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II. WORLDVIEW INFLUENCES VIEW OF SUPERNATURAL. A. Reasons why people disbelieve in supernatural work of the Spirit. They have not seen it personally. A. Reasons why people disbelieve in supernatural work of the Spirit. They have not seen it personally
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A. Reasons why people disbelieve in supernatural work of the Spirit • They have not seen it personally
A. Reasons why people disbelieve in supernatural work of the Spirit • They have not seen it personally • They cannot find New Testament quality miracles in church history
A. Reasons why people disbelieve in gifts of the Spirit • They have not seen them personally • They cannot find New Testament quality miracles in church history • They are repulsed by what they perceive as misuse of gifts
ALL these reasons are based on LACK of experience or NEGATIVE experience.
B. Influence of Worldview • Worldview – the system of accepted truths, or assumptions, that shapes one’s values, perceptions, and behaviors.
Worldviews affect how people relate to supernatural and how they interpret Scripture. • Non-Westerners recognize and appease spirits • Westerners ignore/deny; focus on material world • People interpret their world as they have been taught, formally and informally (by example)
Religion is integral to culture • Warnings in Old Testament • Westernization is not Christianization • Behavior standards vary by culture • It is possible to learn a new worldview
Importance of Worldview • We must analyze a worldview to be able to communicate to the people • People believe that the world really is the way they see it • They decode and evaluate our message in terms of their worldview
Effects of Worldview • Worldview influences beliefs, values, and behaviors. • Different worldview assumptions lead to different conclusions. • Acts 14:8-18 • Acts 28:1-6
Factors that Influence Our View of Reality • Worldview (greatest influence) • Must understand blockages caused by our cultural conditioning • Must recognize the reality of spiritual warfare
Limitations of Experience • I Corinthians 13:12 • God alone sees Reality as it actually is • We perceive Reality in a limited and biased way because of our humanity
Until we meet other views, we have nothing to compare ours with • Even then, we assume ours is right because we trust those who taught us
Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.”
Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.” • Any view is valid, if sincere.
Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.” • Any view is valid, if sincere. • The Agnostic – we cannot know reality
Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.” • Any view is valid, if sincere. • The Agnostic – we cannot know reality • Two-realities: Ultimate (God’s) and Perceptual (ours) – as we learn Truth, we come closer to God’s Reality
We see what we are taught to see. • We are taught to interpret in culturally approved ways, and we are rewarded when we conform.
We see what we are taught to see. • We are taught to interpret in culturally approved ways, and we are rewarded when we conform. • We see selectively (may learn to ignore or deny spiritual beings).
We see what we are taught to see. • We are taught to interpret in culturally approved ways, and we are rewarded when we conform. • We see selectively (may learn to ignore or deny spiritual beings). • We tend to accept things that confirm what we have been taught.
Personality or Temperament • Views are affected by • motivation • degree of openness • conservative or liberal stance • tendency to optimism or pessimism
Our Will • We choose to view as we have been taught • When our view is challenged, we • Reconsider our position • OR Remain unchanged
Sin Factor • Affects every aspect of how we perceive and respond to glimpses of REALITY • Manifests in rebellion, unholy motives, or confusion
Enlightenment Thinkers – Characteristics: • No invisible beings • Believe only in what is visible • Deistic view of God • Scientific thinking -- question anything not rationally understood • Strong influence on Western worldview
Symptoms of Enlightenment Christianity • A pervasive Rationalism • Human reason and experience supreme • Educate by giving knowledge; neglect character training • Rarely teach how to relate to God and others • Lecture rather than communicate
Doing things “decently and in order” • Defined to support our preferred practices or justify our disobedience to 1 Cor. 14:39 • We control church meetings—rather than invite Holy Spirit to do as He wills
Centering church meetings on a lecture • Lecture/sermon format was imported from academic schools (Luther and reformers) • Assumption is that people need more information • BUT Jesus taught primarily through example and discussion
Downplaying the value of experience • Focus on gaining information about the past • Not skilled at experiencing relationship with God • Measure validity of any experience by our own experience • Reject as not from God that which we cannot understand on basis of our own experience
Think of God’s Word as only something written • Elevate written Word more than God Himself • Fear being unable to control what people believe they have heard from God
Approach to evangelism/missions primarily through knowledge and technique • Imitate others because we assume that success was due to technique • Tend to use the technique that worked the first time forever • Often start spiritual, then go secular • Need to seek for God’s strategy before working out our own
Depend on medicine more than on God • Pray fervently when doctors can do no more • Deism influences us to believe that God is basically uncaring • God often work through medicine, but the choice should be His
Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing.
Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing. • Expose yourself to experiences where God’s power is being manifested.
Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing. • Expose yourself to experiences where God’s power is being manifested. • Read New Testament with assumption that same will happen today.
Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing. • Expose yourself to experiences where God’s power is being manifested. • Read New Testament with assumption that same will happen today. • Read books; listen to tapes.
Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing. • Expose yourself to experiences where God’s power is being manifested. • Read New Testament with assumption that same will happen today. • Read books; listen to tapes. • Be willing to consider all possible doctrinal understandings where Scripture allows for other possibilities.
Practice what you learn. • Do not let fear or inadequacy keep you from launching out in authority and power.
Practice what you learn. • Do not let fear or inadequacy keep you from launching out in authority and power. • Be patient with yourself and God.
Practice what you learn. • Do not let fear or inadequacy keep you from launching out in authority and power. • Be patient with yourself and God. • Let God do anything with you He wants.
Reconsider doctrinal understandings where Scripture allows other interpretations. • Practice what you learn. • Do not let fear or inadequacy keep you from launching out in authority and power. • Be patient with yourself and God. • Let God do anything with you He wants. • Doubt your doubts; believe your beliefs.