More and more I find myself drawn to the concept of mystery.
As a student of theology, my mind has attempted to comprehend God and the things of God.
But by doing so, I have emptied God of everything that makes God God!
The incomprehensible cannot be comprehended.
So many teachings of the church – the incarnation, the virgin birth, the trinity, the inspiration of Scripture, the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, the problem of evil, the creation of the universe, the possibility of miracles, the resurrection of Jesus, the end times – are human attempts to explain, to understand, to de-mystify.
More and more, when people question or challenge me on any of these, I am inclined to say, ‘I’m not sure’ or ‘it’s something like this’ or ‘it’s a mystery to me’.
I’m not saying I don’t believe these kinds of things, but I am saying that I don’t understand, or can’t explain them, and that the truth is probably deeper and more complicated than our theologies suggest.
We should take our cue from Job: “I spoke about things I didn’t completely understand. I talked about things that were too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)
I found this article on embracing mystery as a spiritual practice… I am drawn by what it says.
What do you think?
Embracing Mystery
By Frederic and Mary Ann BrussatMystery. It’s not much in favor these days. Modern consciousness has little respect for the unseen and the unknown. We’re much more comfortable with sound bytes from the experts and tidy philosophical or psychological systems that have an explanation for every situation. Television programs us to think that every problem has a solution that can be found in an hour or two, minus the time for commercials.
Politicians, educators, scientists, writers, self-help psychologists, and even many preachers seem to have everything all figured out. If we need answers, they’re more than willing to give them.
There is another way to be in our world: we can embrace mystery. Christian novelist and essayist Madeleine L’Engle said, “There are no answers to the wonder of creation.” There is only a deep and abiding respect for the awesomeness and unfathomability of the miracles of life. To try to explain them in detail, to reduce them to a simple answer for someone, is to limit their majesty. [Read More]