Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/22/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.
Cynics are on a cycle that starts with a disappointment, which leads to discontentment with life. Then they decide to protect themselves, which leads to a cynical spirit. Then a negative experience happens, which leads to disappointment, and the cycle continues.
Cynicism effects your faith. It causes some to jump ship. It causes some to stay put but to stop hoping. Disenchantment robs their faith of its enchantment. It causes some to erase the miraculous from their faith. They and their faith are dis-enchanted.
The use of enchantment is to speak of the opposite of mundane. Mundane is lacking interest or excitement or of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.
Our faith is enchanted. Our faith is founded on the supernatural. A virgin birth is not mundane. Our faith is enacted by the miraculous. The atoning work of Christ on the cross, and His resurrection is anything but mundane.
Our faith is of the Spirit of God. Communicating with God in Spirit and in truth is not mundane.
What factors contribute to disenchantment? Arrogance, ignorance and fear all contribute to disenchantment.
What steps can we take toward re-enchantment?
Drill down to what Christian faith is. Real Christian faith is found at the cross. At the cross, Jesus loved his neighbor as Himself, His enemies and His Father in heaven.
Look into your own heart. The problem of many who are disenchanted is not their lack of faith, but their abundance of arrogance.
Radically open your heart to wonder. Release God from your demands. Look for the miracles and expect them.
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