why my worldview matters

7/29/2019 Why My Worldview Matters

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Why My Worldview Matters

Koinonia Bible Study

April 13, 2007

*Adapted from Colson & Warrens Wide Angle: Framing Your Worldview


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Worldview Definition

DVD Clip from Wide Angle

A wor ldv iewis simply the way we think

the world works, and how we fit into it.

[Chuck Colson, Wide Angle DVD]


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Importance of a Road Map

e.g. Driving to New York city


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Need Road Map for Life

Worldview Lifes Road Map

Our worldview determines our:

Decisions Our life goals

What we think will make us happy

How we spend our money

How we treat others

Really difficult to live according to what youdontthink!


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What is My Worldview?

Everyone already has

worldview

Picked up from Parents

Friends & neighbors

School

TV & movies


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Hidden Worldviews

All around us:

Canon: Image is everything.

Image is more important than substance

Sprite: Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst

Follow after your desires.

Volkswagen: Jaded is overrated. Dare to behappy.

Material possessions can bring happiness


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Need to Consider

All Worldviews are not equal

Just like there are good/bad road maps

there are:

Good Worldview vs. Bad Worldview

Accurate Worldview vs. InaccurateWorldview


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Questions of Life

Four Big Questions of Life

Where did I come from?

Why is the world such a mess?

Is there a solution?

What is my lifes purpose?

Worldview affects how you answer thesequestions

Your wor ldv iew is very p ract ical !


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Worldview Matters!

Ideas Consequences

e.g., Viktor Frankl (1905-

1997) Holocaust survivor of

Auschwitz concentration

camp


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Frankls Warning

I am absolutely convinced that the gas

chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka, and

Maidanek were ultimately prepared not insome ministry or other in Berlin, but rather

at the desks and in lecture halls of

nihilistic scientists and philosophers.

[Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live without God?, p.25]


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Nihilistic Worldview

Nihilism: A worldview that denies any objectiveground of truth and especially of moral truths

Hitlers boast: I freed Germany from the stupidand degrading fallacies of conscience andmorality . We will train young people beforewhom the world will tremble. I want young

people capable of violence imperious(dominant), relentless and cruel.

[Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live without God?, p.23]


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Why Worldview Matters

Worldview Framework for UnderstandingReality

Physical Laws

e.g., Gravity

Moral Laws e.g., Adultery

WisdomAligning ones life to Reality

Folly is a stubborn swimming against thestream of the universe spitting into the wind.(Chuck Colson, How Now Shall we Live?, p.17)


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Many Worldviews

Atheism

Existentialism

Hedonism

Humanism

Materialism Nihilism

Pantheism

Polytheism

PostmodernismPragmatism

Socialism

Theism


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Worldviews in Conflict

A man said to the universe:

Sir, I exist.

However, replied the universe,

The fact has not created in me a sense

of obligation.

- Stephen Crane, War is Kind and Other Lines.


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Worldviews in Conflict

When I consider your heavens, thework of your fingers, the moon and thestars, which you have set in place,what is man that you are mindful of

him, the son of man that you care forhim? You made him a little lower thanthe heavenly beings and crowned himwith glory and honor.

Psalm 8:3-5


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Examples of Worldviews

Naturalism - The Cosmos is all that is or ever was orever will be. (Carl Sagan, astronomer)

Existentialism-it is meaningless that we are born; itis meaningless that we die. (Jean Paul Sartre,author)

Hedonism-Whoever dies with the most toys wins-

Anonymous

Contradicting worldviews cannotall be correct!


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Christianity Is a Worldview

Failure of the Christian

mind:

We limit Christian thinking

to a very narrow slice of life

Personal morality anddevotion


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Biblical Framework:

God created the Universe & Nature

Natural Laws & Environment God created People

Moral laws

God made us Social Beings

Social Justice & Political Principles

God gave us Minds

Education


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Loving God with Our Minds

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all

your heart and with all your soul and with all

your mind and with all your strength.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to

the pattern of this world, but be transformed by

the renewing of your mind. Then you will beable to test and approve what God's will is--

his good, pleasing and perfect will.


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Questions of Life: Revisited

Four Big Questions of Life

Where did I come from?

Why is the world such a mess?

Is there a solution?

What is my lifes purpose?

Christ iani ty sat isfactor i ly answers al l 4of the Big questions of life!


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Upcoming Weeks

Next Week: How Do We Know Whats

True?

Roessler 66, Friday @ 7pm Come join us for 5 more lessons on

Worldview!

why my worldview matters

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