The first time that I remember hearing v. 8 I was listening to a speaker talk about how teens are influenced by the media. Although he didn’t use this word, I believe that was the first time that I became aware of the idea of, “worldview.” People have different ideas regarding what is true, good, and right. There are different thoughts about how we should live, treat people and conduct our business. People think differently about why we exist, what the purpose of life is, and what is central to life. Not only are these statements true, but people influence others to agree with their worldview; sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, but always influencing.
God’s Word is warning us today: Don’t be taken captive. Don’t get fished in. Don’t take wooden nickels. There are worldviews out there that are mere philosophy. Some guy had an idea and started talking about it, others liked it, and they started to live that way. At the end of the day, it’s some guy’s opinion based in how he sees the world. There are worldviews out there that are empty deceit. I’m not picking on Burger King, but their campaign in which they said that we could, “have it our way,” is a great example of this. Yes, you can get your burger your way, but there are others who are applying that statement far beyond flame broiled beef.
Relationships, sexuality, pleasure, greed, how we worship, our understanding of God, even our self-esteem find many twists if we live by the creed, “You can have it your way.” If that idea is part of the foundation of how you see the world, why not steal, cheat, over indulge, and expect no consequence?
Listen to songs on the radio. What are they saying? Sometimes what sounds like silliness and fun has a point. Consider Lady Antebellum’s song, Nothing but a Good Time: (Everyone picks on rock-and-roll and rap, so let’s pick on country music for a change.) The band sings, “How ‘bout, baby, we make a promise to not promise anything more than one night.” It there a message in that line? Does it sound a lot like, “You can have it your way?”
How about something more innocent like Miley Cyrus’s song, The Climb? She sings about her faith shaking as she faces the struggles of life and then states, “Ain’t about how fast I get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” Is there a message there? As we wait for city whose architect and builder is God, what does this say to us . . . and our children?
We could talk about television, movies, books, etc., and point out that some are positive, some negative, and some are really neutral. (Truth, after all, is truth, even if a liar speaks it.) Ultimately, the question is, if these things lead us toward or away from Jesus. Do they enhance or detract from our sense of being forgiven? Do they help us trust and depend on God, or point us elsewhere? Are we being encouraged to live in the new life we’ve been given, or the way the world would have us live?
Ultimately, how we live is centered on this one amazing fact: That God has revealed Himself to us in Jesus, and redeemed us through the cross and empty tomb. That fact influences everything; including how we understand what is true, good, right, etc. Jesus brings us back to God and now we begin to see the world as He sees it as we live every day by faith.
God grant that we see life, truth, the world, and everything according to Your Truth. Amen.
God’s Word is warning us today: Don’t be taken captive. Don’t get fished in. Don’t take wooden nickels. There are worldviews out there that are mere philosophy. Some guy had an idea and started talking about it, others liked it, and they started to live that way. At the end of the day, it’s some guy’s opinion based in how he sees the world. There are worldviews out there that are empty deceit. I’m not picking on Burger King, but their campaign in which they said that we could, “have it our way,” is a great example of this. Yes, you can get your burger your way, but there are others who are applying that statement far beyond flame broiled beef.
Relationships, sexuality, pleasure, greed, how we worship, our understanding of God, even our self-esteem find many twists if we live by the creed, “You can have it your way.” If that idea is part of the foundation of how you see the world, why not steal, cheat, over indulge, and expect no consequence?
Listen to songs on the radio. What are they saying? Sometimes what sounds like silliness and fun has a point. Consider Lady Antebellum’s song, Nothing but a Good Time: (Everyone picks on rock-and-roll and rap, so let’s pick on country music for a change.) The band sings, “How ‘bout, baby, we make a promise to not promise anything more than one night.” It there a message in that line? Does it sound a lot like, “You can have it your way?”
How about something more innocent like Miley Cyrus’s song, The Climb? She sings about her faith shaking as she faces the struggles of life and then states, “Ain’t about how fast I get there. Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” Is there a message there? As we wait for city whose architect and builder is God, what does this say to us . . . and our children?
We could talk about television, movies, books, etc., and point out that some are positive, some negative, and some are really neutral. (Truth, after all, is truth, even if a liar speaks it.) Ultimately, the question is, if these things lead us toward or away from Jesus. Do they enhance or detract from our sense of being forgiven? Do they help us trust and depend on God, or point us elsewhere? Are we being encouraged to live in the new life we’ve been given, or the way the world would have us live?
Ultimately, how we live is centered on this one amazing fact: That God has revealed Himself to us in Jesus, and redeemed us through the cross and empty tomb. That fact influences everything; including how we understand what is true, good, right, etc. Jesus brings us back to God and now we begin to see the world as He sees it as we live every day by faith.
God grant that we see life, truth, the world, and everything according to Your Truth. Amen.
Comments