Think Like Jesus: Make the Right Decision Every Time
Introduction
George’s Conversation with Bill
What is a Christian?
“So, you’re like, uh… a Christian, huh?” (Bill’s question to George.)
“Yeah, my faith has become the focal point of my life.” (George’s answer)
“Hey, well, I’m a Christian, too.” Bill proclaimed…”I mean I don’t go to church and all, but I was raised as a Christian and went when I was a kid. But I don’t really believe in God anymore.” (Pg. xi)
What does it mean to be a Christian?
How do you suppose someone could say he is a Christian and yet not believe in God “anymore”?
The Basis of Right and Wrong
I asked him if, without God, he thought there are moral absolutes, ways of distinguishing right from wrong. (George)
“Of course,” he guffawed, aghast that I might think he was a moral anarchist. “You don’t need God to know there have to be limits. I live a good, moral life, and I teach these values to my daughter.” (Bill)
“But if there is no God, then what is the basis of right and wrong in your belief system?” I asked, hoping he might begin to see the problem with his position. (George) (Pg. xiii)
What is the basis of right and wrong if there is not God?
Do you believe there ARE moral absolutes, realities which are always right or always wrong? Why or why not?
Bill’s sources of moral authority were: feelings, experience, movies and television. Why do you think these are sufficient or insufficient?
The Bible, a Source of Moral Truth?
I guess what you’re really addressing has to do with truth, don’t you think? Is there a source of moral truth? When you were growing up, in your church, you probably heard that the Bible is the source of all moral truth. Does the Bible fit into your thinking at all? (George to Bill) (Pg. xiv)
What role does the Bible play in establishing moral truth?
What impact does the Bible have in our society, if it is generally not accepted to be “true”?
The Purpose of Life
“So if the Bible does not provide you with moral absolutes, and its content is not accurate and reliable, then how do you figure out the meaning and purpose of life?” (George to Bill, p. xv)
How would you answer this question—IF the Bible doesn’t provide moral absolutes, and IF it content is not accurate and reliable—then how DOES one figure out the meaning and purpose of life?
A Basic Statement of Faith
I went on to share what amounts to my basic statement of faith. (George) (Pg. xvi)
What is your “basic statement of faith.”
The Implications of the Conversation
But the experience also drove home several points for me. For instance:
- Everyone has a worldview. Relatively few have a coherent worldview or are able to articulate it clearly.
- Most people don’t consider their worldview to be a central, defining element in their life, although it is.
- People spend surprisingly little time intentionally considering and developing their worldview. More often than not, their worldview development process is one of unconscious evolution and acceptance. They allow it to evolve and sum it up this way: “Whatever.”
- Americans rarely interact with each other on a substantive level regarding matters and issues that relate to worldview development and clarification. When they do so, they often do not know how to process the interaction or how to progress from their existing position. (Pps. xviii-xix)
What responses do you have to the four implications about worldview stated by George Barna as a result of his conversation with Bill?
Your Worldview
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being high and 1 being low), how would you rate your confidence in your ability to express your worldview to another?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are the identifying components of your worldview right now?
FOR NEXT WEEK: Read Chapter 1, pages 3-17 in Think Like Jesus