War, the African Americans that fought in the 54th regiment were often treated unfairly but there were always nice people that backed them up.
The film Glory depicts the action of the Massachusetts 54th and all the black regiment and their role in the war. The Massachusetts 54th was created by Governor Andrews and was helped by Frederick Douglas. This film tells us the story about the regiment from the beginning of their training until their actual participation in the battle. The civil war was a memorable event for many people especially African Americans. In Glory we watch as these men are forced into slavery and the torturous training they were put through to become soldiers for their country. The film talks about many inspirational leaders and their part in the Civil War. The Massachusetts 54th Regiment was the first regular army regiment of black soldiers appointed in the Civil War trying to fight to gain freedom.
Warnock, Adrian. "Loving God: A Guide for Beginners." adrianwarnock.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. .
Winthrop, John. "A Model of Christian Charity." Franklin, Wayne, Phillip F. Gura and Arnold Krupat. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2007. 147-158.
Lane, C, Belden.. "JONATHAN EDWARDS ON BEAUTY, DESIRE, AND THE SENSORY WORLD." Theological Studies 1(2004):44. eLibrary. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
Zech, Lisa. “Being On Fire for God in a Desensitized World.” A Lovely Calling, 13 Mar. 2015,
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Plantinga’s (2002) book Engaging God’s World consists of five parts: “Longing and Hope,” “Creation,” “The Fall,” “Redemption,” and “Vocation in the Kingdom of God.” Throughout the work, Plantinga references public speakers and activists, lyricists, philosophers, saints, and authors to help his audience connect to his perspective.
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John Barton, John Muddiman. The Oxford Bible Commentary. “Thomas sees the Lord.” Oxford University Press. 2001. 988.
2) Gollwitzer, Helmut. The Existence of God: As Confessed By Faith. Philadelphia: The Westminister Press, 1965
Lane, T. (2006). A concise history of christian thought (Completely ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
It is the evening before a powerful and epic battle with more than victory at stake. Tomorrow, the 54th regiment will forever stamp themselves as a symbol of hope and freedom in a new world during an attack on Fort Wagner as soldiers for the North. Dozens of men with young children, wives, and an idealistic dream of a free world will die in a matter of hours. As the Northern soldiers gather on this night before war, there are no tears of fear to be shed. The din in the air is that of song and the feeling is that of an inspirational victory. On this night before their death, slaves turned soldiers have put aside their personal differences and become one; a metaphoric battle has been won. This is one of the final scenes from the movie Glory, a power depiction of the heroic efforts of the first African American regiment during the Civil War. The deep, multiple plot layers, and moving acting performances in Glory create a captivating viewing experience.
Class notes. Man’s Desperate Need of Righteousness and God’s Glorious Provision of Righteousness. Faith Christian University. Orlando, Florida. August 2011.