For those of you who may not be familiar with the term, the short explanation is that it describes a philosophy of personal meaning and experience, and perhaps the best writer on the matter is the Dane, Kierkegaard. His declared that while the empirical truth claims of Christianity are all well and good, they had very little significance for his personal life and worldview. What did it matter is God made the heaven and existed in a state of Love if Kierkegaard could not experience and be moved by the God and His love.
While not a perfect worldview or philosophy, Kierkegaard is certainly on to something and I believe that there are many in our local context and culture who can relate to his longing and frustrations. Evangelical Christianity is all about declaring truth claims and defenses but it often fails to communicate the personal and relational aspects of God with His creation. As I contemplated existentialism and the local Christian school, I knew that these kids would be receiving healthy doses of empirical evidence of God and His Word, but mere facts can never influence a heart.
Reading from Colossians 1:15-23, I attempted to draw the correlation between an empirical and relational God through the person of Christ. "All things were created by Him and for Him (v.16)...reconciling the world through His cross (v.20)." Yes, God has done magnificent things within creation and for us, but it is Him alone who is to be worshipped, sought after, experienced, and glorified. He is great; He care for us; but, He alone is to be object of our satisfaction.
I challenged the kids to leave every Bible study, church service, chapel or church event pondering the question, "So what? How does that which was said and taught have any meaning to me and to growing closer in worship to God?" If a message is merely about us, then it has failed and diverted into heretical ideas. Simultaneously, if the message only speaks of God's transcendence, then it, too, has failed, because it has neglected the power of His salvation to transform individuals.
This is big stuff, I know, but I believe that theology must be challenging and not merely affirming.
