The World From a Christian’s Perspective

The Anthropic Principle is a fancy way of pointing to the extremely fine-tuned details of the universe and how it is able to exist. Now, admittedly, there are flaws within that argument, but I’ll let you do that research. Regardless of your religion, let’s just walk through this thought experiment.

One hundred twenty two narrowly defined constants point to a fine-tuned universe and our ability to exist. The oxygen level, the precise gravity force, the tilt and rotation rate of the earth, and you know this, especially my STEM majors. How did the universe get this just right? The odds of all these constants being perfect, as they are, are more than just flipping a coin or winning the lottery, just saying. Is it more likely that we just got lucky or that we have an intentional designer? I don’t know. I can’t get too controversial too fast, right? Friends of a different religion or no religion, please stay with me. Hear me out.

I deeply admire learning about people and getting to know others. I love your desires and your passions. I enjoy hearing about what keeps you up at night. I see your gifts and your talents. I see your flaws, because you’re imperfect, but I try to focus on the beauty in your uniqueness, I’m imperfect at that though. I see you and I see something so beautifully constructed and so intentionally designed. I see you as more than atoms. I see you as creation. You see yourself as more than just atoms too, right? You long for purpose.

Similarly, if I saw a knitted beanie, without ever seeing its maker, I can tell you it was intentionally made. I see a purpose. I see a complex design that nature couldn’t just “poof” and make it appear. I see that as I look at the mountains. I see that as I look at you. You’re too special and too complex to just have appeared. How is it that your specific DNA made you and my specific DNA made me? Anyway, my mind is finite and so, I’m sure there are flaws within that analogy, but that’s what I think about often. Even as a Christian I often question my own beliefs. How do I know Jesus was who He claimed to be? Why do I believe what I believe? It’s healthy because it drives you to research and to keep learning. It’s healthy because it can humble you. It turns out that a finite mind leads to finite knowledge. I guess we can be wrong occasionally; I chuckle.

When I look at the world, I see something-billion amount of broken people living in a broken world. I see injustice. I see chaos. I see pain. I see struggle and heartache. I see beauty and joy. I see an imperfect world with imperfect people. One of the most asked questions is “If God exists, why does suffering exists?” and it’s a valid question. If God is perfect, all-powerful, loving, why do we suffer? That’s a whole separate post that I have not yet written and I’d encourage you to research that yourself, but there’s a couple things that stick out to me. One is that the Bible said we’re going to suffer and it never promised a world without trials (John 16:33), despite your religion. Another is we’re not made to live in this imperfect world forever. Heaven is to come but it isn’t what we’re promised now. Why are we mad at God over something that He never promised? Seems silly, but can I be the first to admit that even as someone who claims to love Jesus I also do this. Friends, we were not made to live in this imperfect world forever.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. ³ Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

Read that last verse again. This is to come, but it is not right now. I see a world of finite people with finite minds doing things that make sense in their own eyes. I see people who believe they have no purpose and I see people who believe they are not forever loved and it breaks my heart. I see people who place their identity and their happiness on a moving target, if your target is moving, at what point are you satisfied? I see people who live a very works-based life, but who is the judge? Now, I’m not saying as a Christian, I don’t do these things, I absolutely do, but when I forget who I am and who I am called to be, I have 66 books that make up the Bible that I can refer back to and it tells me who God is and who I am because of Christ alone.

“Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his—his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

For the Christian, at least the general idea (though we often forget) is that we act in a way that honors God because we’re loved first and eternally. Everything we do is from this outpouring of God’s love, not because we have anything to prove or because we feel the need to earn our salvation. There’s nothing I can do to earn or lose God’s love. I am saved through grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That’s a pretty good deal for an imperfect person like myself who constantly makes mistakes. I know my worth. I know my identity. I know there’s much more to this world. I’m not chasing a moving target when the foundation is set on Christ.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

I once had someone ask me if Christianity is my coping mechanism. It is in a sense, it’s great to know that I have a purpose and that I’m made for much more. It’s great to know that I was created out of love and not just from luck. But it’s more than just a way to deal with the bad, Jesus changes my perspective on everything. It changes my perspective of you, of this flawed earth and how I act on it, my identity, just…everything. Jesus changes everything.

There are so many possibilities. Is there a god or is there not a god? If there is a religion, which one is it? To say I’ve spent a few hours looking into the several array of possibilities…a few hours is an understatement, definitely. Living in a highly secular city, like Seattle, it’s easy to step into that worldview and see myself and the world from that perspective. It works until you realize you’re imperfect and flawed. When I have looked at things in that mindset, I feel like I am just constantly asking myself if I’m doing enough, if I’m a good enough person, if I’m made for more, etc. Fact check me on this, but I do believe Christianity is the only religion to say that your salvation is based off of your faith alone and not your works. There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or less, how does that sound, my imperfect friends? An unconditional love acknowledges our imperfections and humanness.

I’m not saying, abide by the Christians’ beliefs because you feel like that will make you happiest. I’m saying compare your heart and your morals to the foundation that God has set. Compare your thoughts about yourself with God’s thoughts about you. Science and history line up really dang well with the Bible, consider it. You know you’re more than just a conglomeration of atoms. You long for purpose and you know you have a purpose. The complex, unique, and beautiful creation you are calls for a Creator. You know that if salvation is works-based, we would all be screwed. These are all just things to consider. That’s all. I’ve considered your perspective of the world and of yourself, can you consider mine?

You’re loved by the way even if you are still extremely skeptical about everything I say. I appreciate you, not because you read my blog, but because you’re a purposefully created being. As always, do your research but consider my thoughts. Following Jesus does not promise as easy life, but it promises salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That’s a great deal. Consider it so, friends.

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9