Shift #1

Shift My Worldview

6-5-2022, by Louie Marsh

 

To SHIFT my worldview I need to…

 

1) UNDERSTAND what it is.

 

world·view 
n.   In both senses also called Weltanschauung. [Origin: 1855–60; trans. of G Weltanschauung] a comprehensive conception or image of the universe and of humanity's relation to it.

 

What is the dominant religion of pastors filling pulpits of “Christian” churches across the US? A new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that a staggering 62% of pastors don’t have a biblical worldview. Instead, they have a worldview of syncretism—in other words, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, mixed together with Christianity.

 

The researchers described syncretism this way:

 

Their prevailing worldview is best described as Syncretism, the blending of ideas and applications from a variety of holistic worldviews into a unique but inconsistent combination that represents their personal preferences. More than six out of 10 pastors (62%) have a predominantly syncretistic worldview.

 

Rather than building their thinking on God’s Word, the majority of pastors are basing their beliefs on “personal preferences.

 

The study asked the pastors (including senior, associate, teaching, children’s, youth, and executive pastors—more on that below) a series of 54 worldview-related questions and discovered these low percentages of those with a biblical worldview:

 

• only 47% of the pastors have a biblical worldview regarding family and the value of life;
• 44% concerning issues related to God, creation, and history (personally, I wonder if this number is actually much lower, depending on how specific the survey questions were regarding Genesis chapters 1-11, creation, and history”);
• 43% in relation to personal faith practices;
• 43% when it comes to matters of sin, salvation, and one's relationship with God;
• 40% pertaining to human character and human nature;
• and 40% when it comes to measures of lifestyle, personal behavior, and relationships.

 

As researcher George Barna pointed out:  A person's worldview primarily develops before the age of 13, then goes through a period of refinement during their teens and twenties.

 

From a worldview perspective, a church’s most important ministers are the children’s pastor and the youth pastor. 

 

2) BELIEVE that it’s vital.

 

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)

 

3) EMBRACE a Biblical worldview.

 

Contrasting Worldviews

Cultural Worldview

Christian Worldview

1. God is loving and tolerant

1. God is loving & holy.

2. People are basically good

2. People are basically sinful.

3. People can & must earn God’s favor.

3. People can do nothing to earn God’s favor.

4. People create their own purpose.

4. Our purpose comes from God.

 

Worldview must start with God:

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (GW)

 

Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. Proverbs 1:7 (MSG)

 

4) TEST MYSELF with God’s Word.

 

God Is Holy NOT Tolerant!

 

“4For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” (Psalm 5:4, ESV)

 

There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven that are disgusting to him…. Proverbs 6:16 (GW)

 

People basically tend towards sin.

 

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

 

We can do nothing to earn God’s Favor or Forgiveness.

 

Although you wash yourself with soda and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me," declares the Sovereign LORD. Jeremiah 2:22 (NIV)

 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV)

 

Our Purpose Comes From God:

 

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalms 57:2 (ESV)

 

5) AVOID these common pitfalls

 

• God wants me to be HAPPY

 

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV)

 

• Cultural INFLUENCES.

 

6) Make sure JESUS shapes my worldview.

 

"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)

 

This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps. He never sinned, and he never deceived anyone. 1 Peter 2:21-22 (NLT)