Servant and friend
Von Balthasar puts the nature/grace distinction in simple terms, and ones that resonate with certain strains of Reformed theology: “It belongs to the very essence of the creature that it must indeed be creature, but not a creature who has been exalted to a new order of grace: by nature a creature is the ‘servant’ but not the ‘friend’ of God.”
This is ambiguous: are we talking about “creatures” in general or about the specific creature that was Adam? What are we denying when we deny that man is not “by nature” a friend? Does that mean he’s not created a friend of God, or that friendship with God isn’t inherent in his “nature,” whatever that might be?
In any case, while we might be able to imagine a human being created purely as “servant,” that’s not how Adam was created. Adam was created as “son” (Luke 3:38).
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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