The Purpose-Driven Life? (Introduction.)

The church I attend is currently in the midst of doing Forty Days of Purpose, a program based on Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life. I am only participating insofar as I am attending service on Sunday mornings - I didn't join any of the special small groups, and I have been refusing to re-read my copy of the book.

But today, I have taken up the book for another look. I don't see much point in reading it, for I don't think it will shed any new light on my own purpose in life. But I thought I would push through it just a little bit, because there are things in this book that need to be examined more closely.

The book was intended to be read one chapter per day. It takes you through forty days' worth of reading, with six main topics: What on earth am I here for?, followed by the five overarching purposes of life: You were planned for God's pleasure; You were formed for God's family; You were created to become like Christ; You were shaped for serving God; and You were made for a mission.

I don't think I'll be taking a full forty days to go through this book. One chapter a day has never been my style, and I think forty days is a bit much, anyway. Sure, it's a good Biblical number, but oy. It really is a long time.

While I don't disagree with any of these main purposes as stated above, I have to say that I very much disagree with the implicit assumption that someone else might know the questions I need to ask in order to learn who I am and what my purpose is. I don't think it's as simple as this, either.

Yes, I should strive to become like Christ, to bring God pleasure, to be a part of God's family, to serve God. I have a mission, and I am still working it out (and getting a little closer every day). But do I have to have it fed to me in such small pieces? My initial reaction to this undertaking was, basically, "I'm a lot more intellectual than this book." I don't mean to insult anyone who found the book challenging. For some people, I'm sure, this book was the first time they'd thought about these topics. When I read it for the first time, I'd been thinking about this stuff for an incredibly long time.

See, I don't believe that God created us so he could have company. I don't think he created us so he'd have more beings around to worship him and love him and stuff. God has angels for worship and love. He has the eternal company of himself (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). He's not lonely, and he's not lacking in praise.

I think God created us in a burst of creative joy. He looked around and said, "Hey, you know what? I feel like making something today." And the Spirit breathed on the waters, and life was born.

Ruach.

Created in the image of God? Of course we are! We are created to be creators, to be in relationship with others. This is our purpose. The rest, all that stuff about loving God and having a mission and all the rest, that's extra. The primary purpose of life is to live.

The primary purpose of creation is that of expression. When an artist creates something new, it is in order to express something. When I paint or draw, it is to express whatever picture God has placed in my mind. Sometimes that picture is a message for someone. When I write, it is to express the thoughts in my mind and/or the emotions in my soul. And when I sing, it is to express that which cannot be explained in any other way.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, that's what our purpose is? We exist in order to express God.

Our actions, words, thoughts - they are all a part of the expression of God. We express him in our everyday lives, with every breath we take.

Ruach.

Express yourself. Express God.

It is your purpose.