ONLY GOD IS AWESOME [vol. 2]

ONLY GOD IS AWESOME [vol. 2]

Section 4 — Humanism, Autonomy, and the Modern Use of “Awesome”

By the close of the Renaissance, the intellectual and artistic climate of Europe had been transformed. Human reason, once viewed as fallen and dependent on divine revelation, was now celebrated as a near‑divine faculty. Nature, once subordinate to grace, had risen to a place of equal — and often superior — importance. The sacred hierarchy that had shaped the medieval world had collapsed.

This shift did not remain confined to philosophy or art. It eventually reshaped culture itself — including the way people spoke, thought, and expressed admiration.

The modern use of the word awesome is a direct descendant of this intellectual revolution. What had once been a term reserved for God — a word that conveyed reverence, fear, majesty, and divine grandeur — gradually became detached from its sacred roots. As human achievement rose in prominence, language followed suit. Words that once described the overwhelming presence of God were now applied to human creativity, natural beauty, and eventually to trivial pleasures.

The process unfolded slowly but steadily:

First, nature was elevated. Artists pai⁷nted landscapes, bodies, and earthly scenes with increasing realism and affection.

Then, human achievement was elevated. Philosophers exalted reason. Poets celebrated human emotion. Scientists praised human discovery.

Finally, language was elevated — or rather, diluted. Words of reverence migrated from the divine to the human, from the sacred to the secular, from the transcendent to the trivial.

The word awesome is a perfect example. Originally meaning “full of awe” or “inspiring profound reverence,” it was used almost exclusively in reference to God. But as the Renaissance worldview took hold, the sacred meaning eroded. By the time modern culture emerged, awesome had become a casual expression for anything enjoyable, impressive, or entertaining.

This linguistic shift is not accidental. It reflects a deeper theological reality: When humanity elevates itself, the language of worship inevitably shifts from God to man.

The Renaissance, fueled by Aquinas’s partial‑fall theology and the rise of autonomous reason, set this process in motion. Once human intellect was seen as capable of operating independently of revelation, the door was opened for human achievement to rival divine majesty. Over time, the reverence once reserved for God was redirected toward nature, art, science, and eventually the self.

This is why, in contemporary culture, the word awesome is applied to:

• a meal
• a movie
• a song
• a sports performance
• a romantic experience
• a new gadget
• a social media post

The sacred has been secularised. The reverential has been trivialised. The language of worship has been domesticated and repurposed for entertainment.

But Scripture never uses awesome lightly. In the biblical worldview, awe belongs to God alone. Psalm 95 declares that the Lord is “an awesome God,” the One who holds the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains in His hand. The sea and the dry land are His creation. His majesty is incomparable. His power is unmatched. His holiness is overwhelming.

To call God awesome is not to use a superlative — it is to acknowledge His absolute uniqueness.

And this is the heart of your message: Only God is awesome. Everything else — no matter how beautiful, impressive, or skillfully crafted — is merely created. It may be admirable, but it is not awe‑worthy in the biblical sense. The Renaissance blurred this distinction. Modern culture has nearly erased it. But Scripture restores it.

The next section of your manuscript will continue this trajectory, showing how the theological and cultural shifts of the Renaissance set the stage for the modern world’s confusion about awe, reverence, and the nature of God.

Section 5 — The Consequences of Autonomous Humanity and the Loss of True Awe

By the time the Renaissance had fully matured, the Western world had undergone a profound transformation. What began as a subtle theological shift in the writings of Thomas Aquinas had blossomed into a full‑scale cultural reorientation. Humanity, once understood as fallen and dependent on God, now saw itself as capable, enlightened, and increasingly self‑sufficient. Reason was enthroned. Nature was exalted. Human achievement was celebrated. And the sacred was quietly displaced.

This reordering of values produced far‑reaching consequences — consequences that continue to shape the modern world.

1. The Erosion of Reverence

When human intellect is elevated, reverence inevitably declines. The medieval world, for all its flaws, possessed a deep sense of the holy. Heavenly realities were considered so sacred that they could not be depicted realistically. God was transcendent. Christ was majestic. Mary was symbolic. The divine was set apart.

But once nature and human reason were elevated, the sacred lost its distinctiveness. The divine became familiar. The holy became ordinary. The symbolic became naturalistic. And eventually, the naturalistic became sensual.

Reverence — the posture of awe before God — began to evaporate.

2. The Rise of Human-Centred Meaning

As grace diminished, humanity sought meaning in itself. The Renaissance celebrated the “dignity of man,” the power of human creativity, and the brilliance of human intellect. These are not inherently wrong — humanity is made in the image of God — but when detached from the Creator, they become distorted.

Humanism replaced theocentrism. Autonomy replaced dependence. Self‑expression replaced worship.

The result was a world in which the human person became the measure of all things.

3. The Redefinition of Awe

Perhaps the most subtle consequence — and the one most relevant to your central thesis — is the redefinition of awe itself.

In Scripture, awe is the soul’s response to the presence, power, and holiness of God. It is the trembling recognition that God is infinitely above us — in majesty, purity, wisdom, and authority. Awe is not entertainment. It is not excitement. It is not emotional stimulation. Awe is worship.

But as the Renaissance worldview took hold, awe migrated from the divine to the human:

Awe of God became admiration of nature

Admiration of nature became fascination with human creativity

Fascination with human creativity became celebration of human pleasure

Celebration of human pleasure became the casual slang of modern speech

Thus, the word awesome — once reserved for God — now describes a sandwich, a movie, a pair of shoes, or a weekend getaway.

This is not merely linguistic drift. It is theological drift. It reflects a world that has forgotten what awe truly is.

4. The Triumph of the Creature Over the Creator

Paul’s warning in Romans 1 is not an abstract theological statement — it is a diagnosis of human history. When humanity rejects God’s authority, it inevitably exalts creation in His place. The Renaissance, for all its beauty and brilliance, accelerated this exchange:

The creature was elevated

The Creator was diminished

The works of human hands were glorified

The works of God were taken for granted

This inversion continues today. Modern culture is captivated by human achievement — technology, entertainment, art, science — while largely indifferent to the majesty of God.

5. The Loss of True Awe

The ultimate consequence is simple and devastating: Humanity has lost the capacity for true awe.

We are impressed by the trivial. We are entertained by the superficial. We are captivated by the sensual. But we are rarely moved to reverence.

The modern world is full of stimulation but empty of wonder. Full of noise but empty of worship. Full of admiration but empty of awe.

And this is why your message is so vital: Only God is awesome. Only God deserves the language of reverence. Only God inspires true awe — the awe that humbles, transforms, and sanctifies.

The next section of your manuscript will naturally move toward the biblical restoration of awe: how Scripture reclaims the word awesome and reorients the human heart toward the One who alone is worthy of it.

Section 6 — The Biblical Restoration of Awe: Returning “Awesome” to God Alone

If the Renaissance and the rise of autonomous humanity led to the dilution of awe, Scripture calls us back to its true source. The Bible does not treat awe as a casual emotion or a cultural expression. Awe is a theological category. It is the soul’s response to the presence, power, and holiness of God. It is the recognition that God alone possesses absolute majesty — and that everything else is created, contingent, and dependent.

To reclaim the word awesome, we must return to the biblical vision of God.

1. Awe Belongs to God Because He Alone Is Supreme

Psalm 95:3–5 declares that the Lord is “an awesome God,” the great King above all divine beings. He holds the depths of the earth in His hand. The mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it. The dry land is the work of His hands.

This is not poetic exaggeration. It is theological reality.

• God alone is eternal
• God alone is self‑existent
• God alone is omnipotent
• God alone is holy
• God alone is worthy of worship

Awe is the appropriate human response to the One who created all things and sustains all things by the word of His power.

2. Awe Is the Foundation of Worship

Throughout Scripture, awe is inseparable from worship. When God reveals Himself, people fall on their faces, tremble, or stand in silent reverence.

Moses hides his face before the burning bush

Isaiah cries, “Woe is me!” before the throne

Ezekiel collapses when he beholds the glory of God

John falls as though dead before the risen Christ

In every case, awe precedes worship. Awe is not entertainment. It is not emotional stimulation. It is not admiration. Awe is the recognition of God’s overwhelming holiness and majesty.

3. Awe Produces Humility

True awe humbles the human heart. It reminds us that we are creatures, not creators; dependent, not autonomous; fallen, not exalted. Awe dismantles pride. It exposes the illusion of human self‑sufficiency. It restores the proper order of reality:

God above, humanity below. Grace above, nature below. Creator above, creation below.

This is the opposite of the Renaissance worldview, which elevated human intellect and blurred the distinction between the sacred and the secular.

4. Awe Reorients Our Language

When awe is restored, language follows. Words regain their weight. Worship regains its depth. Reverence regains its meaning.

The word awesome becomes sacred again — not because we force it, but because our hearts recognise the One who alone deserves it.

• A meal may be delicious
• A song may be beautiful
• A painting may be masterful
• A landscape may be breathtaking
• A human achievement may be impressive

But none of these things are awesome in the biblical sense. They may inspire admiration, gratitude, or delight — but awe belongs to God alone.

5. Awe Restores the Right Relationship Between Nature and Grace

When awe is directed toward God, nature finds its proper place. Creation becomes a signpost, not a substitute. Beauty becomes a reflection, not a rival. Human creativity becomes an offering, not an idol.

Nature no longer devours grace. Grace reclaims nature. The Creator reclaims His creation.

This is the biblical worldview — the worldview the Renaissance obscured and modern culture has nearly forgotten.

6. Awe Leads to Obedience and Transformation

Biblical awe is not passive. It produces obedience, holiness, and transformation. When we see God as He truly is, we cannot remain the same.

• Awe leads to repentance
• Awe leads to surrender
• Awe leads to worship
• Awe leads to mission
• Awe leads to joy

Awe is not merely an emotion — it is a spiritual posture that shapes the entire Christian life.

The End of part 2 [To be continued]