II. WORLDVIEW INFLUENCES VIEW OF SUPERNATURAL

1. II. WORLDVIEW INFLUENCES VIEW OF SUPERNATURAL

2. A. Reasons why people disbelieve in supernatural work of the Spirit • They have not seen it personally

3. 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

4. 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

5. ALL these reasons are based on LACK of experience or NEGATIVE experience.

6. B. Influence of Worldview • Worldview – the system of accepted truths, or assumptions, that shapes one’s values, perceptions, and behaviors.

7. 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)

8. 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

9. The Minister and Worldview

10. 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

11. Effects of Worldview • Worldview influences beliefs, values, and behaviors. • Different worldview assumptions lead to different conclusions. • Acts 14:8-18 • Acts 28:1-6

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.”

16. Differing Views of Reality • “My view is the right one—same as God’s.” • Any view is valid, if sincere.

17. 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

18. 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

19. We see what we are taught to see. • We are taught to interpret in culturally approved ways, and we are rewarded when we conform.

20. 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).

21. 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.

22. Personality or Temperament • Views are affected by • motivation • degree of openness • conservative or liberal stance • tendency to optimism or pessimism

23. Our Will • We choose to view as we have been taught • When our view is challenged, we • Reconsider our position • OR Remain unchanged

24. Sin Factor • Affects every aspect of how we perceive and respond to glimpses of REALITY • Manifests in rebellion, unholy motives, or confusion

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing.

34. Steps to Positive Change • Be sure you are willing. • Expose yourself to experiences where God’s power is being manifested.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. Practice what you learn.

39. Practice what you learn. • Do not let fear or inadequacy keep you from launching out in authority and power.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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.