People who profess Christianity sometimes feel like fish out of water. In a world seemingly driven by scientific evidence and the demand for "proof", it is often difficult to appear credible.
Scripture tells us we are not of this world. We are citizens of the kingdom, that is for sure, but our way of thinking, shaped by our faith in a sovereign God sometimes makes us feel awkward.
Let's face it, the world is a "what you see is what you get" kind of place. Can't see it? Can't show it? Can't prove it? Then it must not be so. If you do "believe" without concrete "proof", you must be some sort of weirdo.
But "seeing" is not always "believing." Sometimes what is seen, what is known, only scratches the surface of what really "is."
Why the disconnect? Why the tension? It's pretty simple, we who live by faith, are placing our proverbial bets on some things which cannot be seen, which cannot be proven. It is the definition of faith. (Hebrews 11).
The modern mindset is built on the foundation of logic (logos). But an even deeper foundation is realized by the Christian. The "footer" of the Christian mindset is based in a mysticism (mythos) that is not explainable or measurable.
Mysticism conjures up a number of negative images to many Christians, but let's seriously think about this. The New Agers have no claim on the concept of mysticism. Mysticism is the realm of the unexplainable. I'm not talking about poltergeist, demons, or the power of crystals. Christianity is mystical. It's essential elements rely on faith, not reason, for explanation. It's okay for Christians to claim we are mystical by nature. I think we need to recover this ground from the New Agers.
But let's not get caught up in semantics. The point is that there are essential--even fundamental elements of our faith that rely on the dynamic of the mythos, rather than logos. And it this reality manifests itself on various levels.
Our spiritual formation: Try rationally explaining the change God is making in your life with a non-believer. Many will look at us like we're crazy, but we know God is at work. We can't explain it, but God transforms us in a miraculous manner. People who encounter Christ are profoundly changed. Changed in a way that cannot be fully explained. Some things just have to be taken by faith (mythos).
Faith and science: I think it is interesting that many Christians feel compelled to "justify" their faith by attempting to use reason to explain the mysteries of the Bible. Let's face it, when God is involved, science and reason are limited tools. We do not possess the ability as humans to adequately explain the God of the universe. Every time we put that rascal in a box, he either jumps out or break our box. Any serious scientist will acknowledge the limits to the tools of science. Telescopes can only see so far and microscopes can only probe so deep....and then even officers of science must rely on faith to explain the rest. (Isn't it interesting that after all the effort to get men to the moon, the astronauts on the first Apollo mission to orbit the moon chose to quote Scripture to express their feelings? Nothing else really could explain that which they were experiencing.)
The Resurrection: This is the ultimate example of the need to rely on a dose of mythos. There is no ability to prove, let alone explain the physics of the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. But it happened. We cannot use reason or logic to prove that Jesus rose again, but hundreds experienced the risen Christ before He ascended into Heaven. Some may argue conspiracy or fabrication of facts. How else, though, can the dynamic growth and spread of Christianity be explained but through the pivotal, crucial occurrence of the Resurrection? Again, reason and logic alone fail to deliver the goods. A dose of mythos is necessary to pull it all together.
So the next time your made to feel like a "weirdo" for your faith, keep your chin up. Reason and logic have their limits. Faith and mythos are essential to pull it all together and make any sense out of it all.
Weirdos? Actually, I would say people of faith are living with a more realistic world view than those who rely solely on "the facts."
Scripture tells us we are not of this world. We are citizens of the kingdom, that is for sure, but our way of thinking, shaped by our faith in a sovereign God sometimes makes us feel awkward.
Let's face it, the world is a "what you see is what you get" kind of place. Can't see it? Can't show it? Can't prove it? Then it must not be so. If you do "believe" without concrete "proof", you must be some sort of weirdo.
But "seeing" is not always "believing." Sometimes what is seen, what is known, only scratches the surface of what really "is."
Why the disconnect? Why the tension? It's pretty simple, we who live by faith, are placing our proverbial bets on some things which cannot be seen, which cannot be proven. It is the definition of faith. (Hebrews 11).
The modern mindset is built on the foundation of logic (logos). But an even deeper foundation is realized by the Christian. The "footer" of the Christian mindset is based in a mysticism (mythos) that is not explainable or measurable.
Mysticism conjures up a number of negative images to many Christians, but let's seriously think about this. The New Agers have no claim on the concept of mysticism. Mysticism is the realm of the unexplainable. I'm not talking about poltergeist, demons, or the power of crystals. Christianity is mystical. It's essential elements rely on faith, not reason, for explanation. It's okay for Christians to claim we are mystical by nature. I think we need to recover this ground from the New Agers.
But let's not get caught up in semantics. The point is that there are essential--even fundamental elements of our faith that rely on the dynamic of the mythos, rather than logos. And it this reality manifests itself on various levels.
Our spiritual formation: Try rationally explaining the change God is making in your life with a non-believer. Many will look at us like we're crazy, but we know God is at work. We can't explain it, but God transforms us in a miraculous manner. People who encounter Christ are profoundly changed. Changed in a way that cannot be fully explained. Some things just have to be taken by faith (mythos).
Faith and science: I think it is interesting that many Christians feel compelled to "justify" their faith by attempting to use reason to explain the mysteries of the Bible. Let's face it, when God is involved, science and reason are limited tools. We do not possess the ability as humans to adequately explain the God of the universe. Every time we put that rascal in a box, he either jumps out or break our box. Any serious scientist will acknowledge the limits to the tools of science. Telescopes can only see so far and microscopes can only probe so deep....and then even officers of science must rely on faith to explain the rest. (Isn't it interesting that after all the effort to get men to the moon, the astronauts on the first Apollo mission to orbit the moon chose to quote Scripture to express their feelings? Nothing else really could explain that which they were experiencing.)
The Resurrection: This is the ultimate example of the need to rely on a dose of mythos. There is no ability to prove, let alone explain the physics of the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave. But it happened. We cannot use reason or logic to prove that Jesus rose again, but hundreds experienced the risen Christ before He ascended into Heaven. Some may argue conspiracy or fabrication of facts. How else, though, can the dynamic growth and spread of Christianity be explained but through the pivotal, crucial occurrence of the Resurrection? Again, reason and logic alone fail to deliver the goods. A dose of mythos is necessary to pull it all together.
So the next time your made to feel like a "weirdo" for your faith, keep your chin up. Reason and logic have their limits. Faith and mythos are essential to pull it all together and make any sense out of it all.
Weirdos? Actually, I would say people of faith are living with a more realistic world view than those who rely solely on "the facts."
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