One of the ongoing frustrations for me in my experience is that fact that many times people live such compartmentailized lives that their faith does not trickle down into the everyday elements of life. Sam Harris [Letter to a Christian Nation] says this is one of the largest proofs of the small mindedness and falsities of Religon. A person can call themselves a Christian and have no care for the environment or carry a restricted weapon. etc etc etc. No sense of holistic world view. This I think is a valid argument to not believe.
Many times people defend what they think is Christianity but thay are only defending a twisted and cultural perspective of belief. My life goal is to value a Biblical worldview and to let that be expressed through every element of life. I am sure many people would agree with this statement, but when this belief really gets down to the nitty gritty elements of life there is often a major disconnect.
Many times people defend what they think is Christianity but thay are only defending a twisted and cultural perspective of belief. My life goal is to value a Biblical worldview and to let that be expressed through every element of life. I am sure many people would agree with this statement, but when this belief really gets down to the nitty gritty elements of life there is often a major disconnect.
- A Biblical worldview means embracing people where they are at in life and not always reverting to a thumping, right wing, homophobic, utopian and polished, smile all the time approach.
- A Biblical world view is messy and and uncomfortable at times ... it stretches your experience of God ... of people and your own belief systems where you find yourself saying "Have I watered down my faith?"
- A biblical worldview is the approach that begins to draw life out of people that leads them to say things like... "This Jesus thing is intriguing and I think He is fucking awesome" or sitting beside a porn star on a flight, listening to their story and acknowledging that God is present and at work in their world.
- A Biblical worldview does not seem to worry so much about defending a cultural standpoint sorting out the right and wrongs but simply discovering the spaces where God is working and going along for the ride and at times co-partnering with Him to see something happen.
- A Biblical Worldview is about 'the a biotic narrative ' There is a unique power in story. Stories have the ability to shape and change the way people view things. One short story can bring meaning and context to most situations. Stories go beyond debate and lead towards possibility; they can shut down conflict and bring intrigue. When people begin to tell stories they come alive, their eyes sparkle and they attract the attention of others. Each person’s story becomes a part of another person’s story and as this happens people realize their stories are a part of a much bigger story – God’s. Where are the 'living stories' unfolding around you that you have not taken the time to hear? Unexpected people, unexpected power, unexpected revelation.
- The Biblical Worldview is more about the living than the dead.
- A Biblical worldview has nothing to do with having a position statement or a dogma on any particular opinion.
- A Biblical worldview demand that we care for our environment and speak up for those that cannot speak up for themselves. Whether oppressed by economics or other.
- A Biblical Worldview lives in tense greyscale. Jer Postal
- A biblical worldview would incorporate prayer in everything, the little and the large- the possible and impossible Steve O
- A Biblical worldview means I believe God is always teaching me at all times through everything and everyone I'm in contact with [Slighty edited to change the word Christian to Biblical] Paul M
- A Biblical worldview is the discipline to love (even when hated), to serve (even when exploited), and to give (even of what little you have). d'mack
So in reading this please take a moment to add your own to this list... Just start your comment with a #
12 comments:
I'm not sure I have anything to add to that at the moment. All I know is that I'm tracking with you completely. This is where I'm at with planting our church. Learning to live in the middle of the tension where there are still absolutes and challenging people to live lives "set apart"... all the while fully engaging those that are far from God right where they are at. It is so messy and the lines are blurry but I absolutely love it. It's refreshing to hear someone that's on the same track. It's so easy to get caught up in the banter of things that make absolutely no difference in the lives of everyday people. I dream of a community of people that have learned how to shut up and let their hands do the talking.
Mark - do you really honestly believe #7? Sounded like a bunch of statements to me.... :)
A Biblical Worldview lives in tense greyscale.
Jer
Merry new year!
My point of #7 is not about not having a point of view ... but more about steering clear of having an official stance on 'denominational dogma' [the rapture, initial evidence, method of baptism etc]. A Biblical world view is a view that carries a learning disposition with humility. Not a my stand is this and I will only debate to prove my point.
Note: I deleted the above post because of grammar.
Sort of a "hold tightly in one hand the story of Jesus and in the other hand loosely hold to the pretenses of the story of Jesus."
Yeah?
Jer
Yes well put. Grammatically correct and all.
(I deleted the above post, wanted to correct something).
In this past year, i've done my best to pray, and be committed to prayer. to actually pray in the little and the big things. in everything.
I even prayed with my non-christian grandfather who has cancer in the bowels for healing. That was probably the hardest thing to do. Pray for the guy who has rejected my faith the most out of anyone I know- yet believes the story book cover I do (if you know what i mean... he believes in heaven, hell, but not the saving power of Christ).
practically applying my faith and actually trusting that God is in control of our everyday circumstances and casting our fears and worries upon him, and having faith- which that faith is constantly tested, and I've doubted more about God in the last 3 months than I have in the last 5 years as a result. My faith is being strengthened though.
#10. A biblical worldview would incorpotate prayer in everything, the little and the large- the possible and impossible- instead of just saying, "Yeah, I'll pray for you, and (insert something here)" and then not.
Could I be a jerk and say that a Christian worldview means you don't use a curse word for shock value?
A Christian worldview means I believe God is always teaching me at all times through everything and everyone I'm in contact with and to shut myself off to those opportunities is sin.
#11 A biblical worldview is the discipline to love (even when hated), to serve (even when exploited), and to give (even of what little you have).
First a principle (or two overlapping ones), then a comment:
A Biblical Worldview refuses to ignore the deepest meanings of life and do the same old thing.
A Biblical Worldview refuses to do nothing.
Now I'm not sure how I feel about the first paragraph of your post. I think Sam Harris' comment is weak. The ridiculousness of religious people has little to do with "small mindedness and falsities of religon". It is my feeling that this reflects a misrepresentation of God from uniformed, half-assed followers. (Pardon my shock factor Paul lol)
I wonder how much our religion even reflect our God. I have to be honest and say that God is probably not up in heaven listening to Jesus preach and the Holy Spirit lead worship. People with compartmentalized lives, yes, but to write off religion because of it, weak at best.
#13 A biblical worldview expects miracles.
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