A terrific pastor, and an even more terrific friend, wrote these thoughts in his blog last week, and I was so impressed I needed to share a condensed version with you. (I told Bill McConnell I would give him credit. Well Bill, I did it!)
Each of us has a world view. It is how we see the world. It is how we understand the world we live in. It is the ruler we use to measure new information that enters our realm. We develop our world view by viewing the world (Duh). Hopefully our world view expands and develops as we grow and develop. Our world view is fed, impacted and formulated by the information we ingest through our reading, what we hear and watch and our personal life experiences. We are not going to know and understand what we don't "know." We are limited by what information we have received and experienced. And this is the basis of a conundrum for most Christians I know.
Here is the problem as I see it. Most of us attend public schools and these schools function under, are driven by the philosophy of, Secular Humanism. Secular Humanism is not the Official Religion of the school system but the reality is, Secular Humanism is the philosophy that is foundational to our educational system. If you want to get an educator riled up tell them they are functioning in a system dominated by Secular Humanism. They will vehemently deny it. But it is still the truth. We are profoundly impacted by the religion of Secular Humanism.
The problem comes when we mistake the cultural religion (SH) for Christianity. We don't know enough to tell the two apart. The other difficulty I observe arising in many people's lives is growing up being taught a world view immersed in Secular Humanism and then, later in life, starting to take Christianity seriously as more than a religion, as a way of life. We attempt to apply Christianity on top of what we already believe without seriously considering changing our world view. The result is conflict, discomfort, confusion and a resultant mishmash of a religion that really doesn't work. And then we wonder why so few people take Christianity seriously. And many of those who do try to live as a Christian find it to be basically unworkable.
I would encourage you to take an honest look at your world view. And see if it is a truly Christian world view. And by that I mean, is your world view a Biblical world view? I believe you will find it to be a challenging and eye opening exercise.
Take a look at these 10 Windows of a World View:
1. The Window of the Purpose of the Church
Secular To provide a place of fellowship and to meet the needs of my family and me.
Biblical To introduce others to Christ and make them Disciples. "Go into all the world and make disciples."
2. The Window of Comfort
Secular You seek comfort at all costs.
Biblical God is more interested in your character than in your comfort. If you are comfortable, it is a good sign you are not where God wants you doing what God wants you to do.
3. The Window of Image
Secular You expect the world to come to you. You are the center of your world. Life is a play and you are the main character.
Biblical You are to go to the world. "Go into all the world and make disciples." "You are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria and to all the world." We exist to reach out to others.
4. The Window of Priorities
Secular Your own priorities are more important than God's. Life decisions are made depending on what I want and what I want to do.
Biblical You want God's will to be done above everything else.
5. The Window of Stewardship
Secular You give because you should and to help meet the church's budget.
Biblical You give back from God's blessings. "Bring to the storehouse of God your tithe."
6. The Window of Financing
Secular You ask, "How much does it cost?"
Biblical You believe God pays for what he orders what He wants us to do.
7. The Window of Change
Secular You are caught in traditionalism: the dead faith of the living.
Biblical You are encouraged by tradition: the living faith of the dead. "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses."
8. The Window of Pastoral Leadership
Secular You believe your pastor is hired to do ministry to and for you. The pastor is the paid Christian who does Christian things for you because you are busy living a normal life.
Biblical You expect your pastor to train you for ministry. "We are the Body of Christ and each of you is a part of that Body."
9. The Window of Teamwork
Secular - You serve in the church because you have been drafted or elected.
Biblical Your spiritual gifts empower you for God's work.
10. The Window of Faith
Secular You believe God can't or won't. If there is a God, he or she is impotent.
Biblical You know God can. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I strongly encourage you to take a look at your worldview. What is your window of: Purpose, Comfort, Image, Priorities, Stewardship, Financing, Change, Leadership, Teamwork, and Faith. Is yours a Biblical worldview or not? Perhaps it is a mixed worldview. If it is not Biblical, what, if anything, are you going to do to change it?
Until we change our minds
Our way of thinking, this religion of Christianity will remain just a religion something we believe in our heads. If we attempt to take it to the level of "A Way of Life", it will never really work in the ins and outs of daily living. We must change our way of thinking. We must change our way of thinking. We must change our world view.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
In Christ, Michael
