Worldviews and "Hi, Dell! It's me again..."

My church started a new Sunday School series on worldviews. Ever since this series was announced three or so weeks beforehand, I have been looking forward to it. The first week was an explanation of what a worldview even was, and I was glad to know I was pretty much correct in my thinking. (/end blatant pride/) Everyone has a worldview. Christians and Non-Christians. Everyone. Even if they don't acknowledge it, it doesn't mean it ain't there. It causes all the things you look at the be seen through certain lenses. (Going from my notes here) Each individual holds to their worldview system more or less consciously, and more or less consistently. If we're not careful about the worldview we come to hold to, we'll be influenced and/or blinded by things that are not true. I'm not going to reiterate the entire class, because I'll just end up managing to word wrongly my notes.

However, one thing I'd like to share is Mr. F's reasoning behind studying things we (as Protestant Christians) do not believe. I have had a strong interest in religion, cults and the occult for a while but always tried to blow it off as "bad." Recently I came to an almost snapping point about not knowing why I care about what I believe. I know why, however, not knowing what is out there made me feel ignorant and my faith felt weak. I was fairly confident what I knew to be true was true, very confident, in fact. But taking everyone's "Oh, Christianity is the only religion where man cannot save Himself from the problem of sin" at face value crushed my confidence. My mother has told me that my confidence comes in that Christ loved me enough to die for me, so really? I have no better reason for confidence, and at the same time, no better reason for humility. But although I was confident in Christ being truth, I had this smidgen of a doubt that I needed to look deeper into other things to truly appreciate what I believe. Some people might give the "bankers don't look at counterfeit money to know it's real" argument, something I didn't know how to refute. Due to this, I kept my study (via my sister's Bible College books) private.

Mr. F's answers to "Why study?" question were wonderful, and presented the perfect wording for the reasoning I couldn't quite pinpoint. I'm not including all the parts from my notes here, just some highlights. My notes are also in outline format:

Q: Why bother studying things we don't believe?
A:
-We're looking for error. For why it's so wrong and so dangerous and to be more discerning and caring to others we minister to.
- NOT studying to find the truth in each religion; each religion has a grain of truth the Devil twists into half-truths for his deception. Not using these twisted truths to find God's divine, pure truth. That would be silly.
- Looking at these things only to gain discernment, not to find Truth. Discernment is so critical, because of the web of confusion this world is. We're thrown into a whirlpool of conflicting ideas.

A: To be better equipped to share the Gospel with any person:
- It's a matter of commission
*We want to be effective with the Gosoel in this world and need to know where people are coming from; be able to understand on some surface level of what people believe.
*Unless we know what they mean, when they use the Bible we'll be swept away in what seems to be a good argument.
- It's a matter of compassion
*Letting people believe what they want to believe is not loving them. Eternity is at stake according to our worldview. Hell and Heaven wait in the afterlife. Unless we are reconciled to God, we're going to Hell. We may be accused of being dogmatic, judgmental, but what is it? Love and compassion.
*Not studying to nail people better, but to help them.
- It's a matter of communication
*Language is really misunderstood. Others borrow our language to explain their truths.
*In Athens, Paul used what he understood of what they believed as a bridge.
- It's a matter of contentment.
*They're alienated by God and we'll only be satisfied as we worship Him.

A: (This is the one that applied strongest to me) To grow in appreciation for the truthfulness and beauty of our faith.
- TRUE truth has one ultimate source: God's word.
* It is discovered, not developed. Always want to draw out from the Bible, never make up something new.
- It is not dependent on man's fallible ideas
* People mess up.
*Never get to the point where we trust ourselves and trust men.
*Every man will fail you.
*His Truth stands firm and His word is sure.
- Truth is livable, consistent and factual.

That's really all I have to say on this topic. As I have rambled on long enough.... :) Though if anyone has interest in my notes, lemme know and I'll send them to you.

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As for other more recent, life-updates. I realized on Sunday (while I was taking notes for week two of this class) that my lappy has a crack in the upper lefthand corner of the framing around the screen. Guess what that means! I've been putting off contacting Dell all day, kind of dreading pestering them again. I feel a bit nitpicky, but we paid big bucks for the warranty I have and darn it I will get the money's worth! As of now I have had my keyboard, touchpad, motherboard and casing replaced on my computer since I got it in Spring of '09. Yep. Oh, and my little disc drive...thing. In my defense, none of this was consciously my fault. I strive to take care of my lappy...I just....use it a lot. Still looking for a decal, btw due to replaced casing. Hehe.

Also hoping to be writing a plethora of anime reviews when such shows come to an end in a few weeks. But who knows...feedback would be appreciated though. :)