An Experience Beyond Words

We live in what is now called a "postmodern" society in which our culture now largely holds to the belief that there is no absolute Truth.  A person that holds to this line of thinking believes that whatever one perceives to be true for themselves is fine, but there really is no way of knowing if an all-encompassing, umbrella Truth exists that applies to all people.  The fact that our culture thinks this way has radically changed the methods that are effective in communicating the Gospel.

In the book of John, one of the cultures that the apostle was communicating to was the Greeks.  Of course, we know that they were a philosophical culture dominated by the belief that Truth could be attained by the use of human reason.  Greek Stoic philosophers believed in a concept called the "Logos," which is translated as "Word." 

These philosophers believed the Logos was similar to "The Force" in the Star Wars movies; an impersonal energy that could be tapped into to take a person to a higher degree of consciousness. 

So, how did John address this crowd with the Gospel?

John 1:1-3, 14 -  ¹In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word (Logos) was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

¹⁴The Word (Logos) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

He simply reveals that the Logos is not an impersonal force, but a Person.  Then, he explains that all can know Him personally.  Pretty good move inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Now, let's bring it back to our culture.  Our primary methods of sharing the Gospel include sermons, arguments, tracts and the like.  In our postmodern society, words have become largely ineffective.  Those that hold to the postmodern way of thinking will not be moved by words because, according to them, words are nothing but the perception one has. 

Therefore, they must be moved by an experience that goes beyond words, which Jesus promised was available to His followers.  They must encounter the Person and not just hear about Him.

OK, now it's your turn.  What do you believe is critical to entering into a "beyond words" experience of Christ that will effectively encounter our culture with the reality of The Truth?  Have you seen this happening in your midst?  Have you had encounters with postmodern thinkers and what did they say, how did they think?

(This post taken from my notes in the Logos Institute class "Beyond Beliefs.")

Comments

[Joanne]

My friend and I were just talking about this. I stated a principle and backed it up with my experience because I considered the scriptural documentation to be a given (though this principle is disputed based on the same foundation: biblical passages exegeted in an entirely different direction).

She corrected me and said that my experience was not proof. Only biblical documentation is proof. My rejoinder was the reminder that the faultline in systematic theology is this very thing: two theologians can stand on exact opposite sides of a doctrine or principle and "prove" with iron clad logic that their positions are correct, and the other position is in error.

Instead Christians must reclaim their original heritage in reality: the scientific method. Does this doctrine or principle play out in real life? Does God respond in power to prayer? Well, does He? is the Holy Spirit a religious concept or a real person who possesses a Christian's body with just as real and hair raising results as demonic possession? What is that "great might" that Paul speaks of in Ephesians?

And what was Jesus talking about, anyway, when He said (in John's gospel, by the way), "If you can't believe My words, then believe the miracle."?

One of the things I really loved about the movie "Avatar" was the depiction of real power, real connectedness, real communication between the native people and their planet. Listen, Christians, this is supposed to be us! Except our God is far more than a living planet, for crying out loud!! We are supposed to be experiencing "the miracles" and being encouraged by them, plus others are supposed to (words of the author of Hebrews) "taste of the goodness of the Spirit."

[Jennifer]

The thing about experiences is that they are personal by nature. Two people can have the exact same experience and react to/interpret it in completely different ways. How much more difficult then is it for one person to understand and fully grasp the unshared experience of another person?

Faith IS an experience. It's not a tangible item we can hold in our hands. Therefore, if you can't show it to them and you can't reason with someone to make them understand it, you're left with nothing more than their own ability and willingness to share the experience as "proof."

I believe in a faith of signs and wonders. I believe in a God who still moves today the same way he did at Pentacost. Nonetheless, I also know that humans can and will be blind to anything they don't wish to see or believe.

It's rarely the radical actions and experiences that first break past those "logical" (and yet often irrational) reasons for ignoring God.

Instead, it tends to be the small things. Seeing the difference in how someone lives their life, feeling the love that comes from a person seeking to love like Christ, or receiving an act of kindness or blessing from someone inspired to share it. THOSE are the things that are most effective at breaking through those barriers and that put people in a mental and emotional state to want to seek more.

And it's only when they are ready to seek on some level that they'll begin to be ready (and able) to see.