Delusions of Deity
October 4, 2006
The June 2006 issue of ByFaith (the official magazine of the PCA) features a helpful article by Stephen McGarvey on "Technology and the Church." McGarvey writes:
"The head of consumer electronics giant Philips once told the magazine The Economist that 'consumers want to be omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, with maximum control and freedom and with minimum effort,' saying his firm was developing products with this goal in mind. Christianity Today writer Andy Crouch notes that these attributes rest with the Almighty and that Philips' statement did not include the business of suffering. 'Why would an omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, maximally comfortable, minimally encumbered being need a savior?' asks Crouch."
Omnipresent. Omniscient. Omnipotent. Hmmm -- that reminds me of Someone I know, but not anyone on my side of the Creator/creature distinction. Crouch is right to suggest that the creature comforts of a consumer culture discourage people from taking serious consideration of their need for salvation. However, there is a more hopeful dimension to this: for a fallible creature in a fallen world, delusions of deity always end in frustration, and we all need a Savior then.
"The head of consumer electronics giant Philips once told the magazine The Economist that 'consumers want to be omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, with maximum control and freedom and with minimum effort,' saying his firm was developing products with this goal in mind. Christianity Today writer Andy Crouch notes that these attributes rest with the Almighty and that Philips' statement did not include the business of suffering. 'Why would an omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, maximally comfortable, minimally encumbered being need a savior?' asks Crouch."
Omnipresent. Omniscient. Omnipotent. Hmmm -- that reminds me of Someone I know, but not anyone on my side of the Creator/creature distinction. Crouch is right to suggest that the creature comforts of a consumer culture discourage people from taking serious consideration of their need for salvation. However, there is a more hopeful dimension to this: for a fallible creature in a fallen world, delusions of deity always end in frustration, and we all need a Savior then.
