Learn to Apply Your Christian Worldview

We all have a lens through which we see the world. This doesn't mean that reality is subjective. It means that we have a way we interpret reality and answer life's big questions. Whether we know it or not and whether we are consistent or not, we apply our worldview to help us understand the world, ourselves, and questions of meaning. Thus, we must get a better handle on the biblical outlook on life and work to apply that worldview consistently to news, entertainment, ethical issues, and our goals.

Work on thinking biblically about all of life this summer. When the Fall semester flurry of activity begins, you will be hit with all sorts of news, information, ethical claims, and temptations towards folly. Now, not in the midst of the storm, is the time to prepare.

Let me encourage you to consider a few "daily" resources to assist you in that.

Christian music that focuses your mind on truth.

Music (and arts) can profoundly shape how we view the world. This is good when they align with truth and not good when they align with worldly philosophies. So, find some good Christian music to tune your heart to see the world and God's kingdom as it is. A few suggested artists: Sovereign Grace Music, Gray Havens (for those who like folksy music), City Alight, Shane and Shane, Matt Boswell, and many more.

News from a Christian worldview.

Mainstream media seems like propaganda for the respective sides in the cultural war. I found the World News Group, specifically their podcast "The World and Everything in It," to offer meaningful news from a biblical worldview and absent all the hysterics. Al Mohler's podcast "The Briefing" also covers news from a Christian worldview (but he generally covers a few topics from the headlines rather than being a complete news service).

And the most essential resource - The Bible.

Read your Bible daily and let its truth renew your thinking, priorities, and interpretations of life. Think about how what you read applies to your life, explains the world around you, and directs your ethics, goals, and priorities. The Bible shapes how a citizen of God's Kingdom sees the world.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

This Summer: Pick a Fight with Your Sinful Tendencies

This is part of the series "Summer is a Stewardship."

Introductory post,
First post.

Pick a Fight with Your Sinful Tendencies

Our ultimate goal is to love God more and look more like our Savior. Unfortunately, our sin gets in the way of these desires by clouding our vision of God and causing us to not live in line with our new identity. Thus, every Christian wants to put his or her sin to death (John 14:21). We sin, but we hate it and repent of it.

So, pick a fight with at least one of your sinful tendencies this summer.

Confession and Repentance

The first step in initiating the fight is to call the sin out and side with God against it. This is confessing (that is, agreeing with God that it is wrong, foolish, and terrible). The second step is to ask God to help you fight the sin. The third step is to repent of it. This is to actively turn away from the sin and what tempts you towards it. It involves not just changes in action but in your heart. To help you do this, you might listen to this sermon by Bruce Ware on how a renewed affection for God pushes out old affections for sin. Or you could read Thomas Chalmer's sermon "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" (click here for a pdf version for free, or buy a book version from the bookcase in the fellowship hall). Finally, part of repentance involves finding biblical truth that replaces the wrong thinking and desires and memorizing it. If you need help with this, enlist the help of a Christian friend.

Develop New Habits

One more thing that will help in this fight. Begin new habits that will help you. Our habits are the things we do without much thought because it is what we've always done. This can be good when the habit helps you pursue Christ (for example, daily Bible reading). But, when it is something that often opens the door for sin (like laziness, overindulgence in entertainment, or checking social media incessantly), that habit hinders godliness. What habits are not helping you put on Christlike thinking and living? What habits are making provision for your enemy? "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14). Developing habits takes time and consistency. Ask a friend to keep you accountable and find a way to track how you are doing in developing the new habit.

Fight While You Have Time

So, you should fight sin vigorously this summer. Don't struggle through the summer and come back expecting to not struggle when school starts. The reality is you will likely still struggle and be pressed for time when the semester begins. And you need time to think and develop godly plans and habits. So, pick a fight with one of your sinful tendencies this summer.