If you've been to a Bible school, or even a Christian school at some point, the idea of Worldviews is pretty ingrained in your mind. A person's worldview shapes every single part of their philosophy. It affects their ethics, their morals, their opinions... it's the basis of who they are as a person.
I've known for quite some time what my worldview is. God is creator, he is all powerful and present in our lives. There is nothing beyond his control. (Specific Theology left out here for future confusing blog post, for obvious reasons.) Sin is everywhere, polluting God's intended design. So when I look at the world, I see everything that shouldn't be--I see everything that the enemy is doing and am disgusted by it.
What happens when we take this further? Everyone knows that to be a good Christian means to watch out for sin in the world and keep ourselves clean of its influences WHILE loving and not condemning the lost. But the other day I thought of it this way: Imagine ripping a page from your Bible and gluing to your face, trying to see through it as you go about your day. Sure you see everything for what it is through the truth, but what are you missing? And more importantly, what are you saying to those who don't give a "rip" about the Bible-colored glasses you're looking at them through?
EXAMPLE: "Water for Elephants"I never wanted to watch this movie. I heard about it when it was first coming out, and what was told to me was that it was about a woman who strikes up a relationship with a young man who is not her husband. My alarm immediately flared. "Oh no. I'm not watching that. That's garbage that's a sin that's adultery." I'd made my decision. And then it got really popular. Some of my friends were talking about it. The book was every where. So I looked it up, checked the rating, and decided it wouldn't be too horrible to see it, just so I could know what was going on. (I like to know as much as I can about things that have grabbed a media craze--so I'm informed.) So I watched it, and while I was watching it, I was completely enthralled. The music was spectacular, the world that was created was magical, the characters drew me in. (and it wasn't because of Edward...) Eventually I realized I WAS ROOTING FOR THE WOMAN TO LEAVE HER HUSBAND. The man was cruel and abusive, and the other man she was interested in was sweet and caring and so much better for her. They would both be happy if they could be together and away from that awful man who controlled the circus they were apart of.
NOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT KIND OF THINKING?
Immediately you say, "Oh no! I've been compromised! The EVIL worldview is trying to break me and crack my beliefs! Heaven help me, I've sinned! That movie is filled with trash! So are all other movies! BURN THEM ALL!"
Sound like what you would say? Hey, I thought about it. But then I started thinking... (a dangerous pastime, I know.) What would the non-Christian world think about this movie? What would someone without a page of the Bible stuck to their face think about this movie? If you've seen this movie, you can make a bigger list for yourself, but here are a few values I pulled from it: abuse of spouse is unacceptable, cruelty to animals is unacceptable, love is powerful, friendship is necessary for life, murder is regrettable, alcohol ruins relationships, and money isn't everything.
Are these not good values for the un-churched to hold to? Do these very values, apparently spawned from heathens, not come directly from God? Of course they do. Because all that is right and good comes from the Lord. (But tell that to an atheist, a pagan, anyone who claims a different worldview, and they will disagree.) What happens when a non-Christian sees a good value in something, and they see you freaking out about it? What are they to think of you? Extremist. Religious. Are they going to be looking for your sign that says "God Hates __________"?
Most everyone who is not actively seeking the truth will reject that which is of God. So why do we turn our noses up at things that get his values across in a way that they will actually accept?
Now hear this, if you hear nothing else. I'm not condoning ALL non- Christian movies and ALL non-Christian books that have good values in them. I'm not saying anything like that. I'm saying, we need to think before we blind ourselves with our Bible pages.
You are beautiful, even when you're considered "ugly and fat" by others. Bullying is wrong and it destroys a person's will to live. Everyone should be treated equally and not discriminated against (race, sexual orientation). Unsafe sex has devastating consequences. Everyone needs a friend. Being selfish can isolate you. And on and on...
Here's the point: Not everything that isn't made by the folks who put out "Fireproof" is bad/sinful/worthless. The rest of the world doesn't judge their entertainment by the same standards as we do, so when they accept it as something good and wholesome, we cannot condemn them for it. To them, it's a perfectly acceptable judgment.
What do you do now?
Never try to apply Biblical truths to anything you watch/read?
(Take off the Bible glasses)
NO.
Never comment on sin in entertainment for fear of offending a non-Christian?
(Shoving the Bible glasses in your mouth).
NO.
Never watch anything unless there is absolutely no hint of worldly values?
(Putting the whole book in front of your face)
NO.
Consider what it looks like with your Bible-glasses on and without your Bible-glasses on, and how others who don't even have a pair of Bible-glasses see it, and how they see you?
(Putting the glasses on, and then taking them off and looking around.)
MAYBE...
Try thinking about it the next time you watch a new movie or a new TV show. That's all this is. Something to think about. Don't take it to the extreme and look for good things to justify what you watch, though.
What is your worldview and what does it mean? It is "fair" to judge others by a worldview they don't hold to? Why or why not? What of the Christian worldview has been "borrowed" by other worldviews, and can we use that to find a common ground as we share our faith? And speaking of that, when's the last time you've shared your faith with someone? Have you ever even tried? Be honest.
I'm going to go look in the mirror now and ask that again.
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