Christians must listen to the Word of God, of course, pay attention, follow it and absorb it, listen to the voices of the world that rival the Word can cause us problems, but in another sense, we need to hear what the world is. Being careful can help us avoid the world’s mistakes and make us more effective witnesses and evangelists.
Does the Bible praise King David’s allies of the Isachar tribe as “men who understood the times to know what Israel should do”?(1 Chronicles 12:32). These men did not defend the attitude of keeping pace, as the false prophets of Israel’s apostasy later did. Previously, isachar’s men understood the times, including undoubtedly the fascination with Canaanite idolatry during this time, an understanding that helped Israel remain faithful.
- An important reason to listen to the world is to recognize the false philosophies and visions of the world.
- So that our Christian faith is not contaminated.
- For example.
- One of the assumptions that governs today’s world is progressism.
- Does this vision take on what it is? It’s always better than the “old.
- “As a result.
- Progressive educators tend to cut or attack our heritage of old books and ideas in favor of “new ideas.
- ” “latest developments.
- ” and “cutting-edge thinking.
- “.
Such language attracts many of us, because we are, like it or not, inhabitants of our culture. But among the old ideas, is progressiveism useless for Christianity and belief in progress?That things are improving than “darkness”? It is one of the main ways to eliminate Christianity from society.
If we listen carefully to the progressives, we will observe the syndrome faced by the Apostle Paul in the intellectual center of Athens: “All the Athenians and foreigners who lived there have only taken care to speak or hear the latest news” (Acts 17). : 21). We will also look at the marks of Darwinism, the notion that we are still evolving at a higher level.
Believers, having examined the source, notice the errors. Advances in science and technology are real, but they are based on the truths of the past, not rejecting them. There is no need to reinvent computers to keep improving; innovations expand what they have already done. Knowledge accumulates, so it can be increased. Scientists and engineers know this, but artists, writers and philosophers try to start from scratch in the human sphere. So they’re not really making progress?
The point is: Christians, who have no patience with Darwinian materialism, generally seem more progressive than more fervent evolutionists. Are you looking? New? Theologies?New forms of worship and? New? Willing to get rid of a whole Christian legacy of “old age. “Such a way of thinking is the result of a lack of understanding of the times in which we live.
Pragmatism is another non-Christian philosophy that has made its way into the Church. From the point of view that we are unable to know what is true and good, according to pragmatic philosophers, should we simply do?In material terms. This is an important aspect of American philosophy, from modernist John Dewey, with his atheism and socialism, to postmodernist Richard Rorty, with his left-wing relativism and politics. Few Christians would agree with these philosophers if they listened to them, however, simplified. Pragmatism can be heard constantly in church assemblies, church growth seminaries and pastors’ books. What’s working? Increasing church attendance, attracting non-Christians, raising more money, or achieving a new goal can nullify all theological, historical, and biblical considerations.
Scripture gives us one more reason to listen attentively to the world: “Who responds before listening?” said Solomon, “Do you do silly things and be ashamed?”(Proverbs 18:13). When we evangelize non-believers, should we listen to them? So that the answers we give as Christians will solve their questions and answer the questions they struggle with.
In many conversations, Christians and non-Christians follow a dialogue of the deaf. The Christian may have memorized the vain gospel words, while the person who hears the testimony tries to understand why God allowed his mother to die of cancer. initiate a political discussion, while the Christian raises spiritual questions. In apologetic, we generally give a rational argument about Christianity to postmoderninists who reject reason. The church usually addresses problems only after culture has evolved. Churches trying to reach out to young folk and pop music when their young people reject these styles in favor of rock and rap.
If we were to listen first to those we are trying to reach, we would avoid superficial, prefabricated, and impersonal responses, but we can approach them in a personal, authentic, soul-to-soul way, if they really feel heard, they may listen. You’ll feel like we’ve earned the right to be heard.
We can listen superficially, listen to their vile and violent music only to condemn and judge them, or we can listen deeply and see why this music is so aggressive. As Mary Eberstadt explains, many of them are linked to abandonment, especially by a father. For the same reason, the person who suffers the death of his mother not only asks for an abstract dissertation in theodire (a defense of God’s goodness and power against the existence of evil); Perhaps it is rather an opportunity to familiarize him with the same Jesus who dies, assuming upon himself all death, including that of his mother, and defeating her with his resurrection. Pragmatic avid abstraction can be returned to the God who has incarnated himself. I can agree with the relativists that only the world does not give us a basis for universal truth, but then we present the Way, Truth, and Life to them.
If we listen attentively to the world and to those trapped in the world, with its futility and sin, we can hear the cry of the lost behind the cacophony of false ideas and distorted worldviews, which is capable of provoking our empathy and compassion in this regard. so that we can effectively do what the Apostle calls us to do: “On the contrary, he sanctifies Christ as Lord in our hearts. Are you always willing to answer anyone who asks you the reason for the hope in you?”(1 Peter 3:15).