If Jesus is God, like he says he is, then we’re supposed to love each other like he loved us. I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. If God exists, and we take any stock whatsoever in what Jesus said about love, then we can conclude that love matters, too. If we were created for a purpose, there is a meaning to life, no bones about it. The other option, however, answers the second question outright and the first question with a little more analysis. If creation were just an accident, that makes it easy - both questions would be answered in the negative. On the other hand, if our creation was just an accident, a random occurrence stemming from millenia of accidental evolution in a Godless universe, there is, therefore, no purpose for our existence. If the God described above exists, our creation as humans was intentional, and therefore we were created for a purpose. In short, God would need to exist if love is supposed to mean something, or if life is supposed to have meaning. So what would it take for both of those questions to be answered with a resounding, “Yes!”? Nor can there both be and not be a meaning or a point to life. The beautiful thing about both of these questions is that both have only two possible answers - “Yes” and “No.” It’s impossible for love to matter and not matter at the same time. Ron’s statement raises two questions: “Does love matter?” and “Is there a meaning or a point to life?” While this is far from an exhaustive list of qualities, this is the God for whose existence I’m saying Ron Swanson made an inadvertent argument. Jesus died for us in one of the most painful and humiliating ways possible, so that we could enjoy eternal life in Heaven. God loves us so much that (I know you’ve heard this a million times (or maybe you haven’t heard it enough)). I’ll explain why later.įourth (and finally), the God I’m talking about loves each person individuallyand sufficiently. Many people, myself included at times, take not feeling the presence of God to mean His absence, but are mistaken. Third, the God I’m talking about isn’t a “deadbeat dad.” God never leaves us (seriously, never). We came from God, and “our hearts are restless” until we’re back together with God at the end of our lives, as St. Second, the God I’m talking about placed His image and likeness in each one of us, from the moment we were conceived. The Infinite Force who set our finite universe in motion. This God is the Unmoved Mover, the First Cause. Not only that, He invented the laws and methods science uses to get there. He isn’t a “God of the gaps” who fills in the places science hasn’t been able to go God was everywhere science is currently before science ever dreamed of starting their search. Misinformation is a real devil, so I want every reader to start off from the same place.įirst, the God I’m talking about created all that exists. Now, before delving too deeply into this idea, it’s important to get a few things straight about the qualities of the God I’m arguing for - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the God who’s One with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, Ron made a profound statement about the existence of God, just by uttering those few words. However unintentional, the last part of Ron’s statement is full of more truth than anyone anticipated. If you don’t believe in love, what’s the point of living? Would I get married again? Oh absolutely. In an episode from season 2, Ron notes his intense displeasure for both, but ends his rant with this line: You would also know well his Kryptonite: his ex-wives, “Tammy 1″ and “Tammy 2.” If you’re a fan of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, you know well the unwavering manliness of Ron Swanson. Guest Column by Matthew Sewell IMBd photo
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