Is it Robbery to be like God?

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”  Phillippians 2:5-7

The above New Testament scripture seems to be a clear invitation to become like God.  In fact, it expressly states that doing so is no robbery, or diminishing, of God. How can this be?  Can we actually become like God? Does He even want us to?

This post assumes God is both omniscient (all knowing) and ominopotent (all powerful).  Additionally, I argue there is a third component to God’s perfection: He is all generous.  I rely on Matthew 7:9-11 for proof of God’s perfect generosity:

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.”

I have four sons, and I never let them win at anything.  With very few exceptions, whenever I play any kind of game with any or all of my sons, I try to win.  And, since I am bigger and older, I usually do. One exception is when my youngest was 6, and we often played Chutes & Ladders. Notwithstanding my best efforts, he won something like 25 games in a row.  As a result, I am convinced there is no skill involved in that game, and that the Universe loves that sweet boy.  I don’t blame the Universe for preferring him, he's a wonderful kid.  

I’ve always wanted my children to look forward to the day they beat me at anything, to reach for it, to work for it.  You see, I want each of them to be better than me, and my playing small doesn’t get them there. I hope that each of my sons exceed me in goodness, in wisdom, in judgment, in honesty, in achievement, in work ethic, and on and on.  Frankly, I don't pretend I've set the bar all that high, and I also don’t think I'm unique. I believe the vast majority of parents truly want their children to become better human beings in every way than we ourselves have been.

So, returning to Matthew 7:9-11, why would we expect any less of God?  If we, being evil, desire that our children become better than ourselves, how much more so God?

To say that God does not want us to become like him seems a logical conundrum.  Has He blessed us with a generosity toward our own children that He Himself does not possess? I don’t think so.  Does He not know how to help us become like Him, even though he is omniscient? I don’t think so. Is He incapable of helping us to become like Him, even though He is omnipotent? I don’t think so.  

No doubt there are some among you blanching at this very conversation.  It’s blasphemy, is it not? To seek the attributes of deity? I’m not sure the New Testament agrees.  

Romans 8:16-17 says "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

It's important to note that Christ was unceasingly accused of blasphemy for believing that he was the son of God.  It is also important to note that there is a difference between Christ, who was already perfect, and ourselves, who are clearly not close to perfection.  There is no doubt that we are not like God currently, this post is only discussing whether it is possible to eventually become so, and whether it is God’s will.

I argue yes and yes.

Christ argued much the same when in John 10:34, to support His own claim to godhood he quoted Psalms 82:6 and said "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"

Many people see the idea of becoming like God as a selfish wish for power and dominion. Since when was that ever what it meant to become like Christ? God’s power flows from and through His perfect attributes.  A desire to become like God is merely a wish to be that kind, that generous, that honest, that much of a blessing to others.

I believe that God does what He does because of those rare moments when we are overcome by gratitude for his goodness, and look up in pure, heartfelt thankfulness.  God is the ultimate fixer upper. He loves leaving the ninety and nine and going after the one. I have a thing for revitalization.  I love seeing a rundown area of town go through its own renaissance. I once considered a career as a City Planner. Figuring out ways to encourage and invigorate the forgotten and discarded is not only the bread and butter of HGTV, but also a God-like attribute.  Among the great joys in this life is truly helping another child of God to believe in God, to believe in themselves, and in their ability to improve their life.

Isn’t that what parenthood is all about? Doesn’t it seem like family life is just a practicum for what happens after this life?  If God gives us life (in part) for the gratitude we show and the joy it brings him to see us progress, and if we can all share in that same joy here on earth by helping others, why would he deprive us of the opportunity to continue to do so after this life?  

If you don’t believe that God wants us to be like Him, why not?  Either you are denying His omniscience, His omnipotence, or His goodness.  Or maybe you just don’t think that is part of His plan for us. Perhaps you conceive an existence for us in heaven that is so different than our current consciousness as to make our current desires and interests obsolete and irrelevant.  Personally, I believe that the Christ who came back and cooked fish over coals for Peter was essentially the same person and personality as He was prior to His resurrection. And I believe we will be as well.  

Desiring to become like God is not a selfish wish, but rather a recognition of our own imperfect, fallen state, and of a soul-deep desire to cast off the natural man and carry on God's work and glory: the immortality and eternal life of man and woman. God doesn't glory in His greatness, He glories in us, our progress, our growing goodness. I believe in a continuation of the joy I feel when I catch one of my sons being kind to another son when he thinks no one is watching. 

I don't know how God makes us like Him, I only know nothing is impossible with Him.  Christ doesn't seem to think it's impossible either, because he commanded, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48. I don't believe God has unreal expectations for us.

Perfect today? No. But someday, long after this earthly life, and with Christ's help?

Yes.