Sumgmu’s Monthly Message, April 2025

I often feel that we live in a society in which science has become idolatrous. Most people in modern society influenced by science tend to regard a scientific fact as the most import ant and authentic source. On the other hand, the word mystery seems not to provide us with a positive feeling because we use it when we cannot explain something scientifically.

However, Christianity itself is full of mystery: the incarnation, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. How can we explain these Christian features with human words? Modern Christians need to break down the idol of science and be able to understand mystery as mystery, not based on science.

Some modern people may ask us, “Why do you go to church on Sunday? If you have that kind of time, take a rest and prepare for the coming week, or enjoy yourself.” This sounds reasonable. Yet, they do not know that there is something going on at Christian worship, something mysterious.

We experience God, feeling God’s presence vividly and receiving the message more than we can imagine. Insight is given to us, inspiration that we did not even know we wanted. It may not seem scientific, but that is the way it is whenever we worship the triune God.

As you receive Holy Communion, you taste the spiritual body and blood of Christ through the Holy Spirit. As you participate in the Baptismal rite, you have an opportunity to remember your baptism and be thankful. As a pastor prays for you, laying on of hands, you will experience the healing power of the Lord who will heal you of all illnesses—of body, mind, spirit, and relationships.

If you like your reality fixed and scientific, then such a setting can be meaningless to you. But if you are willing to embrace the possibility that there is meaning beyond mystery, then this setting of worship can be a fun place to experience God. Lent is deep now. Let us come together, worship together, and experience God together! Amen.

Sungmu Lee