In this message Pastor Daniel explores with us Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor's observations around what he calls the “immanent frame” and the “transcendent frame.”
The transcendent frame is the belief that this world stands under the authority of a reality that transcends its mere material existence. In other words – there’s an authority beyond the realm of the material world, that our world is intended to imbibe meaning and purpose from.
The immanent frame on the other hand, is the belief that this world is all that there is. So moral discourse cannot find its justification or root its authority in anything that lies beyond it. If there’s nothing beyond the frame that we exist in, then there’s no greater authority to imbibe meaning or purpose from.
The book of Ecclesiastes spells out the tension between these two countering frameworks well. Here’s a little-known fact, this book of wisdom that is often attributed to King Solomon contains two speakers – not one.
There’s the Author of the book, and the discourse of the teacher (The Qohelet).
The Author introduces the Qohelet by introducing the Qohelet’s core conviction about life under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 – “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun?
The Qohelet is emblematic of what happens when individuals bang up against the Immanent frame. After all the Qohelet later states that “there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves” (Eccl. 8:15). The trouble with living purely in the immanent frame is that it often condenses meaning, purpose, and identity to the pursuit of personal pleasure, comfort, and fleeting happiness. The immanent frame tends not to see utility in personal suffering or willful sacrifice.
Thankfully it’s the Author of Ecclesiastes who provides an alternative way to look at our existence. The Author reminds all students of wisdom that there is a different frame, a transcendent one that we can imbibe meaning, purpose, and identity from.
Here are the final words of the book, “But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”
Here we explore how living out of the right frame is crucial to living a life of worship.
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