Steve Byrne
Steve Byrne
Today’s scientific worldview, for all of its incredible power, has had a side effect, intended or not: the “disenchantment” of the world. Trying to explain everything through mere material causes can leave us with a world that feels flat, mechanical and devoid of any real meaning or mystery.
Sunsets are reduced to mere light scattering through atmospheric particles and impacting on retinas. Love is explained away as nothing more than a set of chemical reactions in the brain. Consciousness itself is considered just a secondary byproduct of ultimately happenstance neural activity. And although such scientific descriptions may have their place in certain contexts, an unjustified, blanket reductionism can easily and wrongly strip the world of its wonder, leaving us feeling like ghosts in a machine.
Christianity, on the other hand, offers a powerful re-enchantment of the world through what can be called a “revelatory” perspective. It’s the understanding that the material world is not a barrier to God but is actually a conduit of his presence and glory. The psalmist announced that “the heavens declare the glory of God” in Psalm 19:1. Biblically speaking, creation is seen not as a random assortment of matter, but as a masterpiece both infused with and displaying the divine Artist’s love and intentions.
This perspective, of course, invites a posture of awe and wonder. A forest can be seen as a natural cathedral. The intricate design of a snowflake can point us to a divine Designer. The act of sharing a meal with loved ones can be experienced as a foretaste of heavenly communion.
And the great thing is that this view doesn’t deny science. Instead, it envelops the scientific realm within a larger framework of meaning, providing the transcendental inspiration of living in a world charged with beauty and divine significance.
That sense of transcendence is cultivated and sustained through the ancient practices of those who have known God throughout the ages. In an era blithely obsessed with novelty and fleeting trends, the historic traditions of the church offer a profound sense of stability and rootedness.
The weekly rhythm of worship, the reading of Scripture, the singing of hymns that have sustained believers’ hearts for centuries, participation in baptism and prayer and the Lord’s Supper, all connect us today to a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) that stretches back for two millennia and beyond. They also provide an anchor in the chaotic seas of modern life. They create a sacred time and space, set apart from the noise and demands of the world, where the soul can be recalibrated by being reminded of what is ultimately true, good and beautiful.
Finally, the greatest gift offered by Christianity is the promise of a right personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. The Christian God is not an abstract philosophical principle or an impersonal cosmic force. He is revealed in Jesus the Christ as a personal, loving God who knows each individual by name and who cares deeply about their joys and sorrows.
The genuine practices of the Christian church are not merely psychological exercises but are experienced as authentic communication with God. They offer an unshakable source of inner peace and guidance that is independent of external circumstances. They provide the benefit of knowing that no matter how isolated, anxious or lost one may feel, one is never truly alone.
To conclude, the consolations of Christianity today are as relevant as they have ever been. In a world starved of purpose, Christianity offers an expansive and meaningful story in which to live. In a world plagued by loneliness, it offers a community of hope and belonging. In a world crippled by shame and perfectionism, it offers the scandalous freedom of grace.
And in a world that often feels flat and disenchanted, Christianity offers a vision of transcendent beauty and an intimate relationship with a loving God. While its claims remain challenging and its followers are invariably imperfect, the Christian faith continues to offer a shelter in the whirlwind, addressing the deepest and most enduring longings of the human heart.
Steve Byrne is a minister of the Word at Mountain View Church of Christ in Buena Vista. He is an INTJ and an Enneagram 5.
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