Andy Crouch, InterVarsity Press author and executive editor of Christianity Today magazine, is “a public intellectual committed to whole life transformation,” in the words of John Terrill, as he introduced Crouch at Upper House for tonight’s lecture. Crouch will be speaking to several more gatherings at the University of Wisconsin in the next few days and, if tonight’s lecture is any indication, bringing new perspectives on life and faith.
Starting with Babylonian cosmology, and continuing through Bach’s Prelude in C Major, his wife’s research in theoretical physics, along with several axis diagrams, Crouch talked in philosophical terms about bringing order out of chaos and contrasting authority and vulnerability. In other words, addressing the question of why are we here and how do we find meaning in life.
Anyone who was familiar with his three books — Culture Making, Playing God, and Strong and Weak — would expect no less. About 200 people attended the lecture at Upper House.
In the four quadrants of Crouch’s axis diagram contrasting authority and vulnerability he placed poverty, safety, control, and flourishing. Those with the least authority and the most vulnerability are the impoverished. Those with least authority and least vulnerability are in the safety zone, Crouch compared it to being on a cruise ship.
Those with the most authority and the least vulnerability think they are in control but that, he said, is an illusion akin to idolatry. Those who are living a meaningful life, flourishing, are those who have authority but take the risks that make them vulnerable.
“Jesus has all authority and vulnerability, and everywhere he went there was flourishing,” Crouch observed. “Jesus emptied himself of all authority and he destroyed the power of all idols.”