I’ve seen God described as “not only the Ground of all Being, but also the Ground of all Doing.” Help me understand how to appreciate that characterization.
Paul Tillich (1886-1965) was a German-American philosopher and theologian who coined the term “Ground of Being” to describe God. He taught that God is Being Itself. In fact, Tillich used the terms “Ground of Being” and “Being Itself” interchangeably. He taught that God is the basis for the existence of all things and all things proceed from God.
The idea that God is the basis for the existence of all things appears a number of times in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the most holy name for the Lord is Yahweh, a Hebrew name many scholars believe should be translated “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 4). This mysterious name suggests God is Being Itself who is the source of everything and determines everything.
Tillich’s concept was born in a time when existentialist philosophy was popular. Tillich and others were saying two of the most critical questions facing humanity were, “Why do I exist?” and “What does my existence mean?” Seeing God as the Ground of Being provides some answers to these questions. Yet not all the questions of existence are answered. The concept seems too static. Scripture describes a God who not only exists but also acts. He creates the world, judges the world, forms covenants, redeems his people, sends his words through prophets and much more. His unique Son, the Lord Jesus, also is active. He preaches, teaches, heals and raises the dead. This naturally leads to the idea that God not only is the “Ground of Being,” but also the “Ground of Doing.”
Jesus emphasizes faith in God leads to actions. In his parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, he insists those who help “the least of these” by ministering to their physical and emotional needs would enter his eternal kingdom. In John 5:19-23, he says he can only do “what he sees his Father doing.” Jesus’ followers are to imitate him as he imitated his Father.
Other New Testament passages say Jesus expects his followers to be doers. In Ephesians 2:8-10, the Apostle Paul emphasizes God saves us by his grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet he also says we are God’s workmanship, “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”(Ephesians 2:10). James 1:22-25 and 2:14-26 speak of the fact Christ-followers are not merely to be hearers of the word, but doers as well. James 2:17 says flatly, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” While faith, like being, may seem to be a passive or static concept, it leads to dynamic action, to doing.
As the Ground of Being and the Ground of Doing, God invites us to join him in his redemptive work.
Robert Prince is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Waynesville, N.C. Right or Wrong? Is co-sponsored by the Texas Baptist theological education office and Christian Life Commission. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to bill.tillman@texasbaptists.org.