We are not only contingent beings, dependent on the love…
““We are not only contingent beings, dependent on the love and will of a Creator whom we cannot know experientially except in so far as he reveals to us our personal relationship with him as his sons - we are also sinners who have FREELY REPUDIATED this relationship. We have rebelled against him. The spirit of rebellious refusal persists in our heart even when we try to return to him. Much could be said, at this point, about all the subtlety and ingenuity of religious egoism which is one of the worst and most ineradicable forms of self-deception. Sometimes one feels that a well-intentioned and inculpable atheist is in many ways better off - and gives more glory to God - than some people whose bigoted complacency and inhumanity to others are signs of the most obvious selfishness! Hence we not only need to recover an awareness of our creaturehood; we also must repair the injury done to truth and to love by this repudiation, this infidelity. But how? Humanly speaking, there is no way in which we can do this.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human beings are both dependent on a divine creator and prone to willful rebellion, creating a deep conflict between love and self‑deception.
In simple terms: We love God but also reject Him, causing inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and heal the split between love and rebellion.
Themes
spirituality
human nature
self‑deception
faith
redemption
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- counseling
- community worship
- ethical reflection
Key Concepts
theology
ego
psychology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience the tension between love and rebellion?
- Can self‑awareness bridge the gap?
A Different Perspective
True reconciliation may be beyond human effort alone.