GlocalNet

As I began to study the kingdom of God years ago and it began to rock my world and undo a lot of my past preconceived ideas I was fascinated by the concept of worldview and in particular “Christian Worldview.”  Many books have been written about it, and I’ve read a lot of them.  At first I embraced it all - saw it as the way to make sense of the world, extend the kingdom, and live the faith.  But the more I began to “implement” “practice” or “put it into place” the more it became like a chain than a platform. 

I’m not saying there isn’t a “Christian Worldview.”  I’m not saying it’s all bad.  I’m saying it’s incomplete and by itself doesn’t work in a 21st century context.  Worldview concepts come from the Germans - and the premise is if you understand how a person views the world then you will know how to communicate and negotiate.  That was true - to a point - in the past.  It will become increasingly less true for the future.  Now why would an evangelical, Bible believing, Christian who wants to see the Great Commission fulfilled make such a statement?  Because I believe it limits our ability to see God and move with him as he acts. 

First of all - worldviews were/are generally given to a large population representing a culture, an idea, a nation, a philosophy, etc.  The context was that a general idea followed by other supporting ideas served as the platform for how they build all their ideology.  No group of people in the world today are affected by just one worldview.  A Swiss diplomat helped me see that not long ago.  He was speaking and he spoke of how all of us are a combination of multiple worldviews - and it hit me, he’s right.  I see the world as a Christian, a Roberts, A Texan, A celtic person, and an American (yes the order is correct - and I’m not kidding!) 

Which brings me to the second reason - when you have only “one” worldview - especially something like Christianity - it becomes not a worldview - but a rule book of 3,000 rules of do’s and dont’s that Christians do or don’t do.  Grace goes out the window, the leadership of the Holy Spirit becomes subject to everyone else who’s ever lived and wrote before you were ever alive. 

Third, the kingdom of God is an unfolding journey moving towards God - not a rigid play book.  For we Christians to believe in grace and the priesthood of the believer so much - we practice it very little.  I’m reformed - but I’m no robot - I love the adventure, the journey, the unexpected turns, the people that come in and out of your life, the treasures you find unexpectedly and the deep learning you go through in times of pain and trouble.  When we have a tight Christian worldview - there’s not much room for people to hear from God and move in ways we normally wouldn’t in mass. 

Fourth, if I limit myself to my worldview - I will never truly understand where others are coming from.  What made me, for good or bad, what I am today was not staying in Texas - but getting out of it and even more than that developing deep friendships with people of different cultures, ideas, religions, nations, etc.,  It enriched my faith and my dramatically and continues to do so. 

So - what do I do - I live by a “Jesus Prism” he’s the lens through which I see all things and I try to see all things.  How does Jesus see this?  If I believe he’s God and created cultures, nations, peoples, etc., there are incredible values inside each of them.  If I see through a Jesus Prism then the Bible gives me clarity and direction as I look at the world through that prism and becomes a living book instead of a rule book.  Worldview is my ideology taking of the world - it can be rather flat also.  Prism is the lens through which I observe and engage and it’s very rich with color. I believe “Jesus Prism” more accurately relates to an evolving and organic kingdom than “worldview”.  Am I right about all this . . .  I’m questioning it enough that I’m willing to go on record that I’m questioning all of this!!!!