Contact Me

If you enjoy my blog and would like to contact me, you may reach me at this email: dena.netherton@gmail.com

Some of my stories are published in:
A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters (Adams Media, 2009)
Chicken Soup: What I Learned from the Dog (2009)
Love is a Flame (Bethany House, 2010)
Extraordinary answers to Prayer (Guideposts, 2010)
Love is a Verb (Bethany House, 2011)
Big Dreams from Small Spaces (Group Publishing, 2012)

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Your World-view: From Christ or yourself?

Watching political programs on TV, I am always struck by how people stick to their political beliefs even when facts clearly refute their opinions.
You know the old saying, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."
Why is that?
For example, if I can prove that communism results in massive disillusionment with the system by the people who've been drawn into it, why then, do so many countries still try to institute this political and economic way of life?
Another example: Do you ever listen to a particular political pundit and wonder how in the world he can hold his "crazy" opinions?
Each person constructs his or her own world view (or basic philosophy of life) based on gender, beliefs of family and close friends, religion, experiences, observations. Then, as life unfolds, this individual builds, justifies and reinforces his world view by picking and choosing those facts which seem to fit his constructed world view. Other facts are eliminated or rejected because they do not fit his world view.
This is the danger of science, as well. Researchers must continually avoid the temptation to make assumptions based on preconceived ideas.
For example: Since it has been determined (I'm not convinced, since there is science that shows the exact opposite), that the world is experiencing global warming, then a snow storm in the Midwest is evidence of global warming, just as a hurricane off Puerto Rico is evidence of global warming, and triple-digit temps in Seattle prove global warming.
People and maybe even scientists choose what they believe based on how it fits in their world view.
But the Christian faith is different.
Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is like having your world view shaken up each day. Just as Jesus, when He walked the dusty roads of ancient Israel, continually outraged and amazed His hearers, so He does to us individually. Each day, as I read scripture, the Holy Spirit illuminates some fixed attitude in me and seems to say, "There, you see how your opinion about XXXX is skewed? You need to get in line with my way of looking at XXXX.
My old nature does not want to do this. It want to stay comfortably situated in this old wrong attitude. It pleases me to keep thinking the old way. It fits my old world view.
But God prompts me to "be transformed by the renewing of my mind." (Romans 12:2)
The old, natural way of keeping my world view is:
I want to please myself
The new, Spirit-controlled way is:
I want to please Jesus Christ, whose World View is shown in the Word of God.
Reverend James Kennedy once stated, "There are really only two religions that operate in the world: the 'I' or the 'cross.'"
Your world view will be determined by "I" or "Jesus Christ."
It's a good thing to examine your way of thinking from time to time and ask yourself, "Is what I'm thinking in line with Christ, or am I holding on to a pattern of thought simply because it pleases me?"

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Cor. 10:5)

6 comments:

  1. Just reading Fbook comments really challenges your imagination. Talk about world views.......there's a bunch. Good writing Dena. Keep it up!

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  2. Hi Dena -

    Great quote by Dr. Kennedy! I'm often amazed at how blinded people become to the truth.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  3. I agree, Susan. Once you've got yourself in one paradign, it's really hard to Shift to another.

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  4. Dena, what a thought provoking post of Truth and Life. Thank you for reminding us--that everything revolves around--it's "not I but Christ".... Your exquisite comment on my blog touched Hubby and me deeply. Thank you and abundant blessings! Bobbe

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  5. Thanks for reading, Bobbe.I so appreciate your gracious words.

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