If We Were Meant to Fully Grasp God, We Wouldn't Need Him
Theological reflections on naked Germans, the Lord of the Ring Cycle, Augustine, and extractive technologies.
Last week on The Shock Absorber, Stu Crawshaw,
and I started a new mini-series on the theology, strategy and practice of Soul Revival Church’s communications ministry.
Sadly, this turned out to be a false start, as Stu got crook and left me and Joel to our own devices. Not ones to shirk away from a challenge, we hit record on a wide-ranging conversation about what’s been capturing our attention this week, including German culture and Wagner’s legacy, to Augustine and the Apostles’ Creed, to AI and technology.
I kick off the discussion by digging into my German background, inspired by Katya Hoyer’s Zeitgeist Substack and why Germans embraced naturalism as a reaction against industrialisation. Remaining in the Fatherland, we then discuss the Great Courses series I’ve just finished listen to on Richard Wagner. Wagner was a creative genius who redefined opera as “music dramas,” inspiring Tolkien with ancient Germanic stories of wizards, elves and rings — but he was also a virulent antisemite and Hitler’s favourite composer. So how do we process someone capable of incredible beauty and horrifying evil?
Rather than falling into cancel culture or blind admiration, we can acknowledge both the beauty of God’s image reflected in human creativity and the brokenness of sin. With the bigger story of redemption in view, Christians can live with a non-anxious presence in the world, neither dismissing nor excusing what we see, but recognising that ultimate renewal is found in Jesus.
Joel then shares about reading Augustine’s Enchiridion, which connects beautifully with Soul Revival’s current series on the Apostles’ Creed. Augustine reminds us that the gospel truths of his day are still deeply relevant: Jesus as both High Priest and ultimate sacrifice, the divine mystery of the Trinity, and the process of sanctification as the Spirit reshapes us into who God made us to be. The grace of the Christian life is that we grow in understanding, but never exhaust the depth of God until we see Him face to face.
Finally, Joel finishes with a conversation around technology, sparked by Andy Crouch and Jay Kim’s reflections on AI. Is technology forming us — or deforming us? Is it additive (helping us flourish) or extractive (draining us like digital junk food)? We consider how Christians might navigate the flood of content, discern the difference between fast-food content and formative practices, and remember that God, as our Creator, designed us to flourish in His ways.
Listen along on your favourite podcasting app, or click through on the links below.