The gospel according to David Bowie
140 years ago, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote the famous line, "God is dead."
Nietzsche was an atheist for his adult life, so this statement is not a reference to a God that had actually died. Rather, he was referring to our idea of God. The Enlightenment unleashed the concept of the universe being governed by physical laws rather than divine providence. Democracy demonstrated governments no longer required a divine right to be legitimate. Philosophy and science was replacing God as the source of human morality.
In other words, according to Nietzsche, humanity's knowledge had grown to the point where the concept of God was no longer necessary (at least, no longer necessary for free thinkers and philosophers).
However, after Nietzsche died, 20th century events such as World Wars, nuclear weapons, religious-motivated terrorism, climate change, mass shootings, and growing world poverty revealed humanity is incapable of self-improving itself to create a flourishing life for everyone.
This leaves us with a huge dilemma: according to Nietzsche, we have arrived at a place where we no longer need what the idea of God gives us. However, as demonstrated by the last 100 years, we're terrible at filling the void left by a "dead God."
Reflecting on these ideas, David Bowie (an insightful thinker in his own right), summed it up this way:
"At the turn of the 20th Century, Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed that God was dead and that man had killed him. This created an arrogance within man that he himself was God. But as God, all he could seem to produce was disaster. That led to a terrifying confusion: for if we could not take the place of God, how could we fill the space we had created within ourselves?"
~ David Bowie, 2002
(thanks to Deanna for sending me this quote!)
This quote encapsulates the human dilemma: we desire to be God, but we suck at being God. Trying to be our own God gnaws at our soul and leaves us with a shadowy, oxygen-starved emptiness where robust hope and peace cannot grow.
This is not new news. The Bible has much to say about humanity's need for God and our ever-present desire to be our own God. From the very beginning (Genesis 3) humanity has been enticed by the temptation to become like God and gain our own independence.
Perhaps this desire is best summarized by the prophet Isaiah's words to the king of Babylon (Babylon is used throughout the Bible as a metaphor for humanity's pride and rebellion):
"You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God... I will make myself like the Most High.'"
~ Isaiah 14:13-14
The Bible is equally clear, however, that regardless of what human pride desires, our souls long for a relationship with our Creator. Verses such as Acts 17:28 ("For in him we live and move and have our being") and Psalm 42:1 ("As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God") acknowledge we depend on God for our existence, purpose, and sustenance.
You can see the war within us: we want to be our own God, but we cannot embrace a fully abundant life apart from God. The resolution to this conflict is the worst possible solution for our human pride: surrender.
As Creator, God alone knows our most fulfilling path. Thus, if we want that life, we must quit fighting his loving pursuit of us and surrender.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
~ Proverbs 3:5-6"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
~ Matthew 16:24
The message is almost mundane in its simplicity: to live the most flourishing life possible, surrender our attempt to be our own God, surrender our self-centred desires, and instead submit ourselves to God's plan and purposes for our life. In other words, true wisdom and guidance come from relying on God rather than relying solely on our limited understanding of how we as individuals or humanity in general can flourish.
PAUSE and REFLECT: Where are you trying to be your own God? Our first thought might be, "I'm a follower of Jesus. Of course I recognize God is alive. Of course I know his path will lead to peace for my soul and a flourishing life."
That's great... but do you live like that?
Do you have relationship troubles, financial difficulties, work stress, or an overly compressed life? In dealing with these issues, are you actually living like God is alive and your source of guidance, wisdom, and hope?
Bowie correctly diagnosed the problem: how can we possibly fill the space we create in ourselves when we reject God? The answer is we can't. That's why we need to fire ourselves from being God.
Take a moment today to reflect on your life. Where might you be leaning on your own understanding and determining your own path? Unless these things align with God's plan for you, they will lead nowhere.
Where is God inviting you to surrender to his love and guidance? What is one thing you will do this week to seek his guidance and walk the path it unfolds before you?