Time for Change!

Worldview?

Friends, brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus - How did you come to believe what you believe?

(Believe, as in … “This is what I believe and I will hold firmly to it!”

… to the degree that it determines how I will live my very life!

Whatever it is that you believe to that degree, - is what may be called your “Worldview”

It is the stuff you believe in so absolutely, that you will teach it to your children,

in the confidence that it will be for them the very foundation on which they will live … and die … and be alright!

We all have a worldview! It is unavoidable!

(Even though, sometimes, we don’t even know it!)

It is a bit like breathing … we don’t have to determine to breath (to breath in … and breath out …) we just do it.

It is part of our being, we might say! Our lungs were formed as we developed in our mothers’ wombs

and started functioning when we took our first gasp of air, after birth!

Our Worldview is formed as we grow up … and it soon becomes fixed!

… and once it is fixed, it is almost impossible to change someone’s Worldview!

The Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition, defines “Worldview” as follows:

It is ...

worldview. A framework of concepts and values that enable understanding and engagement of the world.1

1 Kapic, K.M. & Vander Lugt, W., 2013. Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition, p.129.

So, let me ask: “What is your Worldview?

To answer the question, we can apply a basic, Worldview test!

It asks us to answer questions, like:

Who am I and where do I come from?

Where am I?

What am I doing here?

What is wrong?

How can it be fixed?

Here is how the ancient Israelites saw the universe:-

This is the stuff that Paul would have learnt as a straight A student, at the University of Hillel,

under the tutelage of a one Professor Gamaliel! … who was also a member f the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Court in Jerusalem.

We get to know something about the respect that Gamaliel held, in ...

Acts 5:34–40 CSB

34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.

The scene described here, by Luke, is describing, in essence, a clash of Worldviews!

Peter and the disciples of Jesus would at one stage all have held to a Jewish Worldview

who would have understood the universe and its inhabitants, according to the Ancient Hebrew Conception of the Universe

but now, the very foundations of that belief system had been shaken!

Now, they (i.e. Peter and the Disciples) had come to experience Jesus - and all that He had done and taught! He was clearly no ordinary, or even superior, man! He was the Son of God! (Think of His miracles, His sacrificial love, His resurrection from the grave!

He, Jesus, had gone down into Sheol, and after three days, had come back to life!

What it meant, was, that all they had believed, had been turned upside/down … that they now had a new Worldview!

Paul’s Worldview (past)

At this point in history, Paul is not yet one of the Apostles, never mind a disciple (a follower) of Jesus,

and his worldview is still strictly, Jewish! According to the philosophy and faith of the Pharisees!

But all of that is about to change!

Acts 9:1–9 CSB

1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

That was enough for Paul to change his Worldview!

Friends, let me ask you: What will it take to change your Worldview?

For instance:

How do we see the Universe?

And how do you see your roll in the universe?

As you go to work… who are you?

and at home?

How do you want your children to live in this universe?

Where will you go when you die?

And why does it even matter?

You see?

These things are Worldview matters.

And everyone has a Worldview!

Just like Paul did!

Paul once had a Jewish Worldview ...

And then he encountered Jesus, whom he knew was born, and had died ...

But then Jesus rose from the grave (Paul knew the rumours!) - and He caught up with Paul on his journey to Damascus

- and that CHANGED his worldview!

Has it changed yours???

IF IT HAS … IS THAT CHANGE VISIBLE IN YOUR LIVES?

Can you be SEEN to have a Christian Worldview?

Does your life display your Worldview?

Paul’s Worldview has been changed!

Paul’s Worldview (present)

What change of heart has Paul undergone?

That he now sees himself quite different to who he was before, is evident from his letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 1:13–14 CSB

13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

But now, Paul says, “you have heard me preach a new hope!”

“And when I was with you, you said you accepted the new hope I brought to you!”

“But now, I hear, you are turning away from this hope?”

Galatians 1:6 CSB

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Paul is saying, how can you so quickly turn away from what I brought to you in all urgency after my conversion?

“You know the circumstances of my conversion … how I was struck blind, but restored to sight,

as proof that it was Jesus Himself who touched my heart and my conscience ...

so that I would become an instrument in God’s hand to bring to you ...

the good news … (Euangelion!) that in Jesus we are no longer enslaved by the law of Moses,

but have been set free by the law of Love, Jesus! And therefore, we have received LIFE!

Galatians 1:3–4 CSB

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

“When I was with you last, you accepted this truth - and made a profession of faith!”

… and now you are turning away from it?

Turning back to your old World view - in which there is entrance into or exit from Sheol (Death!)

Are you asking yourself “... when have I turned away from my profession of faith”?