The Universe Has Your Back: Cultural Fables Revisited
Photography Courtesy of Dimmis Vart Unsplash
The third Missiological Snapshot provides a brief overview of secularization and exclusive humanism. I pointed out that we live in an age of contested beliefs that are characterized by what Charles Taylor describes as “galloping pluralism on secular plane.”
We live in an age where Christianity is no longer the default religious option but is one belief option among a supernova of choices. In fact, belief in God that includes a Christian worldview is often considered unsafe, implausible, and even unimaginable.
This post, an edited version of my Cultural Narrative Series in 2021, highlights a prevalent belief option that winds its way into movies, podcasts, talk shows, friend groups.
The Universe Has Your Back, or does it?
I have noticed an increasing number of references to “the universe” in pop-culture, media, and general conversation. The universe is referred to as an animate, all-knowing, all-wise entity to which we look for guidance, meaning, and protection. Increasingly, people look to the universe to manifest their destiny, to validate relationship or career choices, to verify the coincidental, or to discover their true purpose.
Who or what is “the Universe”?
My research uncovered a mystical world of belief, filled with mindfulness, motivation, and self-help. Social media influencer, Gabrielle Bernstein, author of “The Universe Has Your Back,” caught my attention right away. She was numbered in 2016 among Oprah’s Super Soul 100—a handpicked group of innovators, trailblazers, and visionaries “aligned on a mission to move humanity forward.”
Gabby Bernstein, according to reviewers, promotes an accessible modern-day spiritual movement that she claims transforms lives. She appears transparent as she describes her spiritual journey and points the moment of crisis that prompted her to immerse herself in spiritual principles and meditation practices. The process helped her to discover her true purpose—”to be a source of love and inspiration in the world,” and her mission—”to help you crack open to a spiritual relationship of your own understanding so that you can live in alignment with your true purpose, too!”
Her website also provides numerous free offerings, products, and podcasts. She invites her followers to “manifest a life beyond your wildest dreams”[2]. The Miracle Membership for $199.00/year and includes live online meditation, coaching, and a monthly mantra paving the way to enduring happiness, anxiety relief, and much more.
Strikingly, Bernstein’s positive thinking messages include love, forgiveness, oneness, sacrifice, surrender, and self as supreme.
In a post titled, “How to truly know the Universe has your back,” Bernstein describes the Universe as an infinite force of love that surrounds everything. One of her stated goals is to help people establish a spiritual relationship that makes sense to them with a Higher Power of their own design (italics mine). Later, Bernstein invites her readers and listeners to connect with the universe. “You are one with the love of the Universe. Our spiritual path leads us toward spiritual sight. This is when we begin to relinquish our faith in our perceptions of the world to see strength rather than weakness, oneness rather than separation, and love rather than fear.” We are, according to Bernstein, and the masters of our own destiny.
An Example of the Supernova: Pantheism, Self-Help, New Age, and More Expressive Humanism
I call attention to Bernstein’s philosophy because it’s alluring and glimmery, her posture and message resembles something of the gospel, but is, in fact, fool’s gold, a mere caricature of the real thing.
Inherent in Bernstein’s philosophy is the pluralism I mentioned in the introduction. Her philosophy and teaching, on the one hand, reveals an adherence to an Eastern pantheistic monism, the root worldview for much of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Pantheistic monism holds that reality is ultimately personal, and, each person, according to a pantheistic understanding of God is God.[4] This is consistent with Bernstein’s approach is influenced by the teachings of Indian Swami, Saraswadichandras, who devoted himself to the ancient teachings and revitalization of the practice of yoga and consequent happy, healthy, and peaceful lives.
Bernstein also draws from the work of Dr. Wayne Dyer described as “The Father of Motivation” in the fields of self-development, growth, and the New Age. This coming age promises a new level of humanity that draws from a vast spectrum of consciousness and new dimensions of personal and cultural evolution. This “new age” is made possible through drugs, mystical techniques, and virtual reality. Sprinkled throughout Bernstein’s philosophy is expressive individualism, a form of self-worship that relentlessly pursues the freedom to express uniqueness without constraint.
The Gabby Bernstein brand is sparkly and brilliant, speaks to the issues of the day, and is positively counterculture. Her message is positive, hope-filled, and aesthetically pleasing. She also appears to be available to anyone who needs her advice or encouragement.
Fool’s Gold: A Cultural Fable as Old As the True Story of the Whole World
But all that glitters is not gold. Beneath the surface of Bernstein’s positivity lies a belief system that is as old as the true story of the whole world. This seemingly rational belief system convincingly promises a better way, an autonomous way. A “my way or the highway” kind of way.
This message, touted by the serpent in God’s garden, encourages an all out rebellion against God’s authority.
A Christian Worldview
Remember, the Triune God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of the entire cosmos and has created for relationship with God, with others, with ourselves, and the created world. We are created in God’s image for God’s glory.
The Scriptures remind us that God has known every single person from before the foundation of the world. God is intimately acquainted with all our ways, he knows our thoughts, the number of hairs on our head, and he loves us.
He is present with us and in us, even in the darkest places.
In God we live and move and have our being. God knows our frame and our names—we are his workmanship created for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Psalm 139; Acts 17:28; Eph 2:10).
Ultimately, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, is the clue to human history. He embodied God’s love, forgiveness, righteousness, and Jesus is the source of a sure and steadfast hope.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Col. 1:17).
The true story of the whole world holds promise now and in eternity. We live not only in the moment but with a hope that is sure and steadfast, but also in anticipation of the fullness of God’s kingdom—redeemed and restored.
Cultivate Cultural Attentiveness
Cultivating a cultural attentiveness…
Strengthens our relationship with God:
When an alternate narrative captures your attention, take it to the Lord, compare it with Scripture.
Enables us to identify cultural fables
Identify one or two cultural fables prevalent in your corner of the world. How do them compare and contrast with the Gospel?
Tunes our ears to the needs around us.
What are some of the longings expressed by your friends, family, or co-workers? How do those align with yours?
If you have the chance, what is one thing you’d want them to know about the God you love?
