Truth Really Matters

In Jerusalem, Rod Dreher met a shopkeeper who had moved from London many years before. “I was born in London, and coming out of London, everything is so worldly. Even if you’re born again, and you’ve given your life to Yeshua Jesus, there’s still that struggle with the things of the world pulling you back to it. You come to Jerusalem, and everything is God focused. . . . Once you’re separated from the things you hold dear, you’re open to the Spirit calling on your heart.”

Of course, spiritual focus – and the biblical directive to separate from the world (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) – is available anywhere, but it’s easier to focus in some places than in others. The local church is intended to be a refuge from the trials, temptations, and stresses of the world, but it must be pure, holy, and loving for that to work.

In his 2024 book, Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age, Rod Dreher calls us to be aware, daily, of the spiritual, even the enchantment that God has wired into the world. From his Orthodox heritage, Rod cites the prayer, “God is everywhere present and fills all things.” An enchanted world is one full of beautiful and terrible wonders, that strike us with awe and compel us to consider a transcendent reality.

Dreher sees the modern West as a “rich, decadent, spiritually exhausted civilization . . . cut off from the source of enchantment.” Gongchangling Reality is that God has infused life with meaning and that He intends us to live in participatory relationship with Him in accord with His will. Rod warns readers that those with a strong theological bent may see him as peddling some mystical mumbo jumbo, while others with a practical focus on evangelism or charitable work may see the discussion as “spiritually indulgent.” Rod insists that “without a sustained felt connection to the living God, these aspects of Christian living can ossify.”

A big caveat about Rod Dreher’s writings, and I’ve read three books of his now . . . he never seems to be clear about salvation. His Orthodox doctrine and culture are too close for comfort to Roman Catholicism. At times, his perspective is evangelical, even fundamentalist. At others . . . for example, he cites Dante’s book, Paradiso, in which Dante grows closer to heaven as he admires the virtue of Beatrice. His virtue advances as he discovers the joy and purity in her.

Dreher comments, “Regeneration is not something that happens in a single stroke; it’s a process. As Dante becomes purer in heart, his ability to perceive God’s glory in creation grows, as does his love for God and his desire to be united with Him.” But this false concept is at the heart of all works-based religions. Yes, there is a ‘process’ to see your sins for what they are, to find humility and repentance, and to understand and trust in the Lord Jesus for what He did on the Cross and in the Resurrection. But when the sinner meets the conditions of heartfelt repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus, regeneration does occur in a stroke. (See John 5:24) God does that, once we’ve met the conditions. The spiritual growth that follows, throughout life, that’s called “sanctification.”

The term Jesus coined in John 3, “born again,” reflects the sudden transformation to the new life in Christ that the redeemed sinner embarks upon. Satan’s false religions despise the term “born again,” emphasize what you must “do” rather than what Jesus has once and for all “done,” and minimize God’s “grace” – the unmerited favor He offers us if only we would open up our highly self-esteemed selves to receive it.

But let’s get back to Dreher’s theme, which is notable, if we keep in mind that we’re talking about ‘sanctification,’ the living in Christ after one is born again.

Dreher cites Paul Kingsnorth who sees “the Machine” as the modern enemy of God and man. “The Machine” is the technological society that works to control us, to render our lives as mere data sets. Yuval Harari reduces the idea to “Organism is algorithm.” Kingsnorth sees the threat as a Luciferian snare, meant to rob our liberty and humanity, and surrender to elites that promise a totally managed world with no suffering. Utopia.

Rod suggests that we are designed to be enchanted. If we choose to be enchanted by technology, we worship the creator of tech, man. Better to be enchanted by an ancient rainforest, created by God. True enchantment is a love for God and His works, including the wonders of creation . . . even in our fallen world. Since we cannot fully comprehend God’s works, mystery is a part of enchantment.

Much of this ground is plowed in Randy Alcorn’s book, Happiness, which I’ve reviewed in the 2018 archive. Alcorn, I think, does a much better job. Check it out.

There is much in the Bible I think I understand. There are mysteries I don’t. Over time, some mysteries have been illuminated, ‘lit up’ to some degree. That is a joyful and rewarding experience. For example, in Matthew 28:20 Jesus promises that He will be with His disciples always, even unto the end of the world.

I used to think, “That’s nice, but of course Jesus, as God, is everywhere and also indwells His followers.” But in verse 19 He had just given what we call the Great Commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Continuing in verse 20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Years ago, I began day trips, traveling by car and train, from Rockford to Chicago, spending the day downtown doing street evangelism. The circumstances were odd and somewhat complicated that led me to make this effort. But I was shocked to experience a profound joy and satisfaction from the very first trip. That Scriptural passage came alive to me. The Holy Spirit made it abundantly clear to me that that was exactly what He wanted me to do. And He proved it by a deep encouragement, along with protection and many God-appointed encounters with individuals on Chicago’s sidewalks. Those trips were for me, indeed, living in wonder.

In the premodern world, Rod points out, both Christians and pagans knew that the natural world reflected the existence of God, or the gods. The spiritual was real, including the apparent activities of angels and demons. Today’s world knows nothing of this enchantment. Even Christians – well, certainly professing Christians – associate their Christian faith with moral rules, social bonds, and political causes. Faith has no wonder, therefore no power to console us, transform us, and inspire us to heroic acts.

I resonate with Dreher’s point here, but he goes off the deep end when he offers an example of a priest blessing water, “turning it into holy water.” It’s not that he adds something to it, but “he is rather making the water more fully what it already is: a carrier of God’s grace.” Oops. So Roman Catholic, even occultic!

Back on track, Rod asserts that “true enchantment is simply living within the confident belief that there is deep meaning to life, meaning that exists in the world independent of ourselves . . . meaning that lives in and through God.” Practically speaking, he suggests, that for Christians this is living authentically, just as if what we profess to believe is actually TRUE. Right, Rod! Truth really matters. The Bible is clear that genuine faith . . . works. Look up Eph 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:5-8, and James 2:14. Genuine faith produces godly works. No works, no faith.

Why? Faith inspires, assures, and produces hope that what we do for the Lord’s sake matters. Consider Hebrews 12:28-29, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” Indeed, souls are at stake, Heaven and Hell await, and we’ve been given the Great Commission. So, let’s get busy!

The ancients did not see a clear distinction between the natural and supernatural realms. We moderns tend to be puzzled about the vicious reaction against the early Christians by the Roman empire, a multi-religious culture. What’s the big deal about Jesus? But Jesus claimed to be the second person of the Trinity, the same God who gave Moses the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai, who demanded exclusive worship. To profess to be a follower of Jesus was to repent from paganism. No compromise.

The Jews were tolerated because they were isolationist. Sure, they had their ‘tribal God,’ Jehovah, and other tribes had their own gods. But Christians sought converts from all groups. They threatened the empire’s social cohesion.

Given the life-threatening risk for conversion, why do we see so many in the Book of Acts turn to Christ? Rod insists that it wasn’t merely the excellence of the apostles’ preaching. Or even, for that matter, the Lord Jesus’ preaching we see recorded in the Gospel accounts. Rather, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead – “the demonstration of power validated the message they sought to convey.” Signs and wonders inspired repentance and faith, even if that meant possible – or in some cases certain – death.

Once past the apostles’ generation, the canon is complete, we have the Bible and the activity of the Holy Spirit, and evangelism is not awash in miracles. Note, however, that when you study miracles throughout the biblical record, there tend to be only brief periods when they show up. For example, miracles abound within Moses’ lifetime, then again with Elijah and Elisha, and notably during the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. But even the Book of Acts encompasses perhaps 35 years, and we see only a few miracles recorded. Apparently, message-validating miracles were the historical exception, not the rule.

Dreher continues on to a historical survey of diminishing enchantment over the next two millennia. He sees the West’s problem as intellectualizing its faith, while the Eastern branch (Orthodox) touched God via prayer and liturgy. Let’s skip up to the modern day.

Rod sees the internet as a disenchantment machine. He cites Nicholas Carr who notes that we need patience and concentration to understand difficult concepts. The internet subverts the process by overloading us with stimuli, flitting from topic to topic; “thinking becomes superficial and memory suffers. We become less reflective and more impulsive.” The internet degrades human intelligence. Degrading focus, concentration, and memory hinders prayer, sensitivity, and other qualities that would enable us to draw close to God and discern His work around us.

Rod insists that re-enchantment for the Christian is not just adding nostalgia to what we see in the world. Rather, we learn to perceive what is already there. “God has already enchanted the world; it is up to us to . . . establish a relationship with it.”

The materialistic emphasis of modern man, especially in the West, has generated great wealth and technological mastery, but it has also alienated us from spiritual realities. I can see that. But at this point in the book I’m yearning for specific solutions from Rod. I’ll take an interim shot myself . . .

I enjoy a bright blue sky. I can marvel at how God designed the physics of light’s interaction with atmospheric molecules so that the scatter is resonant with my favorite color. I observe a dog or a cat cavort, and chuckle at how God designed their personalities to mimic behaviors in people . . . and in such ‘cute’ ways. (Where do we find ‘cute’ in the laws of physics or in the Periodic Table?) I start to react poorly when a clerk or a waitress mistreats me, but I quickly realize that everyone is having a hard time and needs encouragement and, if the behavior is persistent, then how should I expect a lost soul to act? This is an evangelistic opportunity. I give the waitress a sizable tip, some tracts, and encouraging words.

Rod advises those whose minds are bent toward the ultra-rationalistic, the scientific, should open their minds to alternative ways of knowing, including art, poetry, music, and religion. I would rather be specific on that last item, that Jesus is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, and the only way to find THE God who shapes all reality.

Dreher’s RCC/Eastern Orthodox mindset comes out again when he writes, “The degree to which we can receive God’s grace is governed by the transparency of one’s nous.” (Nous = heart, soul, the eye of the soul that receives illumination from God.) The nous becomes clearer, Rod asserts, through prayer, fasting, obedience, and works of love. More grace flows in, purifying the soul and drawing you closer to God.

Rod tells his Protestant readers to relax, you don’t need to join a sacramental confession (RCC, Orthodox) to experience re-enchantment, “but it becomes far easier.” Sigh. Rod, haven’t you noticed that multitudes within the “sacramental confessions” show no evidence of being born again, therefore no indwelling Holy Spirit, and so how are rituals going to make a difference to a lost soul?

Rod cites anthropologist Joe Henrich who documents that modern Westerners are outliers psychologically, both historically and geographically. He tags them as WEIRD: Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. WEIRDos see the world very differently from the vast majority of people throughout history and, even today, across the world.

Rod talked with a Boston cabbie from Haiti who often suffered frustration with the many academics he ferried about town. Finding out he was from Haiti, they would sneer about Haitian vodou, despite the first-hand experiences he would relate. It just didn’t fit their materialistic worldview. The driver told Rod that he planned to take his boy to Haiti so he could see for himself that the highly educated WEIRDos in Boston were actually primitives blind to spiritual realities.

A few years ago, Rod had coffee in a Paris café with a famous French philosopher, an atheist who had, during the 1968 student protests, fully embraced the ideals of the French Republic: liberty, equality, and fraternity. But he had lived long enough to see nothing useful come of all the idealism. Rod asked him, “Where do you find hope?” He admitted he had no hope, so Rod proceeded to explain the hope he had in Christ. Listening politely, the old fellow finally said, “That is fine for you Americans, but here in France, we don’t believe in God.”

Rod writes, “There was not much else left to say.” Now, that’s tragic! Why didn’t Rod try, at least? Does he know nothing of apologetics? A polite atheist is a pleasure to talk to, because his worldview is incoherent and foundationless. It’s easy to point this out and explain how the Gospel is consistent with reality.

The U.S. now is experiencing a vast religious revolution, with multitudes claiming to be “spiritual, but not religious.” Many concoct a do-it-yourself stew of Christian elements with Buddhism, occultism, and whatever is culturally hot at the moment. “Christians” raised in megachurches have grown tired of the endless efforts to dazzle and entertain. Some seek more substance, but others just drop out. Political causes are well-intertwined with Christian culture, especially since 2017 when Donald Trump contributed to today’s massive polarization between leftists and conservatives.

An evangelical college professor observed that the Christian students on campus were sweet, but knew nothing substantial about their faith, raised in a “Jesus is my best friend” youth-group culture. They tend to crumple when confronted with anti-Christians in the academy. Dreher notes that only the return of a strong, demanding faith, with big answers for the big problems of death and suffering, can give young people an assured hope to live an authentic Christian life.

Rod worries that many turn to the occult to find experiences that transcend the mundane. He cites an ex-occultist, Jonah, who suggests all the cultural “nihilism, the scientism, and relativism” are not ends themselves, but rather means for Satan’s forces to prepare the ground for the religion of Antichrist. I’ll agree with that!

Jonah warns that progressive political causes are tied to the occult. I believe that is evident with the widespread madness of the trans issue, along with ongoing madness associated with abortion, race hatred, gay marriage, and other denials of virtue and reality. It seems that leftist politics has become a wide open gateway to the demonic realm.

Infamous Satanist Aleister Crowley taught that the more perverted the sexual act, the more that occult power flows into the perpetrator. An ex-Satanist told Rod that as he observed how eroticized the popular culture had become, you could conclude that Crowley had won the culture war.

Rod is wise to conclude that the hype on UFOs and aliens is another gateway to the demonic. A venture capitalist friend in California told him that everyone he knows in Silicon Valley conducts regular rituals to summon “aliens” to give them technological insights. Digital tech and AI are connected to the trans issue in that young moderns expect material reality to conform to idealized digital fantasies and are outraged if anyone claims that limits exist.

Philosopher Anton Barba-Kay offers that digital life is the new Tower of Babel. Digital tech is like a religion “in the sense that it now bears the full weight of our yearning for integration, participation, and incorporation in a larger purpose than our own.” We can program our way into making us gods – Satan’s ancient strategy to corrupt image-bearers is thriving in the digital age.

In a pilot program in Florida, kids are paired with AI buddies who will grow with them potentially throughout their lives, a true merging of man with machine. How close is this to deliberate possession by a foreign spirit?

Turning to strategies for re-enchantment . . . In the 1990 book Flow by Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (whew), the title concept is defined as “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” Flow seems akin to playing in the zone in tennis, or more significantly, there are times on the street doing evangelistic 121s when the moment seems surreally perfect, and nothing else matters. It’s elusive, but when it happens . . . wow!

Yet, as Rod points out, you can’t find flow by chasing it. It comes out as a by-product of other conditions. I never could intentionally find the zone in tennis; it just seemed to happen on occasion. But my experience of flow in evangelism seemed to derive from focus, discipline, prayer, and dedication, all tied to a desire to help the lost to find Christ and to please the Lord by obedience to the Great Commission.

Rod has much to say about prayer, albeit from a decidedly Orthodox perspective. I won’t parse the details. He is careful to warn that unscriptural doctrine and techniques can lead to enchantment connected to delusions or to the demonic. So he advises Christians to walk by objective biblical truths.

I’ll end here. I wish that I could recommend Dreher’s book; rather, I wish that a Bible-believing, born again Christian with sound doctrine had written a similar book, without the pollutions of RCC and Orthodox doctrine and experience. If you do read it, you can benefit as long as you recast the ideas in terms of Scriptural doctrine and practice. Rod is certainly onto something – the Christian life should certainly be infused with the transcendent – but you’ve got to be grounded in truth, in Scripture, at all times.

• drdave@truthreallymatters.com