Worldviews
Sep 22, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Procrastinating
.:itunes:. Title And Registration by Death Cab For Cutie
Pastors.com just posted an article from Rick Warren entitled: “Six worldviews you’re competing against.”
The thing I liked about the article was that he followed each worldview up with what the Bible has to say about it.
There was a missing link for me, though: Many people (not all) who hold these worldviews don’t take the Bible as the Word of God. At best, it’s “a book full of nice pithy statements to reinforce what I already believe.”
Where’s the bridge?
What do we say to each of these worldviews to help them consider that the Bible may something worthwhile to say?
For the sake of space, I’m just going to quote the 6 worldviews Warren listed:
1. The one with the most toys wins.
2. I’ve got to think of me first.
3. Do what feels good.
4. Whatever works for you.
5. God doesn’t exist.
6. You are your own God.
What do you think? What do we say to each of these worldviews to bridge them to the Bible?
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
I’ve elaborated on this elsewhere…
Although I have many reasons I believe the Bible is reliable and trustworthy, when it really comes down to it they are not the reasons I choose today to believe the Biblical worldview.
I believe the Biblical worldview is I find it the only satisfactory explanation of what is wrong with the world and how it can be made right. I find all other worldviews lie about one or the other. Down Rick’s list:
1. This says the problem with the world is not having enough toys. But I’ve yet to see someone who pursued this with passion and came to the point the problem had been solved.
2. This says the problem is everyone else and I need to do what’s best for me to make the world better. I have never encountered someone who “thought about me” so well that the worlds problems went away, let alone their own.
3. Same as #1 really.
4. Same as #2 really.
5. Then there is nothing wrong with the world as it is simply the product of evolution and there is no universal right or wrong.
6. Very similar to #2 and 4, and any problem I have can only be blamed on myself and I should be able to fix it.
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I should add how the Biblical worldview satisfies the question of what is wrong with the world and how it can be made right. Defiance of God (sin) is what is wrong with the world and one day it will be made right when God brings complete justice to all things.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Hey Noel…
Great sermon this morning!
The “bridge” question is an interesting one. I think we have two temptations to resist. First, we should be careful not to disparage the choices our friends make as being obviously wrong…that’s generally unproductive. Second, we cannot simply say “the Bible says…” to those who regard the Bible as “pity”. Our words will likely fall on deaf ears.
Instead, the “bridge” is living the corresponding truth in the world of the person who has bought into one (or more) of the 6 myths. The longer we humbly demonstrate the Godly choice, the more counterfeit the myth becomes. Anyone who follows one of the 6 myths will one day find dissatisfaction. They will need an alternative. We can be the connection for folks, by living sacrificially around them and treating them with honor.
Well, there you have it…my first ever comment to Noel’s blog!
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Like Mr Granger was saying I need to live it more:
1. Knowing I don’t need toys and living that.
2. I need to be the servant, whatever my gifts are.
3. I need to do what glorifies God through Christ.
4. Living out Luke 17:3-4 (not skipping 3).
5. Pray for my enemies. Remembering Christ’s Love.
6. Grow in humility Matthew 7:5
I just ate a few pounds of turkey; I’m not perfect. I guess these are biblical bridges and not methods of dragging or enticing people across.
Sometimes I wonder what people are “believing”; “not believing” might pale to “not knowing” the Word. Someone just recited I John at Visions. It was great; that’s a forgotten bridge.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
#1
It almost seems like common sense when we reflect for a moment that the things we own will not come with us when we die. The things we do however will have a lasting effect no doubt. If you are basing your happiness out of your toys, I sure hope your pole barn doesn’t burn down…
People throughtout the ages have made a remarkable impact not based upon what they owned, but what they did. That is truely how we touch and impact the world. Not by the riches of the jet skis, but those of the heart and spirit.
#2
I am so thankful that this wasn’t the thinking of all the fine men and women who have fallen in armed conflict and for making a stand for what they believed in.
Are you a parent, if so do you apply this principle to your children?
Love in it’s purest sense is selfless, not selfish…are you a loving person?
Which character aspect do you practically find more admirable? Pride or humbleness? I would hate to be driving around on streets where everyone had this attitude. I mean I hate getting cut off when I do, imagine it happening ALL THE TIME, ick.
#3
If we all just did what felt good, there would be a bunch of strung out heroin junkies lying everywhere. It would probally look something like china circa the opium wars…people starting doing just what felt good and well…history has a thing or two to say about that. There would be no work, no productivity, no accomplishment. The things that feel good in the moment aren’t neccessarily beneficial in the long run either. Work and struggle build character and sometimes it takes a little blood sweat and tears to shine farther down the road.
#4
Same as 3 for the most part. There’s a certain aspect in humanity where we have to concede to other peoples needs/demands and cooperate. Teamwork if you will. I get a lot more done through mutual co-operation then by a domination mentality.And in the same regard, sometimes I need help. People are more willing to help if they’ve been helped, no? I’ve found too that in my limited human understanding I’ve done just what worked for me and it ended up being pretty hurtful and inconsiderate.
#5
Have you ever came to a conclusion about something and later found out you were wrong about it? Like that test you had in school where you sure the answer was c but it was actually a….it proves our human understanding is limited in it’s subjective nature. We have a hard time conceptualizing the simplest things, and are often wrong, so how can we undeniably with 100% certainty say that God does not exist. If you can’t be certain that a particular article of clothing matches this certain pair of pants, how can you be certain about a Supreme Creator, or the lack thereof… It is at the very least a question mark..right?
Do you believe in miracles? Have you ever seen personally or on the news or read about something that is utterly unexplainable?
Do you believe that there is a common good, a universal morality, that threads through all people?
Have you ever watched a golden sunset from the top of a mountain in the quiet of a foggy morning?
Have you ever thought about the absolute outstanding complexity of the human genome, or the fact that the earth tilts at just such a manner, spinning in just such a way as to support life?
#6
If I am my own God, how come sometimes I trip and fall and scrape my elbow out of clumsyness….How come I can’t draw a perfect circle…W and how come I get algebra problems wrong? Why can’t I sing in perfect pitch, and why do I have to work to survive? Sometimes our thinking about ourselves gets clouded….ask one of your friends or family members who will give you an honest answer if you are God and see what they say.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
just some thoughts….
#1
It almost seems like common sense when we reflect for a moment that the things we own will not come with us when we die. The things we do however will have a lasting effect no doubt. If you are basing your happiness out of your toys, I sure hope your pole barn doesn’t burn down…
People throughtout the ages have made a remarkable impact not based upon what they owned, but what they did. That is truely how we touch and impact the world. Not by the riches of the jet skis, but those of the heart and spirit.
#2
I am so thankful that this wasn’t the thinking of all the fine men and women who have fallen in armed conflict and for making a stand for what they believed in.
Are you a parent, if so do you apply this principle to your children?
Love in it’s purest sense is selfless, not selfish…are you a loving person?
Which character aspect do you practically find more admirable? Pride or humbleness? I would hate to be driving around on streets where everyone had this attitude. I mean I hate getting cut off when I do, imagine it happening ALL THE TIME, ick.
#3
If we all just did what felt good, there would be a bunch of strung out heroin junkies lying everywhere. It would probally look something like china circa the opium wars…people starting doing just what felt good and well…history has a thing or two to say about that. There would be no work, no productivity, no accomplishment. The things that feel good in the moment aren’t neccessarily beneficial in the long run either. Work and struggle build character and sometimes it takes a little blood sweat and tears to shine farther down the road.
#4
Same as 3 for the most part. There’s a certain aspect in humanity where we have to concede to other peoples needs/demands and cooperate. Teamwork if you will. I get a lot more done through mutual co-operation then by a domination mentality.And in the same regard, sometimes I need help. People are more willing to help if they’ve been helped, no? I’ve found too that in my limited human understanding I’ve done just what worked for me and it ended up being pretty hurtful and inconsiderate.
#5
Have you ever came to a conclusion about something and later found out you were wrong about it? Like that test you had in school where you sure the answer was c but it was actually a….it proves our human understanding is limited in it’s subjective nature. We have a hard time conceptualizing the simplest things, and are often wrong, so how can we undeniably with 100% certainty say that God does not exist. If you can’t be certain that a particular article of clothing matches this certain pair of pants, how can you be certain about a Supreme Creator, or the lack thereof… It is at the very least a question mark..right?
Do you believe in miracles? Have you ever seen personally or on the news or read about something that is utterly unexplainable?
Do you believe that there is a common good, a universal morality, that threads through all people?
Have you ever watched a golden sunset from the top of a mountain in the quiet of a foggy morning?
Have you ever thought about the absolute outstanding complexity of the human genome, or the fact that the earth tilts at just such a manner, spinning in just such a way as to support life?
#6
If I am my own God, how come sometimes I trip and fall and scrape my elbow out of clumsyness….How come I can’t draw a perfect circle…W and how come I get algebra problems wrong? Why can’t I sing in perfect pitch, and why do I have to work to survive? Sometimes our thinking about ourselves gets clouded….ask one of your friends or family members who will give you an honest answer if you are God and see what they say.