FOUNDATIONS PART 5: To what end is life moving toward?

The Christo-Teleology of Theology
The word "telos" comes from Greek and literally means "end." Teleology is a philosophy that holds that that "phenomena are guided not only by mechanical forces but that they also move toward certain goals of self-realization" ... thus saith Random House. Therefore Christianity has a Christo-telic theology, that is, all of life is pointing to Christ, he is the focal point of all of history and the purpose for which it was made. This is the most absurd saying if one really takes time to ponder its implications. "Everything," snaps the critic, "what about suffering, sin, and evil?" A Christo-telic theology defined as I have done so is problematic at best and heretical at worst if it is not true. Where do I get off making such an ostensibly rash statement? Is there any scriptural support?

"[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:15-29

"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." Hebrews 2:10

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36


"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise." Isaiah 43:19-21

"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." 1 Corinthians 8:6

"All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3

"One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:6

"The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." Proverbs 16:4

There is so much here that it would be too much to attempt to unpack it all in one post. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to go through each of these texts and demonstrate why I believe in a Christo-telic theology that says EVERYTHING was, is, and will be made for the purpose of Christ. Either I am insane or the authors of Scripture are insane or I am not understanding them or I am.

Objection!!!!!
To close I wish to address a possible philosophical objection: EVERYTHING CANNOT MEAN ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING SINCE THAT WOULD INCLUDE CONTRADICTIONS SUCH AS "Everything includes 'NOTHING' which means nothing at all." This is a linguistic problem or philosophical quandary ... yes, I must qualify "EVERYTHING." Everything does not include contradictions in the logical sense, but it does include paradoxes or anomalies (apparent contradictions that in reality are not). For example (using Aristotelian logic), a logical contradiction would be me saying, "I am a man. I am not a man" when the same standard/definition for "man" is used. These "contradictions" only exist in theory and not in real life. I may say, "I am a man. I am not a man" and think that I have created a contradiction, but I have simply made a false statement, for it is impossible for me to be a man and not be a man at the same time where "man" means the exact same thing. But this is a philosophical problem ... I do not wish to quibble about philosophical issues. My attempt is to conform my mind to the "logic" and teachings of scripture. This does not mean that all my conclusions will be right. I believe that if there is error it resides in me, not in the Bible. I must conform to the Word of God, not visa a versa.

Summary
So in summary, I believe in a Christ0-telic Theology which makes the audacious claim "All things that were, that are, and that are to come are created from Him, through Him, to Him and for Him. He is the beginning and the end of all things." I will then attempt to support this statement through scripture over the next few weeks.