Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World....and what to do about it.

Existentialism.
In a nut shell: Existence precedes essence.
I am here for no particular reason.
There is no plan for me.
NIHILISM ALERT!
I will make a plan.

Blunt I know...

Here, let me explain:

Existentialism.
This one of the most popular modern American mind sets, and hardly anyone knows it. Trying to be optimistically consistent with the widely excepted idea that God is dead, or that He never existed in the first place, Existentialism has become a foundation for modern life.
Nihilism (meaning life is "empty" and "meaningless" - Nihil, Latin; "Nothing") is consistent with Godlessness. Evolution is Godless. Evolution is excepted as fact and foundation.
Nihilism is that dead end drop off the end of the road. No way to travel consistently up the road of Godlessness without eventually meeting the fatal plunge....but who wants to be meaningless? Certainly not the majority of American citizens! What abut the children? Are we going to teach them that they are meaningless in this world?
Now, very few people with eyes are going to be traveling up this road and not want to stop and turn away. So, with plows in hand, culture has widened an off road. (Culture = "cultere" from Latin, which means "to plow") Existentialism is the off road leading away from the steep edge of Nihilism. You can be Godless. You can be a grown up germ who has evolved over millions of years only to be the couch potato you are. It's okay! Because even though you are just a meaningless glob on this earth, you can become whatever you want to be!...
My apologetics teacher put it this way once. Existentialism is like sitting in a single person raft in a endless lake. All you have to do it keep rowing. It doesn't matter which way. It doesn't matter why. Just keep rowing.
Now the Nihilist would rather drown in the mindless pool of water then waste time rowing in it. But, that's not nearly as optimistic is it?

A interesting man by the name of Søren Kierkegaard came up with this crazy idea. Being the Danish theologian, philosopher and psychologist he was, he figured there was a way to become Christian through existentialism. He divided the process into three steps with a common crisis between each one.

The first step to Christian Existentialism is Aesthetics.

Christianity looks appealing. We have to admit, God made it beautiful. It looks comforting. It looks well planned out. But most importantly, it looks meaningful.
Christianity is aesthetically pleasing to an existentialist because life has purpose consistently. This is the truth. Life does have purpose. We know our purpose precedes our existence

*CRISIS!* ... Life change. You have to live a Christian life in order to be a Christian.

Step two to Christian Existentialism is Ethics.

Christianity has ethics. What to do, what not to do. This is what C.S. Lewis so rightly called "ought." What you "ought" to do. Now, you are not only meaningful, but you have guidelines. You have a moral code to live by, but giving you a identity in the world. You now have label. Go ahead. Celebrate. Stick that cute little fish to your car. You now look like a Christian.

*CRISIS*... You're not really a Christian. There is something missing. You have a God you have to accept.

Step three to Christian Existentialism is Religion.

You accept Christ. You leave your existentialist life behind and give your heart to Christ. Amen.

Now, hopefully not everyone becomes a Christian due to taking the culture plowed road down Existentialism. However, this does leave a hope for some who are down that endless road.
Our world has embraced this inconsistent branch off Nihilism. Public schools teach it. Movies show it. Banners flash it.
Godless, but trying to be meaningful.
And Christians have been sucked into the game of making Christianity look appealing to everyone. We are becoming caught on step one. There's a Bible that will match anyones favorite outfit. There's a worship song to fulfill every taste, every ipod.
But is this a good idea?
We are so focused on attracting people to Christianity, so many people stop at step one. Christianity is appealing without the flashy lights and color coordinated Bible packs.
I'm not saying that we should try to make Christianity ugly, or that Bibles can't be different colors. I'm saying that we've become a marketing business.
So next time you go out into the world sharing Christ by handing out free key chains and bumper-stickers that read "Got Christ?" think about it.
Start sharing the truth. Start standing for righteousness. Goodness is aesthetically pleasing in itself. Christ's beauty will draw in people. We just have to paint the picture in our hearts, in our lives, and in our circles, not on our t-shirts.