Christian Philosophy and Metaphysics

QUESTION: Christian Philosophy and Metaphysics

ANSWER:

The Christian philosophy view of metaphysics—of ultimate reality (ontology and cosmology)—is part of what C.S. Lewis termed “Mere Christianity.” There are certain things virtually all Christians believe, and one is that God is the supreme source of all being and reality. He is the ultimate reality. Because of this, we and the entire space-time creation, says Carl F.H. Henry, depend on the Creator-God “for its actuality, its meaning and its purpose.”¹ This creation is intelligible because God is intelligent and we can understand the creation and Creator because He made us in His image with the capacity to understand Him and His intelligent order.

The Christian philosophy view of metaphysics is clearly spelled out in Scripture: “In the beginning [of the cosmos] was the Word [Logos, mind, reason, thought, wisdom, intelligence, idea, law, order, purpose, design], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same [Word] was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1–4).

Christian Philosophy and Mind before Matter
The flow of this passage sets the parameters of Christian philosophy—mind before matter; God before people; plan and design before creation; life from life; and enlightenment from the Light. The orderly universe was conceived in the orderly and rational mind of God before it was created. Without the Logos there would be no cosmos. From the Christian perspective it is no surprise to see philosophers and scientists refer to the universe as a manifestation of mathematical law, order, design, and beauty.

It is no accident that at every level of the cosmos—sub-atomic, atomic, organic, inorganic, sub-human, human, earth, moon, sun, stars, galaxies—all things manifest amazing order and rationality that can be reasonably explained only as the result of a deliberate, creative act of God.

The current theory of evolution declares the cosmos to be the result of a series of random accidents. Christianity considers this view an entirely irrational notion. Such a position is tantamount to claiming that a skyscraper can come together without an architect, plan, or engineer. It doesn’t happen that way in the real world; only in the minds of those who assume there is no supernatural Designer.

Notes:

Rendered with permission from the book,Understanding the Times: The Collision of Today’s Competing Worldviews(Rev. 2^nd ed), David Noebel, Summit Press, 2006. Compliments of John Stonestreet, David Noebel, and the Christian Worldview Ministry at Summit Ministries. All rights reserved in the original.

¹ Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, 5:336.