Paradigm shift

I highly recommend the purchase of Ken Boa’s book, Conformed to His Image; Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation [Amazon] [Christian Book Discount]. You can listen to Dr. Boa teach on this aspect of this book at Bible.org. [For other articles and audio by Ken Boa seach under articles by author; you can also access more at his web site, www.kenboa.org] Beginning on page 55, he introduces facet 2, Paradigm Spirituality, Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal Perspective. This section contrasts the temporal and eternal value systems and emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift from a cultural to a biblical way of seeing life. The experience of our mortality can help us transfer our hope from the seen to the unseen and realize the preciousness of present opportunities. Our presuppositions shape our perspective, our perspective shapes our priorities, and our priorities shape our practice.
A paradigm is a way of seeing, based on implicit or explicit rules that shape one’s perspective. A paradigm shift takes place when the rules or boundaries change, so that we no longer see things from the same perspective; when the rules change, our way of seeing is altered. Take for example what happened in the Copernican paradigm shift when Ptolomy’s geocentric (the solar system revolves around the earth) shifted to a heliocentric view (the solar system revolves around the sun.). In a similar paradigm shift, the early theory of atomic structure y Neils Bohr, was eventually replaced by quantum theory. In each case, the paradigm shift required a shift in thinking that aligned with reality. See Thomas S. Kuhn’s work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions [Resource1; Resource2; Resource3] Developing a Christian mind requires a paradigm shift to bring my life into alignment with God’s reality formed by the truth of His Word and my focused trust in Him and the reality that He paints for us in His truth.
Do we really believe that the values of this world should define our existence or can we fully embrace God’s eternal perspective and trust that what he offers is our highest calling and that end the end it will be worth it all.
Read again the testimonies of those in God’s Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
(Heb 11:1-3)
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned[f] ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
(Heb 11:36-40)

The Apostle John gives this warning to challenge us to make a complete paradigm shift:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and doesnot from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
(1Jn 2:15-17)

James gives this prophetic warning and challenge to make a shift in our pardigm perspective:


What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." [see Proverbs 3:34]
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(Jas 4:1-10)

Peter puts temporal and eternal dimensions (or paradigm thinking) into perspective when he says and addresses the primary purpose when it comes to thinking prophetically:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
(2Pe 3:10-14) [I plan to spend time in 2 Peter, Lord willing, the Fall of 2009]

Take the following verses and put them on a 3x5 card. Keep it in your pocket, on your mirror, on your desk and take a look at it several times throughout the day and see if you can keep making the paradigm shift to align your thinking with the reality of how God hapes His world and see if your heart can be conformed to be in harmony with His heart.

I realize that all of my preaching will fall on resistant ears if you have not made the approprite paradigm shift. We are seeking to shift our hearts so that they conform to God’s reality. When I challenge you to think and live as one whose life has been placed “in Christ.” does that reality sink in so that you can make the paradigm shift in your thinking and the reality of union with Christ and all that he brings to your life transformation now defines the reality by which you live?

Ken Boa concludes his chapters on Paradigm Thinking with some provocactive questions:
1. If you knew you had only one more year to live, how would you spend your time, and how would this differ from the way you are presently spending your time?
2. To what degree ar you aware of your mortality in your feelings and experience? Why is it helpful to cultivate this awareness?
3. What are the implications in your life and thinking of a temporal versus an eternal perspective? Do you sense yourself being pulled in both directions?
4. How does this affect your value system?
5. If you were granted two hundred years of healthy life on this planet, how would you invest them? What would you seek to achieve with this addititional time and opportunity? How does this relate to your view of activity in heaven?
6. What can you do to move further in the direction of treasuring the unseen and eternal above the visible and temporal?
7. What are your fundamental presuppositions about life, and how do these shape your perspective and priorities?
8. To what extent does your practice reveal your true priorities versus your professed priorities?

Key thought: Your presuppositions will shape your perspective, your perspective will shape your priorities, and your priorities will shape your practice.

Poured out like a drink-offering

Yesterday, in the passage for my message, Philippians 2:12-18, My eyes focused on Paul’s statement in verse 17, But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Am I ready to be poured out like a drink offering? It is easy to think so if things turn out ok, the cancer in my brain is restrained or diminished. But what if it isn’t. Right now, other than frequent tiredness and occasional headaches, I am feeling healthy and vibrant. The tiredness is not debilitating. I am able to carry out my full responsibilities at church and home. The headaches seem to be related to bright lights. But what if the cancer returns and I find myself facing excruciating headaches or other very painful reactions? I have been at the bedside of those in that circumstance when they have told me that they had thoughts that they never would have had. I hope to be faithful to the end but I have never walked this road before.

so what is a drink offering? A drink offering was wine poured out on a sacrificial altar in combination with other offerings.
Paul uses this sacrificial idea also in 1 Timothy 4:5-8. You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. 7 I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. A drink offering was a symbolic way of illustrating total heart dedication.

Paul is reminding the Philippians that whatever sacrifice occurs on his part, whether physical suffering or death, it is all worthwhile because it is their faith being evidenced and exercised as an offering to God. Paul’s drink offering is his willing sacrifice on their behalf. Paul has learned the essence of Jesus’ earthy ministry, for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Selflessness is the essence of what God’s kind of love is all about. Being poured out like a drink offering is a way of saying, God my life is at your disposal. Whatever you choose to do with me to accomplish your purposes, I am available and willing to be an offering to accomplish those purposes for your honor and to benefit others. If my departure is for your good, then my joy is complete. Paul is appealing to the Philippians to carry on regardless of his outcome. So you too, my fellow members of the Southwood community, rejoice over what God is doing in our midst. I would like this to turn out that I have many more years to take care of my family and many more years of ministry. I have so much yet to do. more people to reach with the good news of the Gospel. More people to encourage with the grace of God. so much more to do with my family. As good as heaven is, right now, I would prefer to finish more work on earth. I know heaven will be great, but I can’t think about rejoicing in heaven while I know my family will be3 greaving on earth. My confidence is still in the goodness of God who always does right.
So my fellow believers at Southwood, keep pressing on, taking God at His Word; trusting in the truth and reality spelled out in His Word and not your feelings and circumstances. Continue to build a solid biblically-minded community and let our area know that this is a place for them to find God’s answers to living out His joy. My life has and will continue to be offered so that this can happen. So, let’s press on for His honor and glory.

Example of Humility

This morning I shared an illustration from book, How Starbucks Saved My Life, by Michael Gates Gill. This is a touching and impressive story of a man who was born to privilege learned humility. The subtitle is, "Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else." [Amazon copy] For those of you in my local south Jersey area, I found several copies in our local libraries. [Google Books copy] This story is a good illustration to connect to Philippians 2:5-11. For anyone in local church ministry, you may find some of the Starbucks principles application to caring for "guests" to your ministry as well as how to relate to each other in the ministry, especially an attitude of respect for both guests and "partners" (employees. You might also check out Leonard Sweet's book, The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion. [Amazon copy]

For some video interviews of Michael Gates Gill, check out these YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjn-fd-Sz-c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBvW2Uuph9g


Interview at: Authors@Google