Existentialism

Mark 4:19 “all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”

So what is existentialism, exactly? Jack Maden says, in a nutshell, existentialism concerns itself with finding ways to explain the individual human experience, focusing like a laser on what it means to exist as an individual human being in a universe we don’t understand. The broader cultural use of the term ‘existentialist’ typically describes any thinker who places an emphasis on individual lived experience — particularly on the tension between the fact we are ultimately responsible for our choices, yet lack a clear framework for knowing if the decisions we make are the right ones, or if they even matter at all. This tension is generally accompanied by the suspicion that, beyond the everyday, there lies a deeper human need that natural science and traditional religions have not been able to fulfill. As such, existentialist works commonly feature themes like dread, boredom, anxiety, alienation, the absurd, freedom, commitment, nothingness, and what it really means to be an embodied being in an apparently uncaring, unknowable universe. This, of course, is not a Christian perspective or framework and lacks life purpose. Without the biblical worldview, the secular humanists have not moral compass or foundation to make choices and decisions from. There is good creation science and nature’s God to make sound, balanced and fulfilling right judgments, but existentialists rely on blind individual lived experience for answers based upon fleshly desires and social trends.

 

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.”

 

Existentialism states that we exist for the “here and now”, so eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. It is said that Collage students often find themselves asking 5 essential questions of life: (1) Who am I? A Question of Identity. (2) Where do I come from? A Question of Origin. (3) What Can I do? A Question of Potential. (4) Why am I here? A Question of Purpose. (5) Where Am I going? A Question of Destiny. All these questions are answered in the Word of God for us. Without the biblical and gospel truth, many turn to earthly, material and sensual pursuits to find answers; living for the moment with hedonistic ideology and “self” driven quests. You were created on purpose for a purpose and you have great value. Sin and self is not the purpose. 

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”

 

I read that How to ABC Your purpose is: Assess & Appreciate the noble reason you are here on earth. Belong: Stand in the truth. Commit to doing your calling by God, and to preserving your Creator’s original intent. In Christ, we have a past and a future; today is a present.

 

In Christ, Brian