When one realizes that the Kingdom of God consists of Imagers of God—each person a reflection of the divine—it becomes possible to live with a deep peace, seeing others as icons bearing God's imprint. This peace transforms faith from something that merely orbits one’s life into a foundation to live out of. In contrast, the mechanized, post-Enlightenment view of the world (ironically mechanized, given your background in engineering) drains creation of wonder and meaning. But as you rightly pointed out—echoing Spurgeon—faith reenchants the world. It breathes life back into our core, enabling us to radiate that peace and vibrancy into our communities, through our work, home life, and even ordinary mercantile exchanges. Well said.
Yes, absolutely. In the excitement of rapid scientific discovery and technological advances, even those with a deep Kingdom identity can lose perspective on what it means to be truly human. My background in engineering gave me some opportunities to view technology as an outsider and creator, rather than simply being absorbed into it as a user. At its best, technology can be a tool to serve humanity; at its worst, it becomes a means for some to manipulate and dehumanize others for personal gain. But as you rightly pointed out, all is not lost. We live in a world full of wonders—not least among them the people in our communities. Perhaps what we need now is a little collective rewiring to remind us to start looking up again.
When Paul quotes Epimenides in Acts 17—“For in Him we live and move and have our being”—it reminds us that all human attempts to make sense of reality ultimately converge in the paradox of the transcendent becoming immanent in the incarnate person of Jesus of Nazareth. This truth extends even to physics and the hard sciences: nothing exists apart from the One who is the ground of all being.
At times, I wonder if society, in its pursuit of control, has reduced the world to a purely physical, mechanical framework—a model crafted to be manipulated, enabling both isolation and dominance. But this is an illusion. Even our technology, designed to connect, increasingly serves as a tool of alienation. We fictionalize our relationships, engaging primarily with ourselves in curated echo chambers.
How can we see the sacred dignity in Spurgeon’s cooks, maids, lawyers, software engineers, or financial planners if the only person we truly “see” is ourselves, reflected in the mirror of our screens?
The world is sick. We are alienated—from God, from one another, even from our own selves. But returning to Acts 17 and to the heart of your post, the Kingdom of God is the antithesis of alienation. It is full, rich connection—with God and with neighbor. It is the joyful recognition that God is the ground of all being, and that in Him we find total contentment, wherever we are. Kingdom life reorients us outward in love and humility, anchoring us not in self-interest but in self-giving.
Writing and reflecting on these things exposes the superficiality of much that modernity holds dear. But in doing so, we also illuminate the path to life and peace—a path that stretches from here to the horizon. And I appreciated your wordplay: “rewiring” is indeed a fitting metaphor. It brings the conversation quite literally back to life.
Ken, this is good stuff. And I loved this line "the Kingdom of God is the antithesis of alienation." Where sin disintegrates and dehumanizes, Jesus reintegrates and rehumanizes. There's no better news.
And I'm glad you picked up on rewiring, I had a feeling you might ;)
Thanks Tom, for articulating this so beautifully! It’s taken me time to fully embrace this perspective, but my Christian faith is the thread that runs through every aspect of my life, no matter which role or "hat" I’m wearing. I firmly believe that God’s guidance and presence shape every interaction, directing our paths and infusing our actions with purpose. It’s a humbling and inspiring realization that continues to guide my journey.
Amen brother, and I know you live it because I've seen it first hand! Not that any of us every live this out perfectly, but we see that as the influence of God deepens and widens in our lives, so does our joy. What a journey!
When one realizes that the Kingdom of God consists of Imagers of God—each person a reflection of the divine—it becomes possible to live with a deep peace, seeing others as icons bearing God's imprint. This peace transforms faith from something that merely orbits one’s life into a foundation to live out of. In contrast, the mechanized, post-Enlightenment view of the world (ironically mechanized, given your background in engineering) drains creation of wonder and meaning. But as you rightly pointed out—echoing Spurgeon—faith reenchants the world. It breathes life back into our core, enabling us to radiate that peace and vibrancy into our communities, through our work, home life, and even ordinary mercantile exchanges. Well said.
Yes, absolutely. In the excitement of rapid scientific discovery and technological advances, even those with a deep Kingdom identity can lose perspective on what it means to be truly human. My background in engineering gave me some opportunities to view technology as an outsider and creator, rather than simply being absorbed into it as a user. At its best, technology can be a tool to serve humanity; at its worst, it becomes a means for some to manipulate and dehumanize others for personal gain. But as you rightly pointed out, all is not lost. We live in a world full of wonders—not least among them the people in our communities. Perhaps what we need now is a little collective rewiring to remind us to start looking up again.
When Paul quotes Epimenides in Acts 17—“For in Him we live and move and have our being”—it reminds us that all human attempts to make sense of reality ultimately converge in the paradox of the transcendent becoming immanent in the incarnate person of Jesus of Nazareth. This truth extends even to physics and the hard sciences: nothing exists apart from the One who is the ground of all being.
At times, I wonder if society, in its pursuit of control, has reduced the world to a purely physical, mechanical framework—a model crafted to be manipulated, enabling both isolation and dominance. But this is an illusion. Even our technology, designed to connect, increasingly serves as a tool of alienation. We fictionalize our relationships, engaging primarily with ourselves in curated echo chambers.
How can we see the sacred dignity in Spurgeon’s cooks, maids, lawyers, software engineers, or financial planners if the only person we truly “see” is ourselves, reflected in the mirror of our screens?
The world is sick. We are alienated—from God, from one another, even from our own selves. But returning to Acts 17 and to the heart of your post, the Kingdom of God is the antithesis of alienation. It is full, rich connection—with God and with neighbor. It is the joyful recognition that God is the ground of all being, and that in Him we find total contentment, wherever we are. Kingdom life reorients us outward in love and humility, anchoring us not in self-interest but in self-giving.
Writing and reflecting on these things exposes the superficiality of much that modernity holds dear. But in doing so, we also illuminate the path to life and peace—a path that stretches from here to the horizon. And I appreciated your wordplay: “rewiring” is indeed a fitting metaphor. It brings the conversation quite literally back to life.
Ken, this is good stuff. And I loved this line "the Kingdom of God is the antithesis of alienation." Where sin disintegrates and dehumanizes, Jesus reintegrates and rehumanizes. There's no better news.
And I'm glad you picked up on rewiring, I had a feeling you might ;)
Thanks Tom, for articulating this so beautifully! It’s taken me time to fully embrace this perspective, but my Christian faith is the thread that runs through every aspect of my life, no matter which role or "hat" I’m wearing. I firmly believe that God’s guidance and presence shape every interaction, directing our paths and infusing our actions with purpose. It’s a humbling and inspiring realization that continues to guide my journey.
Amen brother, and I know you live it because I've seen it first hand! Not that any of us every live this out perfectly, but we see that as the influence of God deepens and widens in our lives, so does our joy. What a journey!