A Change of Worldviews?

A QUESTION POSED TO RAY:

Some men, that I respect, hold the opinion (truth to them) that a biblical relationship with the Creator requires a worldview change. No matter what culture we might belong to, if we enter into a relationship with the Father Of All through the incarnate work of Jesus (or Yeshua if you prefer) we must go through a worldview
change. Some would even say that a worldview change must take place before such a relationship can even happen. (I want to try to avoid a discussion about the correct definition of certain words and phrases. I would rather not get stuck in that kind of mud.) But for the sake of clarity I will risk it by saying that what I mean by worldview is the overall structure that informs the beliefs and behavior that govern
our cultural, spiritual, metaphysical and relational aspects of life. I know, some of you are probably wincing at my poor attempt at defining worldview. :-))

Any way, the questions I am trying to deal with are, "Is a worldview change needed before/when we become "new creatures" as the apostle Paul calls us?" and/or, "Does the Word of God imply a worldview change as a result of our new Jesus relationship with Him?"

Brother Mark
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Great Question Mark!

Chief Seattle once said "Death? There is no death, only a change of worlds."

One guaranteed way to change your worldview is to cross over, not that I recommend it.

Some thoughts:

People play fast and loose with words and redefine them, which then makes any dialogue almost impossible.

For example, Christian have taken hold of the word "Syncretism" and have turned the word into their own meaning of "the contamination of the Truth".

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The dictionary (Websters) says:

syn·cre·tism n.

Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous.
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The dictionary looks at syncretism as rather positive, while the Evangelical view is negative. While cultures continue to blend, Evangelicals continue to fracture, creating new, mutually exclusive denominations and movements all the time!

If you look at Vine DeLoria's book, God Is Red, he speaks about the constant changing of traditions, merging of cultures and practices as all very normal -- and this is an ordinary sociological process called "syncretism". But now of course, it is almost impossible to have a calm discussion about syncretism since the term has been co-opted (hijacked) and given a different meaning.

Each of the 30,000 plus denominations so zealously "guard" the "truth" that they have split the church, and shattered fellowship. So are there 30,000+ worldviews? That is what it looks like to me. If for example, you follow Jesus, but don't believe
in "double predestination", those who DO would most likely tell you your "worldview" is wrong. Each denomination tries to assimilate people into their "worldview" which to me, is more of a collection of opinions that they choose to call an authoritative "worldview".

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From Websters:

world·view n.

In both senses also called Weltanschauung. (from the German)

1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world.

2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group.
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I would agree that once you start to follow Jesus, that you will have a different perspective on things. That would fit in #1.

And most denominations have opinions about life and the universe, and they call this their worldview, which could fit #2.

To me, however, "worldview", when discussed in academia, is a much broader understanding than just opinions. We speak about the "Western" worldview and the "Indigeous" worldview. Language, for example, determines how thoughts are actually processed. Culture, geography, history, family values, politics, poetry, music, relationships, territory and even more comprise a person's worldview.

So again, it is pretty hard to argue with Christians who demand that you follow their own narrow "worldview", while the rest of us speak about worldview as a much broader concept.

One of the most unfortunate "theories" that some now have is that there is a "Christian" worldview, which supplants and supercedes whatever worldview you already happen to have. This means that whatever the demonination says trumps your cultural views, and it demeans and devalues the existing worldview into which one was born.

That kind of thinking is what made the residential schools possible. "Kill the Indian (culture), save the man." Replace the Indian worldview with "God's worldview".

The power of the Gospel/ Good News is this: Jesus can be understood by any worldview, any culture, any people group, anywhere. It is spiritual abuse to force people to exchange their Indigenous worldview for a Western worldview in order to follow Jesus. Another way that this is explained is when Richard Twiss asks "Why should we Indians be forced to exchange one sin-stained culture for another?"

It is not the worldview that makes us good or evil. All can follow or walk away from Christ. When one begins to walk the path of Christ, ones opinions and perspectives will of course change. Maybe you could call the "worldview" with a small "w". But no one should be forced to switch from their Indigenous Worldview to a Western Worldview just to follow Christ. Perhaps this is "Worldview" with a capital "W".

Every people group (ethne) has their own worldview. The Great Commission says to go to every "ethne", people group. So this means that the Good news can inform ALL Worldviews!

These thougts are my own -- I hope they are helpful.

Ray