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church xp, the up-grade - part six, a worldview

Introduction:

What is a “worldview?”  to be honest, the first time I heard of a “worldview” I had no idea what people were talking about.  I though they were crazy; I had no idea what is, or how to “get” one – or even if I wanted one.  “Worldview” sounded like some “crazy new-age thing.”  So, what is a worldview?

In a great book[i] David Frost gives two very interesting concepts of our perception of “space-time.”  One is Panoramic Space-Time (pST) where we see the view of the world “out there” and Imaginary Space-Time[ii] (iST) where we define things based on our view of “in there.”  A “worldview” is a combination of both.  A worldview is a group of presuppositions, boundaries and beliefs that an individual uses to define and form opinions about the world, humanity, life, family, truth, social issues, political issues, religion and so much more.  It is our individual “state of being.”  It is our understanding of truth, morality, purpose and how we interact as individuals in a community.  Because a worldview is the center of our being, it is formed by our environment and defines who we are, more then we define it.  We start to develop our worldview as children.  We based on early worldview on family, friends, interactions with people we live with and strangers.  We base our worldview on how certain people treat us and how they define us.  As we define the relationship between people and things we come to our own place.  When we ask questions, we process the answers based on our worldview; we even base our questions on our worldview.

There is no “one” worldview, meaning not everyone sees the world in the same way.  Since a worldview depends on individual understandings and personal experiences there is no way we can all have “identical” worldviews.  While we may not be able to have identical worldviews, we can have a worldview that has similarities based on similar experiences.

The Relationship of Worldview:

While worldviews are individual, collective worldviews are how we define a worldview.  For example, we can see the world with a “Christian Worldview” and a “Postmodern Worldview.”  We can also combine these to have a “Postmodern Christian Worldview.”  Because we can generalize worldviews we can find certain elements that run through certain worldviews.  What I would like to do is spend time comparing two general worldviews, a Postmodern Christian Worldview (PCW) and a Modern Christian Worldview (MCW) and see how they view the world. 

We are a Christian Nation:  The MCW believes that most Americans believe in the God of Israel.  Because of this, their worldview is based on a certain assumption of Christian morals govern our land and the people in it.  For most with a MCW, America is a nation based on Scripture and blessed by God.  You can see this in the fact that 81% of Americans believes Scripture states, “God helps those who helps themselves[iii].”  Keeping in mind, Thomas Jefferson stated that, and it is not a Biblical statement at all.  The MCW believes more in the constitution then in Scriptures.  A PCW sees things differently.

A PCW assumes we are in a “post-Christian world,” and not all people see God in the same way.  A PCW does not believe all religions believe in the same God, that’s a modern superior assumption based on the belief that all people see God as “our god.”  At most, all we can say is that religions may have developed a different “aspect” of God, but never that all religions teach the “same god.”  That is to say, any worldview that tries to make the God of Muhammad and the God of Christ the same god is trying to be political correct, but is not true to the Scriptural traditions of either religious movement.

There is no need to be totally into God’s Word 24/7:  A MCW believes that one hour on Sunday is enough to get you through the week.  Some may even think they need to come for a mid-week service to get their “boost” for the mid-week slump.  The concept is to get “just enough” of God to get you through the week, and never too much.  Most modern believers do not even bring a Bible to church.  Barna attributes this to the “seeker churches” of the 70’s[iv].  The results, a MCW that does not have a biblical foundation.  I remember when I started in ministry I did a message from “The 2^nd Book of Mathew” and it was a wonderful sermon, filled with wonderful stories and emotion.  People left the church commenting on how that was one of the best sermons they had ever heard.  One people commented, “Preacher, I have heard that Scripture preached before, but never like that!”  The next week I said I wanted to continue in “The 2^nd Book of Matthew” but there was no such book – the following week, every person in the church brought their Bibles and when I mentioned the Scripture, they ALL searched.

A PCW tends to believe that faith is something we live 24/7, and being in God’s Word is very important for our walk in faith.  Who we are on Sunday morning is who we are on Monday morning, and each day of the week.  We live our faith; it guides us, defines us, directs us and motivates us.  A PCW believes God’s Word is central to our walk in faith. While a PCW is very sensitive to a “seeker” we do not believe in ignoring the believer.  Our assumption is this, “If someone is seeking, it is our place to help them find.  If they do not see us, as believers, in God’s Word and Worshiping how do they know where to look?”

Church planting is better then church revitalization:  in a MCW church planting is the big kick.  MCW believes in planting new churches and forgetting about the older churches.  But a PCW sees planting churches as only half the answer.  Most PoMo Churches are being formed as a “Church in a Church.”  That is to say, most PoMo Churches are part of an “Older Church” where there is a “Senior Pastor” of the “Older Church” and a “PoMo Leader of the PoMo Church.”  The beauty of this relationship is that the Older Church gets a new energy and the PoMo Church gets experience and community.

If all we do is “plant new churches” we ignore the older churches.  By ignoring the older churches we are getting out of the loop.  A MCW is to “target your audience” while a PCW is to “audience your target.”  A PCW desire for community and community is people of all ages, colors and ethic backgrounds.  Churches based on a MCW trend to be based on a monoculture; be it Hispanic, European-American, African-American, Asian-American, and others. The MCW is a very homogenizes slice of reality designed for a specific population.  While the MCW is very monocultural in nature a PCW is not designed for everyone.  While a PCW is designed for people with a postmodern understanding of life and pop culture, it tries not to exclude, but that does not mean it tries to please everyone; that’s just impossible.  The bib difference between a MCW and a PCW in style is this – MCW believes they got it right, a PCW believes in a diverse community.  Meaning, if you are not happy in a PoMo Church because of music style or dress, it is not going to change to meet your needs, but it will help you find a church that meets your needs – it’s a kingdom thing, not a church thing.

You are what you do:  For MCW, what you do defines who you are and how you are to act.  My father was a Chef; it defined him and told others how to act towards him.  No matter what he did, he was a chef.  What ever he did he did as a chef.  For example, when I was a kid my father was assigned the office of “cook” on Boy Scout Campouts.  No matter what he wanted to do, he was the cook; after all, he was a chef.  In a PCW who you are is defined by you, and hot what you do, because that changes over time.  I have been a Teacher, Salesman, Executive, Unemployed, Pastor and Webmaster.  I am Farther, Husband, Brother, Son, Nephew, Uncle and so very much more.  PCW does not confine people to a “role” but broadens the reality to a life.  Because of the movement from one reality to another, sometimes over night, we find identity in a multiple-self, not compartmentalized into a neat little box.

To be a Pastor you need advanced education:  I have a MDiv, impressed?  I am a graduate form Drew University (the “Cemetery”) with an advanced degree in Divinity; that and $4.50 will get you a Café Mocha at Starbucks (Venti of course).  In a MCW education is very important; in a PCW educations is just one of many possible elements that create a good pastor.  I know of one church that is 125 years old and very elderly in membership.  They have about 100 members and an average attendance around 60.  They were looking for a “Senior Pastor” and required the person have a Doctorate.  In their mites was a great guy who had a deep call to ministry and was actively serving as “Interim Pastor” while the search committee was looking for a new Senior Pastor.  People loved him, and he loved them.  He was a great Pastor for this group; he fit right in with the crowd.  While he was much younger then the group, he had a deep love and care for them all.  The biggest problem was that he did not have a “degree” at all.  The church overlooked the perfect person, because they desired “a man with an education.”

PCW sees calling as the most important factor in ministry.  If the person has the heart for ministry all else comes second.  One denomination, the Presbyterian Church, requires all ministry candidates to have both Hebrew and Greek – they must speak both languages and write both languages; they must pass a test on both languages before they can be considered for ordination.  When I was in “Cemetery” I had a friend seeking ordination with the PCUSA.  When he asked “why” he was told by one of the members of the “selection committee” that, “If I had to take them, you have to take them.”  His heart was solid for ministry, his love for Christ was wonderful and his love for people was unbelievable – but he could not for the life of him pass Hebrew.  He was rejected for ordination and was not permitted to move forward in the process.  Yet, in a PCW my friend who was pastoring the “elderly” church, finally became their Pastor and the church is growing.  It is growing with elderly people looking for a place of love and care, and the congregation loves their new young pastor.

Defined Boarders:  In a MCW defined boarders are important; compartmentalizing people and places allow them to organize their lives in a linear progression, while a PCW sees things as nonlinear and connective.  In a PCW we are moving from nation to network.  Boarders are giving way to a communal understanding.  Artificial boundaries based on politics or desires are not valid in a PCW.  If all we do is defined by boundaries, we miss looking at the people.  That is why for a PCW the Internet is so very important.

Religion is an important part of life.  For a MCW religion is an important reality.  But in a PCW Spirituality is the way to go, and religion has little or no value.  A PCW sees religion as a way for certain people to gain control over your life; organized religion and denominations have starched the relationship between people and the church.  For a PCW spirituality is very important.  It allows us to interact with each other on a deep level; to be in touch with our spiritual side is important for us to connect with God in a deeper manner.

For most of us with a PCW we have seem religion and religious people destroy people because of what they see and believe.  Organized Denominational religion has been the downfall of the Christian Movement.  Splits have been an active part of the Christian Church for centenaries.  In my hometown over 70% of the churches are from church splits.  History has recorded churches splitting over the color of the church doors, the placement of a heating and cooling system, the placement of a lightening rod, the number of pews, baptism, whether an organ is to be placed in the church, the style of music, and so very much more.

Another reason the PCW sees religion, as a waste of time, is the fact that most churches and ALL, without exception, denominations are operating as a business.  Money has become important to the MCW church.  A good example of this can be found in any of the Wesleyan/Holiness Tradition Denominations.  Each requires their churches to pay an “apportionment” based on either membership or a complex formula based on offering and expenses.  To make matter worse, those who base their income on membership have developed complex rules for removing people from membership rolls.  So, churches with 150 members and only 50 people in attendance must “pay taxes” based on the 150.  When you try to remove people from the list, you are informed that you can not, and must keep them on the books as members. 

A multicultural view of the world around us:  PCW has moved from the monocultural to the multicultural.  If we liken America to a melting pot, the Modern Era has been a cooling down period where “melting” is no longer a happening.  In a PCW melting is truly happening.  The current generation is the most multicultural generation ever.  The PoMo generation is diverse and getting more diverse each and every year.  It has been said that this generation is the most culturally mixed generation ever[v].  This generation develops friends based on common interest and not national origins.  Most denominations deny this fact, while claiming to be a “multicultural denomination.”

All denominations are outside the loop when it comes to understanding a PCW in relationship to multiculturalism.  They believe they are multicultural because they have a “Hispanic” population of a Korean population.  They claim they are open to multiculturalism because they support these groups and help them form churches.  But that is a very MCW when it comes to understanding multiculturalism.  A multicultural MCW is one based on “separate but equal.”  A good example of this can be found in the United Methodist Church in New Jersey.

The UMC in New Jersey, whether it is a written or unwritten policy, will not place a Korean Women Minister in a Korean Church; they will not place a “white” minister in “ethnic” church or any kind; nor will they place a “black” minister in a “other then black” church.  For a church that claims to be diverse and multicultural, it has a history of being very “segregationalist.”  This is just one of the reasons the PCW has a hard time finding voice in a Denomination.

It’s one thing at a time:  A MCW is very linear and unable to multitask.  “One thing at a time” is the mantra of the MCW; get focused, get specialized.  While in a PCW generalization seems to be the order of the day.  PCW is based on multitasking and doing more things at once and doing them well.  In a MCW focusing tries to get all “available” information and base a decision on the information.  While in a PCW decisions are made in relationship of a diverse and complex set of surrounding variables.  While a MCW seems to be focused on doing one thing and doing it right, a PCW seems to allow many things to form and do them all right.  It drives my wife crazy (she has a very MCW) that I listen to TV, read, work on the computer and hold a conversation and I don’t miss a beat; while she needs to go into the room, close the door and sit quietly as she reads a book.

A direct move from the individual to the communal:  MCW encourages a “rugged individualism” among people.  Those who do it alone are placed high on the MCW podium.  Personal rights, personal property, personal goals are the desires of the MCW.  In a PCW life is not lived in a vacuum.  A PCW sees that we live in community; therefore, we must act in community.  Nothing we do is done in a vacuum, everything we do effects another.  While a MCW believes that the individual right of the person is higher then the communal rights of all, a PCW believes just the opposite.  A PCW believes that effecting one person wrongly will effect the whole wrongly.  Nonlinear thinking states that a small change in one thing can cause a large change in another.  Because of this a PCW understands how things are related.

A Christian people are called to live in community.  “Akklesia” is a special word-calling people into a special community on the teachings of Christ[vi].  In the book of Acts we are given a picture of living in community[vii] and the results of not living in community but seeking individual goals[viii].  A MCW does not like the idea of “communal” living or ideas.  This is based on the history of the MCW where “communism” has been seen as an “evil empire.”  While a “Soviet Style Communism” may be evil, a Biblical Communism” can never be seen as evil; it is from God.  In a MCW communal living cannot be a biblical, because of the “Americanization” of the church.  While a PCW is still debating over the concept of living in a true biblical communal lifestyle, one cannot deny the calling to such a lifestyle from scripture. 

A movement from family to tribe:  while this is related to the movement from individual to communal it is closer to the heart for many people to grasp.  Jesus says that for us to truly follow him we must be ready to give up our family and mover to the tribe of the faith.  In a MCW people did everything in connection with family.  Within the concept of a PCW friends are more important then family.  In a PCW water is thicker then blood.  This is due to the fact that we were raised by our friends and not by our families.  Over time we, the PCW generation, have heard that “having an affair was against God’s word” – yet many of those adults we knew, in church, had affairs.  Because of the MCW of individualism people saw this as a “personal right” because “they needed.”  This caused great tensions (small effect causing big problems).  Over time we have heard that divorce was wrong and against God’s will, yet the stats of divorce for those in the church are no different then those outside the church.  This caused those involved in the divorce (the kids) to seek security in the only thing that was not falling apart – friends.  In a PCW parents come and go, but friends stay.

Speed and feedback:  in a PCW speed is very important.  While a MCW tends to take their time and focus on one thing at a time by trying to get all the information needed to make a decision (which is impossible) a PCW wants it now.  Operating at a snails pace drive a PoMo person crazy.  Why send a letter and get to read it in 3 to 5 days, when we can send an email and read it in 3 to 5 seconds.

The MCW lives in the age of TV.  This means they follow the following pattern – 10 to 15 minutes of program and then 2 minutes of commercials.  Everything they do follows this pattern.  Sesame Street is the perfect example of a MCW.  They operate under the pattern of a modern mindset.  While other shows like “Blues Clues” have a different pattern, one of interaction and story.  This is one reason why Sesame Street is declining in viewers while Blues Clues is kicking out all over the place.  A PCW is likened to that of the world of Video Games – on the move and changing on a regular basis.  A video world is based on hectic, chaotic speed – just like life.

Postmodern/Post Christian

There is a point we reach in life when we have more life behind us then we do ahead of us.  When this happens we spend a great deal of time looking backwards, instead of looking forward.  This will happen to us all, no matter who we are and what we see today.  I have likened it to putting the car in drive and driving down the road but only using your rearview mirror; you are guaranteed to get into an accident.  While doing this will assure us of knowing where we’ve been, we have no idea where we are going.  People with a MCW spend their time driving with the rearview mirror. 

The problem with this understanding of the world is it tends to idealize where we’ve been into what never was.  I love listening to people with a MCW who say, “When I was younger life was simpler and safer.  If only we could return to the great days of my youth.”  OK, let’s look at the “great days of your youth.”

The 50’s – segregation, racial tensions, no equal rights and women in the home only.

The 60”s – free love, drugs, riots, exploitation of gender and color.

The 70”s – disco, need I say more?

The 80’s – greed, power, drugs and AIDS –

Most people living with a MCW tend to ignore the bad of the past and only remember the good – a selective worldview.  People with a MCW see America as a “Christian Nation” (I find this to be an oxymoron).  America is not a nation based on Christian teachings of on Christian doctrine.  It is based on personal wealth and individual desires.  Here are some stats for “America the Christian nation.”

81% believe the Bible teaches, “God helps those who help themselves[ix].”

75% do not attend worship at all[x].

55% believe all you need to be is “nice” to get into heaven.

53% believe all religions believe in the same god.

15% attend church on a regular basis.

The average church is America is Elderly, and getting older, mostly female, small (90 members), they use exclusively all hymns and organ music.  It has more years behind them then in front of them.  This does not define a “Christian Nation.”  So, how do we change this in a postmodern world?  The first thing we need to do is “go.”

Go

“Go into the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit[xi].”  What I like best about this command is that it says, “go.”  It does not say, “send others” or “send money” or “send professionals” it says “go;” move, get off the duff and go.  According to Barna almost 25% of Americans claim to have a “worldview[xii].”  As Barna states, “The research suggest that most people’s worldview is little more then a collection of fragmented ideas and mindlessly adopted from pop culture.”

50% listen to preaching

33% read the bible

10% study the bible weekly

4% memorize a bible verse weekly

2% do all four

Many with a MCW claim to know what’s happening; yet they are lost in their own limitations and a strong desire not to go.  I believe this is because they have no idea how to go, and they do not have the fuel to go.  In a PCW faith is a faith of action, of direct experience.  Mission work done by others is fine, but a PCW demands to be an active part of that mission outreach.  A church looking to get connected with a PCW needs to offer not only a way for people to support mission works with a checkbook, but also a way for people to do mission work via a date book.  A PCW believes that the world can change, but only when we change it.  We need to have an active hand in developing change.  You ability to reach beyond self and into the community around is key to developing a PCW.  Here is how a church can “go.”

Problem:  Did you know, according to the US Department of Education 54% of all adults are functionally or marginally illiterate?  If we can say that about adults, what do you think the stats are for children?

Go:  Why not change Sunday school back into what it was intended for in the beginning, to teach people how to read and write?  Why not create a program in the church to reach people to read?

Problem:  With 35 million people (and growing) who do not speak English, what’s a church to do?

God:  Why not offer a class on speaking English?  I know a church in Vegas where they teach people to teach Spanish.  One of my friends lives in the local community says, “We know how to speak Spanish, we need to learn English.”

Problem:  I know of several churches with signs that read, “No skateboards allowed on church property.”  How welcoming is that sign for the youth in your community?

Go:  Why not build and offer a skateboard park for the youth in the community?  Why not have a place where the youth of the community can bring their boards and have them repaired?  How about sponsoring a few local youth to compete?

Problem:  Employment among youth is high, and it’s hard for a youth to find work if they have no work history.

Go:  Why not build a “coffee shop” where you hire the local youth in the community and give them work experience.  Why not expand the concept and hire adults who are recovering and in need of work?

In order to truly “go” in a PCW you need to remember that “go” is a verb, and all verbs are action words.  “Go” in a PCW means to get out and do, not just talk about the possibilities.  In a PCW there are not “they’” there is only “us” and “we” – and we need to get off the stick and get into the world we live in.   Besides having a “go” thought you need to think green.

Think Green:

When I say “think green” to a person with a MCW they think “money,” “profit.”  While those with a PCW know I am talking about the environment.  Nothing drives me crazier then watching people drive down the road and through garbage out the window.  People who through cigarettes truly get under my skin.  I remember once riding down the road when the person tossed out a cigarette out the window and it landed in my lap.  At the next light I pulled up next to the driver and gave it back, I told him I did not smoke.  Drive down any street in America, rural, urban, or suburban and see for yourself – the roads are filled with garbage.  Paper, plastic and glass litter our streets and neighborhoods.   Drive down any highway in the Southwest and look on the side of the road – notice all the pretty glittery rocks?  They have a technical name – “broken beer bottles.”  A PCW thinks green and acts green.  Here are some ways you can be green:

Offer a place at the church for people to bring recyclable waste.  While many cities offer a recycling program why not have the church be an apex in this drive.  Everyone in the community will know who you are and where you are located.

Have a “recycle the bulletin” can at the church so people can drop off the bulletin after the service.  Let’s be honest, people never read them anyway.

Recycle in house.  Before I became a minister I was an Executive with the Boy Scouts.  We had this great program concerning used paper.  Once a week we would collect all the extra flyers and other single sided paper and bring them to the “Print Services” center.  The women who ran the center would cut and glue all the paper and make note pads for the entire Executive Staff to use.  Your church could do the same.

Have a “zero water” landscaping.  I will admit this is easier in some areas of the country then in other – but make the effort.  Plant native plants that will need only the normal rain fall to grow. 

Encourage carpooling, bike riding, mass transit and walking in the church.  Why drive, if you can walk?

Encourage the members of the church to have a deep respect for God’s creation.  By our being green we develop a desire among others to be green.  In a PCW stewardship goes deeper then money and into the desire to keep God’s world a safe and beautiful place to live.  While PCW is green, it is not fanatic.  We worship God and respect his creation and not respect God and worship his creation. 

Two Sides:

In a PCW we accept that fact that people suffer, when asked “why;”  “Why all the suffering?”  Why all the evil?” people with a MCW get confused and start to make excuses.  When people with a MCW ask, “Why Hitler?”  People with a PCW ask, “Why Mother Theresa?”  You see, a PCW accepts that people are naturally evil and cruel.  We know this because history has proven it over and over again.  We don’t ask why all the evil, but we do ponder why any of the good.

Asking the question “why did God let this happen” shows a desire to cast blame, and not a desire to stand blamed.  A PCW see it as lip service for the copout mind of a MCW.  A MCW blames others for the problems of the world, and then if blame can not be placed on others they try to blame God.  “Why did God allow the drunk driver to kill my child?”  How about looking at the truth, “Why did this drunk get behind the wheel of the car and why didn’t anyone try to stop him?”  I believe it goes back to the MCW of individualism – “it’s not my place to stop him, he has the right to drive.”  You see, we desire to blame God for our mistakes and we refuse to take the blame ourselves.    A PCW sees things differently.  We accept the fact that evil and evil people exist.  Evil is a choice people make.  People can either follow God or follow evil.  It is not that God let’s evil happen; it is that we, as people, perform evil on others, we allow evil to happen.

The importance of a Worldview:

If we truly desire to reach the unchurched and dechurched we need to live a life that is based on the teachings of Christ.  With a PCW we can minister to people and show that a relationship with Jesus Christ truly is different then the world around us.  Studies have show that between the MCW and the Secular Worldview there is no different.  This could be the underlining reason why people with a MCW believe the nation is a Christian Nation – because they see nothing different between what they believe and what a secular world believes.

John O’Keefe is the founder of www.ginkworld.net.  John sees a desperate need for the church as a whole to change and reach a new people for Christ.  He is straightforward, honest and calls it the way it he sees it.  John is a graduate of Drew and has been a Senior Pastor and Church Planter