Forming a Christian Heart 1

I’m doing a series of messages at my church based off the book Hidden Worldviews by Wilkens and Sanford. The purpose of this book is to persuade and equip Christians to adopt a Christian worldview! (put another way, to keep forming and guard their Christian worldview).

The authors’ premise is that the everyday influences of our culture – not the formal philosophies of academics – are the greatest challenge to faithful Christian living because they are hidden in plain sight. Their affect is stealthy and corrupting. As Wilkens and Sanford put it; “their power over us is increased since we are often unaware of how they shape our life and ideas” (p. 13).

Romans 12:1-2 provides the theme for the book. Here’s the passage from The Message: “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

A worldview is defined as a way of looking at the world and assessing my place in it; it is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart. I describe a worldview as the knowledge worth knowing; the values worth holding; the actions worth taking. It is the foundation on which we live and move and have our being (cf. Acts 17:28)

The biblical concept of the heart involves emotions, wisdom, desire, will, spirituality, and intellect. The heart is what defines us! It is what God is most interested in when it comes to forming Christ in us (cf. Gal. 4:19). Wilkens and Sanford explain that we don’t think our way into holding a worldview – the shaping of our heart – we experience it. It comes to us not like a textbook but rather a story; a story we buy in to – sometimes without even realizing it.

The topics I will cover are part of the cultural water in which we swim, soak, and splash. This past summer I took a Discover Scuba class at our local outdoor pool. We swim in this pool regularly and never think much about what’s in the water – after all, with the naked eye we can only observe it from above. But with scuba goggles on I saw our pool from a whole new troubling perspective! There was an incredible amount of debris in the water I was swimming in – it was hidden in plain sight.

 

The goal of this series is to become more aware of the cultural water we are swimming in. Following the book’s content, I will address topics like individualism, consumerism, naturalism, scientism, etc. By examining these worldviews we can learn their heart orientation, their effect on our lives, and as a result equip ourselves to test for God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.

References:

Wilkens, S. & Sanford, M. (2009). Hidden worldviews: Eight cultural stories that shape our lives. Downers Grove, ILL: InterVarsity Press.

What do you mean by “learning”?

Seymour Sarason’s 2004 book And What Do YOU Mean by Learning? keeps pushing the reader to think about what we define as learning. "Learning" is the word most used in educational literature and yet educators have great difficulty in defining it. Sarason demonstrates that the lack of clarity about the concept of learning is at the root of the disappointments of educational reform, the inadequacies of teacher preparatory programs, and policy writing.

Central to Sarason's questions is the distinction between the contexts of productive and unproductive learning; the latter being far more frequent than the former. Here are Sarason’s two main points for the book:

• First, we’ll never get true “reform” in education until we come to some consensus on a more accurate definition of learning.
• Second, that “productive learning” as he defines it doesn’t happen much at all in schools.

Sarason writes:

“Learning is not a thing, it is a process…I try on these pages to distinguish between contexts of productive and unproductive learning. And by productive, I mean that the learning process is one that engenders and reinforces wanting to learn more. Absent wanting to learn, the learning context is unproductive or counterproductive. Is it not noteworthy that the word or concept of learning probably has the highest of all word counts in the diverse literature in education and yet when people are asked what they mean by learning they are taken aback, stammer or stutter, and come up with a sentence or two which they admit is vague and unsatisfactory?” (from the introduction)

Learning = participating in the divine nature. 

Let’s consider how Peter describes the learning process of the Christian life:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if any of you do not have them, you are near-sighted and blind, and you have forgotten that you have been cleansed from your past sins.” (2 Peter 1:3–9, TNIV)

So then learning is truly productive learning when it makes you want to learn more. Or as Peter might say, it makes you want to add more godly qualities to your faith. In the context of Christian education, I would suggest that learning that is productive makes you want to learn about God more and be continually transformed into the image of his Son.

Glossing over what we mean by learning limits our teaching efforts. An educator’s business is learning. Only when we become aware of what learning encompasses and the contexts in which it occurs can we have a starting point for real education

The strange prosperity of the ungodly 2

Psalm 77:17-20

¹⁷ Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

¹⁸ Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

¹⁹ In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.

²⁰ When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Siffleur Falls and Canyon come to mind when reading this portion of Psalm 77. One side of the canyon is a sheer, jagged drop while the other is a smooth slope. The mist from the falls and churning river below keep the sloped side moist and very slippery. The hike up to the falls features danger signs about standing too close to the slippery slope. Some have actually died from foolishly stepping too far out on the slope only to be swept into the icy rapids below. 

From his new perspective, Asaph sees the ease, wealth, comfort, good health, and security of the ungodly are clearly temporary. A life of worldliness is its own undoing; it contains the seeds of its own destruction. Gradually, then suddenly, the ungodly will be faced with the emptiness and consequences of their life’s pursuits

Asaph had no reason to envy the ungodly. Ironically, their prosperity would contribute to their downfall.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is my portion forever.

This psalm puts the spotlight on the struggles believers have concerning disparity of lifestyle. After all, shouldn’t it make sense that the godly should enjoy life while the ungodly should go with less!? To persist in trusting God when the ungodly prosper is a maturing test of faith. In those times, the believer can struggle with envy, futility, and weariness (c.f. Psalm 73).

Asaph’s renewal underscores the importance of regularly placing yourself in the path of God’s influence, especially in times of great doubt. The mature understand, albeit with difficulty, that the immediate benefits of the “good life” the ungodly live will come at the price of the eternal “better life” with God. Oh, what a challenge these times can be!

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:17-18)

The strange benefits of temptation

According to Luke’s gospel, after being anointed with the Spirit (3:22), Jesus is now “full of the Holy Spirit” and “led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be tempted (4:1-13). Why was this event important for Luke’s reader? The lengthy genealogy and wilderness setting portrayed by Luke evoke images of Adam and Israel’s disobedience and their failure to resist temptation. For the reader, these allusions are contrasted by the victory of Jesus as God’s faithful Son.

 

The story brings out a faith dilemma for modern Christians: Why does God allow Satan to tempt us?

The biblical writers did not sharply distinguish between tests and temptations. We often separate these as if they are different experiences. However, the biblical writers had no problem using one word to mean tests in one verse and then using the very same word to mean temptations just a few verses later.

Temptations are a normal part of the Christian life. They are part of God’s curriculum for us. Either you are in one now, you are just ending one, or you are getting ready for the next one (Amen?!).

God seems to present us before a test/temptation so that by following him and by trusting his Word in those circumstances we become stronger. Our faith is confirmed and we become an example to other people of victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Because of this, we would do well to recognize when we are in a temptation, especially when Satan’s comments are like those said to Jesus: “If you are…” Here are some I have learned to recognize along with some scriptural responses:

1. “If that is what Christians are like this, why bother? You are a better person than they are.”

a. It is written: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Prov. 3:34); Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner (Luke 18:13); Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners of whom I am the worst (1 Tim. 1:15).

2. “God is silent to you. It seems you are on your own.”

a. It is written: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Heb. 13:5)

3. “God helps those who help themselves. You need to do something now!”

a. It is written: They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. (Isa. 40:31)

4. “Maybe all this “faith” stuff is a little immature. Perhaps it’s time to put away childish things and take responsibility for your own life.”

a. It is written: “Lord, to whom else shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

5. “You need to keep building your qualifications, accomplishments, and reputation. That’s the only way to get the respect of your church leaders.”

a. It is written: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ (Phil. 4:7-9); Am I now trying to win human approval, or God’s approval? (Gal. 1:10)

6. “You’ll have time to focus on your spiritual life later. It’s time to make relationships with those who can further your career. Besides, you won’t be affected by their questionable ethics. That’s what you can look back on and be proud of.”

a. It is written: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Ps. 84:10)

7. “Look at all you have invested in your education, your connections, and your accomplishments. You deserve more reward than this.”

a. It is written: Those who love money never have money enough; though who love wealth are never satisfied with their income (Eccl. 5:10); the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

The strange prosperity of the ungodly 1

A frequent strategy in my teaching is to contrast the Christian life with the worldly life. Aspects of our struggle with worldliness always seem to arise. This often causes a faith dilemma for those who trust in God’s goodness but also witness an odd disparity in lifestyle with some of those who dismiss God but are quite wealthy.  The dilemma leads to the question: why should the people who reject God be better off than those who trust Him?

This situation reminds me of the expression “Keeping up with the Joneses”, which refers to the comparisons people draw to their neighbours as a benchmark for social or financial success. Their homes, cars, clothes, and other possessions are the evidence of such success. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as inferiority.

In Psalm 73, Asaph describes his mental and emotional struggle when he compared his life as one committed to the LORD with the lives of his acquaintances who did not put God first. It causes him deep discouragement:

¹ Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

² But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

³ For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

⁴ They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

⁵ They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

⁶ They wear pride like a jewelled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

The evidence before Asaph challenged him to his very core. Is godly living a joke? Were the irreligious and ungodly enjoying the only real goodness available? Was he missing out on the actual “good life”? He goes on to describe this:

¹² Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³ Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

¹⁴ I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵ If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.

¹⁶ So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

Consider the parallels today:

• A single Christian remains lonely while their promiscuous friend never seems to be without a romantic relationship.
• An ambitious co-worker who “doctors” reports and curries favour receives a promotion while an honest man of integrity is laid off.
• A wealthy celebrity retains legions of adoring fans despite blatant acts of irresponsibility and disregard for the law.
• An incompetent politician is elected to office because of their charisma then proceeds to mismanage the budget and dole out patronage appointments.

How can we learn to nurture our desire for God and his ways? Especially when there’s such an onslaught of messages, desirable material goods, relationships, and influences around us every day. What a difficult task this is!

So typical…

The strange silence of God 2

The silence or hiddenness of God touches questions such as: why does prayer seem to go unanswered? Why does there seem to be no apparent progress on his plan or promises? Why has Jesus not returned yet?

Probably, the most personal question is “What do I do during these times?”

This hiddenness is actually a key part of a biblical worldview. Peter comments in his first letter that certain trials come into our life to “prove the genuineness of our faith”, which he explains is of greater worth than gold. This genuine faith, he says, “…may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9)

I don’t fully understand why God chooses to hide himself at times, but I do know that even Jesus experienced it. Shortly before he died, Christ apparently sensed an abrupt loss of the communion with the Father and cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). But no answer came.

I also know, and is so good to remember, that God’s silence to his only Son was a part of his plan for the good of all humankind. God’s silence does not indicate his absence; he is probably watching and listening more intently.