We have determined to “publish” this writing project one chapter at a time for three reasons. First, to get the message out sooner. Second, to get it out while it is still relatively fresh in my mind. Third, to illicit feedback for a better product. So, we ask you with all sincerity and humility, please bless us with your thoughts, reactions, questions, concerns, and/or suggestions. You can contact me at rob@inlightconsulting.com, or through whichever platform you discovered the article.
As rough as it has been the last five years (we are writing this at the end of 2024), we are still only halfway through this decade of storms, chaos, and crises. So far, we have experienced the Covid pandemic, supply chain disruptions across the world, a continuing war in Eastern Europe, the outbreak of war in the Middle East, and cultural divisions and riots here in the United States. Crises seem to be popping up everywhere: addiction, suicide, immigration, loneliness, etc. And when they are needed most, the social systems we depend on – education, healthcare, insurance, and political systems – are breaking down.
Furthermore, the sexual revolution, which began in the 1960’s, has matured into an evil we would not have imagined two years ago. Did you know the United Nations estimates there are between three and six million children trafficked for sex around the world? Or that half the content on the internet is pornographic? Who would have imagined even five years ago that adults responsible for the sanity and safety of children would deliberately confuse them about their identity and gender; and then mutilate them in healthcare facilities?
These overlapping and interconnected global crises threatening both people and planet – collectively labeled, “The Metacrisis” – are not going away any time soon. On the horizon are threats of another pandemic, more supply chain disruptions, the collapse of major social systems, a third world war, and massive labor and economic disruption by Artificial Intelligence (IT Industry experts predict that AI will displace between 50 and 100 million jobs, in the U. S. alone). Soft-totalitarianism and persecution of the religious are not guaranteed outcomes, but seem more and more likely as failing institutions and their elites attempt to maintain and increase their control and power.
Where is God in all this? Where are God’s people?
God is right here. In fact, He has allowed and created the storms, chaos, and crises for a number of good reasons.
- To discipline, transform, and sanctify.
- To draw His people out of the stands and onto the battlefield.
- To shake loose and destroy what does not belong, and prove our spiritual foundations.
- To advance His kingdom, and accomplish His eternal purposes.
It is important to note that God is more interested in His people than His enemies – for blessing and correction.
While it is true that our loving God uses chaos and crises for our spiritual maturity and ultimate salvation, far greater purposes are at play: God desires the return of all He lost through our rebellion in the Garden of Eden. And He desires a Bride for His Son.Fortunately for us, His larger story includes our participation, and He has not given up on us.
But we can do better! We must do better!
It would be easy, even natural, to hear and see what is going on in the world (our very close world), and assume all is doom, gloom, and destruction. Do not miss this: To think this way is to fall into the enemies’ trap of fear and hopelessness. God will restore all He lost in mankind’s rebellion. He uses chaos to transform us and our spheres of influence. We are privileged and responsible to participate in the work, for His glory and satisfaction.
The LORD God Almighty still reigns and He is sovereign over all creation. We can still choose to receive the loving Father’s discipline with humility and repentance. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can pass every test – tests that will strengthen us into mighty men and women of God. We can decide to pursue transformation by the renewal of our minds over further conformity with the world. We can become God’s weapons of warfare against the evil around us. We can become agents of transformation in our spheres of influence.
God works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called to His purpose (Romans 8:28) – all things, including the Metacrisis. Christians providentially born into this time will inevitably find themselves at a fork in the road – where we are forced to make a choice: Either go with God into the unknown and likely uncomfortable transformation He intends, or attempt to hunker down with the rest of the world and manage the storm until it passes.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2 describes the fork to which we refer. In the face of chaos, crisis, and the storms which threaten our very foundations, will we choose continued conformity to the world, or will we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by the renewing of our minds? God has created or allowed the storms, chaos, and crises of this season to invite and encourage us down the path which leads to eternal life.
Will we, individually and collectively, step into the incredible opportunity this providential moment affords?
We are living in a time of potentially great influence for the church of God – for those who will listen and courageously obey. The key for Christians at all levels of maturity is our response to God’s creative purpose, salvation, and empowerment for the opportunities that storms, chaos, and crisis provide.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12.
Brothers and sisters, we must not let the enormous challenges of our day distract us from the opportunities.
Leaders in the cognitive sciences – psychiatrists, psychologist, sociologists, and neurological scientists – have raised the alarm regarding the various mental crises plaguing our society: loneliness, despair, delusion, addiction, and suicide, calling it the “Meaning Crisis.” Again, doom and gloom to worldly thinkers, but not necessarily so to the followers of the Way, Truth, and Life.
One cognitive scientist, an unbeliever, has said, “The ‘Meaning Crisis’ provides the opportunity for religion to once again be the source of meaning, purpose, and wisdom for our society (Vervaeke, McGilchrist, and others, 2021).” A door is opening. The big question is how do we step through the door God’s way, for maximum impact, in the spheres of influence entrusted to our care? Also, how do we become houses that stand in the storms as refuge, encouragement, and wisdom for the lost and wandering children of God?
The overarching purpose of A Christian Response to the Metacrisis is the encouragement and edification of Christians young and old down the path of transformation, that we might collectively know God’s will for the journey. When we began this writing project, my intention was to expose the dangers of conformity with the world, recognize the opportunity presented in this season, and provide some means of navigating through individual and corporate transformation in a spiritually profitable way. Along the way, I discovered that the Holy Spirit had something more in mind!
Our research led us to Ian McGilchrist’s arguments for society’s delusional state, while Jordan Hall and others brought the Metacrisis onto my radar. Two revelations tie these discoveries back to our original purpose. First, through its conformity with the world, the church now suffers from the same debilitating delusions and all the challenges of the Metacrisis. This is God’s definition of the problem.
Secondly, we have discovered the ways of God for addressing every crisis which threatens mankind – first to the faithful Christian and then by way of the Christian faith, to the world. To once again become God’s instrument of sanity and solution in a world gone mad, the church must recover from its own delusions. It must set its mind back toward God. As the reader will discover, (re)attention to the Sacred will be key to our transformation.
Jesus is still in the business of drawing all men to Himself, in building His church. He has provided exercises, practices, and disciplines for our transformation and the discipling of others.
It seems important to acknowledge that I do not have the solutions for the crises which plague us. That is the LORD’s business. And I honestly do not know why He chose me to address the topic. But here we are, if only to direct attention to the One Who offers to involve us in the good work He alone can accomplish.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18
I have found, in eighteen years of workplace ministry, that one cannot lead others where they have not been, or are not willing to go. Consequently, this writing project has been, for myself, an incredibly transformative adventure. Eighteen months ago, I did not know the word Metacrisis, nor did I understand the incredible opportunity for the church in this hour. In the beginning, I had no idea of Western society’s seriously delusional state and its effect on the church. When we set out, I assumed our target audience would continue to be established Christian leaders, not those who will lead the church into its new forms.
God is doing a new thing – something beyond our estimation!
I have learned that prefaces such as this one should include the author’s perspective. So, let me begin by affirming: I am only the pen. The Holy Spirit must be that author, and I must endeavor to be His instrument. Because I am not the perfect pen, you best set your mind and heart to discern the Author’s voice. He may not be saying exactly what the pen has written down, but He is trying to say something to you. Find the meaning through Him.
With that communicated, we would like to establish some important frames of reference:
- The ideology of this book is unabashedly Christian. If you are reading this without the blessing of God’s wisdom and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we suggest you pause here and invite Jesus Christ to become your Savior and Lord. He has promised to respond in your favor.
- Those who operate from (nearly) closed and well-protected doctrinal boxes will discover here some uncomfortable invitations into the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
- God’s promises and graces are conditional upon our active involvement. Reading for information transfer is one of the conformities we hope to expose and eliminate. Failure to practice the provided exercises will make reading a waste of your time.
- God is a process-oriented problem solver. All the big concepts – salvation, sanctification, transformation, faith, etc. – are processes which require completion for one to enjoy God’s blessings in them.
- Reality includes the supernatural. Created in the image of God, we are supernatural beings, for good or evil. Renewal of our minds will require the rejection of both materialism and naturalism.
- We are experiencing a providential moment of the highest order, one potentially transformative for the church at several levels (e.g., home, fellowship, community). The principles of transformation apply as much to groups at these levels as they do to individuals.
Due to the season in which we find ourselves, this will likely be the most significant book I will ever pen. For those who receive it as “the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,” it will change the trajectory of their life and the lives of those in their spheres of influence. Those who have contributed have been equally used of God and are too numerous to remember and name. My apologies, but you know who you are and you will receive your reward from Someone more gracious than me.
A special word to those called by God to lead the church into its new and transformed forms. My heart’s desire, prayer, and hope for you in this book rests with you drawing what wisdom you can from its pages. My generation need not tell you what to do; that must be between you and the One building His church. The architecture and design for the new forms is for you to discern, model, and test. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Find Him, walk with Him, enjoy His presence, and He will glorify Himself through the good work He has already created for you to walk in! Amen.
God bless you with courage and wisdom for His restorative work in the storms, chaos, and crises which are heading our way.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen
Vervaeke, J., McGilchrist I., and others. (2021). The 4 Horsemen of Meaning. The Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCvQsqSCWjA.