Manifestation and the Unknown God: A Christian Response to Today's Spiritual Trends
“I’m manifesting this for you.”
“I’m putting positive energy into the universe.”
“I’m asking the universe for this.”
Manifesting has definitely grown in popular culture. From TikTok videos to women’s magazines, it is a trend taking over.
Google trends graph for searches containing the term “Manifesting”
What is Manifesting?
Believing and visualising something to make it happen. The idea is that our thoughts determine what happens to us.
Often, this manifestation is focused on energy and directing our thoughts to make positive things happen for us. There are many real concerns about what this type of positive thinking can lead to.
Naturally, as a Christian, I don’t believe in Manifiestaiton, though I do believe in the power of prayer. One of the most important differences between worship and manifestation is that I am asking the creator, not the creation (read: the universe), to intervene. Interestingly, there has been increased talk about what manifestation says about our culture.
It means people are hungry for more, for deeper spirituality and deeper meaning, yet they don’t know where to look. They are turning to the universe because it feels so much bigger than them that surely it can help. However, the universe is not alive. God is alive, the creator of the universe and all its things.
So, how do we respond? Where can we find answers to help us interact better with our context? As I have been thinking about this and reading, I was reminded of Acts 17. Acts 17 records part of Paul’s missionary journey as he travels through Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, particularly Athens, when he talks to the people there.
“People of Athens! I see that in every way, you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
This idea of the unknown God felt very similar to the concept of manifestation. Throughout history, religious patterns have often repeated themselves without even realising it. For example, the worship of Mammon historically and now the number of capitalist societies around, the worship of Aphrodite and the rise of hookup culture. Manifestation and praying to the universe are like the unknown God.
So, how does Paul respond to the Athenians? What does he do?
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. - Acts 17:16
His response began with distress—literally παρωξύνετο τὸ πνεῦμα, stirred or provoked in his Spirit. It was a spiritual response of discomfort at the state of the world around him. God was prompting Paul to action through the use of His Holy Spirit, who was indwelling in him.
Specifically, this provoking of his Spirit was his response to the idols. His response showed him working with God to share the good news. In many ways, his response begins as normal.
We've already discussed the first two things he does. Paul noticed the idols, which provoked something in his Spirit. He knew that when something was provoked in his Spirit, God drew his attention. He learned to hear and see God as he did his mission work. Being attentive to God’s Spirit in all places as we go is the first step to doing His work.
So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. Acts17:17
He next did what he tended to do in his mission work and went to places of public opinion. The religious institution - for him, this was the synagogue - and the marketplace. In these spaces, he engaged in dialogue with the people there. For us, the religious institution would be more like a church. Defining the modern-day marketplace is more complex. The marketplace, sometimes called the public square, is the space where public opinion is discussed. People argue that this is digital knowledge, and there are ways in which this is true. However, it lacks some of the key things that make a public square (most notably, it is owned by private and international companies). I would argue that in Wellington, where I live, places that act like public squares could be Parliament grounds and Cuba Street (an open-air mall).
The key thing we can learn from Paul is being willing to engage in conversation. It isn’t a shouting match or monologue, nor is it a place of silence and agreement. We can do the same. When we enter into spaces, we are positioned to hear what God is saying and share it in grace and love.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” Acts 17:19-20
From this, he was invited to speak about it at the Aeropagus. The Aeropagus was the main event for sharing ideas in Athens. This could be like getting invited to give a Ted Talk or having a delegate be invited to share at the UN. He didn’t immediately start telling all the people they were wrong; he was invited into wider conversation and asked to share his thoughts. Some of us might be invited, like Paul, to share in a wider, more public space. Others might be asked to converse to share more about what we think. It is about noticing the invitation when people are interested in the conversation.
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. Acts 17:22-23
Then, when he was invited to share, he started by complimenting the culture. This stuck out to me as I sat on this passage. While there was a significant cultural issue - idols - he didn’t start with how they were bad. He didn’t start with the sin.
Instead, he started with the positive side of what he saw. The idols point to how religious they are; that is something he could work with. He saw the message from the initial provocation of his Spirit. He then used that to draw his attention to what he wanted to share.
So, if I were to rewrite the entry into his sermon, I would start something like this.
“I see that you are, in every way, a very spiritual person. As I listened to you talk, I noticed you were talking about the universe and aspirational thinking. I saw how you addressed your manifestations to the universe. In this way, it is almost like prayer, but who are we praying to?” (Acts 17:22-23, rewritten)
From here, as Paul does, it could turn towards the gospel.
I am not saying memorise those words and force it into the conversation. Instead, I’m saying what is the compliment, what is the positive we can see. That is what we start with—their religious nature for Paul, or us, the spirituality or understanding of community.
So Paul gave his side of the conversation, and people then gave all sorts of responses.
Disagreed with the ideas
This is okay. Paul knew this would be a response some people would have. They could sneer and mutter. He let them go.
Intrigued by the ideas
We don’t know how Paul responded to this group. It doesn’t say if he spoke again to them. With this space, we use God’s discernment. It is like sowing seeds; we don’t know if they will take root. The important part is that we shared and could be willing to do it again.
Believe the ideas
There were then a few named ones who believed and became followers. These people are the focus. The people who believe and follow
No matter what, the point of what we do is for the few who may turn towards Christ. Paul was not fussed about those who disagreed; he didn’t try to change their minds. He let them go, trusting God’s plan and timing. His concern was for those who wanted to know more, and those who found God.
This is the same approach we should take. Our concern should be with those who are interested, not those who aren’t. We share with a wider group to give everyone an opportunity, but the focus is on the willing, not the unwilling.
We need to move past worry, outrage, or anger. These may be how our Spirit is provoked, but they are not where our Spirit should remain. Noticing and reacting are only the first steps. The next step is entering into these conversations with God’s Spirit. The reaction may be anger or outrage, but that is not where our response should stay or come from—no matter how much we disagree. Our actions are to be marked by love, grace, and truth.
