The Water We Swim In

“There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.”
—David Foster Wallace

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
—Romans 12:2

The Water We Don’t Notice

There’s a famous story about two young fish swimming along when an older fish passes by and says, “Morning, boys! How’s the water?” The two young fish swim on for a bit, and then one turns to the other and asks, “What’s water?”

That’s us, living in a secular culture. The ideas that shape our world are so pervasive, so assumed, that we barely notice them. We just absorb them—how we think about identity, morality, purpose, freedom, progress. We don’t even question the framework.

But here’s the thing: secularism is not neutral. It is a worldview. It has assumptions, values, and beliefs. It is not simply “the way things are,” but a particular way of seeing the world—one that is different from, and often opposed to, the way of Jesus.

If we don’t recognize this, we will inevitably be shaped by it. And the way of Jesus calls us not to be “conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2), but to be transformed—to see the water we’re swimming in and choose a different way.

Secularism Is Not the Baseline—It’s One Perspective Among Many

We often hear secularism described as if it were a neutral ground. A place where enlightened, reasonable people can all agree. But that’s simply not true. Secularism is a worldview with its own assumptions—assumptions not shared by much of the world, past or present.

Let’s take a few examples:

1. Is Morality Just Social Consensus?

The secular view: Right and wrong are determined by reason, social progress, or democratic consensus. We define our own ethics.
Other perspectives: Many cultures (Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Indigenous) believe morality is given—revealed by God, embedded in the nature of things, or passed down through wisdom traditions.

2. Should Religion Stay Private?

The secular view: Religion is a personal, private matter and should not shape public life.
Other perspectives: In much of the world (Islamic societies, Jewish communities, Hindu traditions, Confucian cultures), faith is not just a personal hobby—it shapes law, ethics, and society.

3. Is Identity Something We Invent?

The secular view: We define ourselves. We create our own identity.
Other perspectives: In many cultures, identity is received. You are a son, a daughter, part of a family, a people, a calling—something bigger than just your own self-expression.

4. Is Individual Freedom the Highest Good?

The secular view: The greatest good is personal autonomy—the right to define and pursue your own happiness.
Other perspectives: Many cultures (Confucian, Orthodox Jewish, Indigenous) value duty, honor, and communal belonging over personal freedom.

5. Is Progress Always Moving Away from Religion?

The secular view: A more advanced society is one that moves beyond traditional religious beliefs.
Other perspectives: Many places in the world (Africa, Latin America, Asia) see religious revival—not secularization—as a sign of renewal and flourishing.

6. Are Science and Faith Opposed?

The secular view: Science and religion are in conflict. The more scientific you are, the less you need faith.
Other perspectives: The greatest scientific advances in history were often driven by religious conviction (medieval Christian scholars, Islamic Golden Age scientists). Many cultures see faith and reason as complementary, not competing.

Why This Matters for Us

We live in a world that treats secular assumptions as self-evident. They are the air we breathe, the water we swim in. But Jesus calls us to something different.

To see the world through His eyes, not just absorb the cultural default.
To recognize that secularism is not neutral, but a competing vision of life.
To build our lives—not on the shifting values of culture—but on the unchanging reality of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ call is not to withdraw from the world but to live distinctly within it. To engage with our town, our workplaces, our schools—not by uncritically accepting the worldview handed to us, but by offering something deeper, truer, more life-giving.

If the way of Jesus is true, then we don’t have to fear disagreement. We don’t have to be defensive. We simply have to be faithful—to live lives so full of grace and truth that people can’t help but notice.

A Closing Question

What are the assumptions you’ve absorbed without realizing it?

What would it look like to be transformed—truly renewed in your mind—so that you see not just the water of secularism, but the world as Jesus sees it?

Maybe that’s where we begin.

A Prayer for Seeing Clearly

O Lord,
we beseech thee,
let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church;
and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour,
preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity)