Monday, April 11, 2016

Vertical Worldview and Horizontal Worldview

The word 'worldview' has been on my mind lately. When I watch the crazy political cycle going on  all around, I cannot help but wonder why there are so many different perceptions that exist seemingly everywhere. Why can't anyone seem to agree on solutions to ever-growing problems? There just don't seem to be any answers that everybody can agree on. Part of it is due to the self-ideation of leadership and that a good percentage of the the rest of the people passively accept everything that sounds good that comes down the tube (or rather cyber wires) these days.

One day this winter I was walking by a small lake in our neighborhood.  The ice on the lake had not frozen all the way to cover the lake and the birds were sitting around on the ice. There must have been over 200 geese. There is a sign by the lake that says "Do Not Feed the Ducks".  If people start feeding the birds they never migrate; they just hang around. They quickly become dependent on handouts. In some minds it may seem kind to feed animals, but it is not.  Birds get a far more nutritious diet in their flyways, moving around going abut their business. The same principle applies to humans. Our culture, however, disagrees on what is good and what is not good for people.



God created the universe, He will provide. Our country is not a theocracy, but our founders were aware of how God had provided for them and set up our government to empower people in the pursuit of happiness and that He gave them certain inalienable rights. Powerlessness doesn't come from God. The stuff that is going on now is ridiculous!

There are basically two ways to look at the world, either vertically or horizontally. Vertical worldview involves looking up and a horizontal worldview involves ground level. Colossians 3:1-9 reflect both world views.

3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
Obviously, these verses represent a vertical viewpoint. The great thing about looking up is what it does to ones mind and the reflective power from on high that energizes back to the heart. It is amazing how it transforms a person.

On the other hand, verses 5-9 represent the engulfing quicksand of living at the surface.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:5-9)
These attributes do nothing but drag us through the mud. When the pundits talk about the electorate being angry, it explains the crazy behavior we see all around us. Just because chaos exists doesn't mean there is nothing we can do. There's a lot that can be done, but the first direction our thoughts should go are up. God created the universe. He is going to have the right answers. It is going to take men and women who know God to set things in order. There are discrepancies in worldview so that is not going to be easy. We should not be fooled by political sermons and rhetoric even when God is mentioned. Corruptness abounds at ground level.

People who love God and abide in Christ are the elect of God. (Colossians 3:12) That election has been won forever. That gives us peace and cause for thankfulness (Colossians 3:15).




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