2 Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship...
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Transcript of 2 Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship...
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• YouhavelivedinsouthernCaliforniaallyourlife.Yourgreat-grandparentsmovedtherefromKoreain1902.
• Thoughithasbeenmoredifficultinrecentyears,yourfamilyhasremainedBuddhistthroughthegenerationslivinginAmerica.
• Youareshyandstrugglemeetingnewpeople.
• Youhavetwochildrenandspendalotoftimetakingthemtogymnastics(daughter),soccer(son)and“Ko-reanSchool”(wheretheylearntheKoreanlanguageandculturetwoafternoons/weekandeveryotherSaturday).
• Youhaveastrongreverence(almostfear)ofyourhusband.
• Yourfamilyhasbeenreligiousthroughtheyearsbutyouarebeginningtobecomea“secularBuddhist,”eventhoughyoustillmaintainabutsudan(“godshelf”onwhichyougiveofferings).
Najee (age 42)
Buddhist People with this worldview may have tendencies:
→ tofollowsetBuddhisttraditionsoflifeanddeath–thelatterespeciallyundertheguidanceoftheBuddhistpriest
→ topray–oftenwiththeaidofastringofbeadsoraprayerwheel(inTheravadaBuddhism,mostlyinSEAsia),repeatingthenameoftheBuddha
→ tolivewithaconsciousawarenessofthetran-sienceoflifeandthepresenceofdeath
→ toseeselfaslessimportantthangroup,andnatureasmorepowerfulthanself
→ toattempttoliveingreaterharmonywithnatureandothers
→ toliveaccordingtothevariousteachingsandcommandsofBuddha[tothedegreethattheyareknown!]
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youareanintellectualpersonandanavidreader.Youhavereadextensivelyaboutphilosophyandreligion,andevenminoredinreligionincollege.
• Youtriedprayingbeforeyourparents’divorce,butsinceitdidn’twork,youbegantowonderifthereevenisaGod.
• Whileyoufindreligioninteresting,youthinkitisprob-ablyaman-madecrutchforpeoplewhocan’tfacetheharshrealitiesoflife.
• Thoughyouareanicepersongenerally,youdon’tlikebeingpushedbythosewhoarevocalandaggressiveabouttheirreligion,andcanreactstrongly.
• Youregularlyenjoydebateswithcolleaguesandrarelylose.
→ toemphasizethattheycannotknowwhetherGodexistsratherthanwhethertheybelieveinHimornot.
→ tobereadyforafightortrulybeexperiencinganeedtoknowmore.(Don’tjumptoconclusions!SeeingsomeoneexpressinginnaturalwaysthatGodhasgiventhempeace,etc.,couldbringonetorealizethatmaybeGoddoesexist.)
→ todesire“totrulyknowthetruth”andthereforecanbeopentohearingrationalargumentsthatmakesensetothem.
→ tobecommittedtoaccuracy.IftheycanbeshownlogicallythattheirbeliefthatGodisunknowableisinaccurate,theymayreconsider—ifnotatthemoment,atleastwhentheyarealone.
Renata (age 29)
Agnostic People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• YoumovedtotheU.S.A.toattendSUNYinbioengi-neering.Youmovedrightintotheirgraduateprogram,switchingcampusesandthenlandedajobatBiotechinNewCumberland,PA.
• YoumissyourfamilyinWestAfricadearly,butareconvincedthathavingthisjobandsendingmoneybacktothemisyoursacredresponsibility—especiallysinceTabye,thelocaltreegodtoldyoutocometoAmericawhenlightningstruckthegreattreeoutsideyourvil-lage.
• Sincechildhoodyouhavelovedtorun.Youaremakingquiteanameforyourselfnowintheamateurrunningcircuit,havingplacedinthetopteninyourlastseveral10kraces.
• Themeninyourrunningclubareshowingyouatten-tionwhichisflattering,buttheyareall“Christian.”Youespeciallylikeoneofthem,butareconcernedthatyourparentswillnotapprove.
→ tobeforcedintothetraditionalreligiouspractices.Manyyoungpeoplefeeltheyhavenochoice.
→ tosay“yes”toChristianevangelistsonlytobepolite,topleasethem,ortogetthemtoleave.
→ tobefatalisticintheirthinking.
→ toplaceimportanceondreams(which,ofcourse,havemeaning).
→ tobesuperstitious.(Onesuchsuperstition:goingtochurchorfollowingChristwillresultinmentalillness!)
→ tobelievethatrelationshipsaremoreimportantthananythingelse.
→ tobelievetheCreatorGodisdistant;spiritgodsaretobefearedsincetheyarecloseandcaninflictharmmorereadily.
Aniya (age 28)
Animist People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play Card Helps for Roleplaying
• Youholdajobasasupervisoratalocalshoppingcenterwheretheatmosphereishecticandyoumustworklonghours.Youarereallystressedandtendtobealoner.
• Youhavethreechildrenwithyourfirsthusbandandfeelguiltyaboutnotspendingmuchtimewiththem.Yourlackofaffectionforyoursecondhusbandwasamajorfactorinaseconddivorce.
• Youattendedchurchoftenasakid;notmuchsincecol-legebutyourthreechildrenwerebaptized,youmakesomecontributionstoaBibleteachingchurch,andyouattendoccasionally.YoubelieveinGodandevenagreewiththefundamentalsofChristianteaching.
• Youthinkmoreaboutlifeanddeathsinceyourmomdiedofcancerlastyearatagesixty-one.
→ todoubthardertounderstanddoctrinesandthereforehavequestionssuchas
○ “Howcansomeonebe100%Godand100%man?”
○ “HowcouldalovingGodcondemnmentosuchaplaceasHell?”
○ “HowcanIbelievethefar-outmiraclesoftheBible?”
→ toknowfarlessaboutGodandtheBiblethanonemightexpectgiventheirbackground.
→ tobeopentohearingaclear,rationalexplanationoftheBible’sstory,includingwhoGodis,howsinhascreatedabarrierandbroughtdeath,andhowJesus,theGod-Man,hasprovidedthesolutionsowecanhaveagoodrelationshipwithGodforeternity.
Jamie (age 37)
Biblical/Non-believerPeople with this worldview may
have tendencies:
Some people with this worldview may never have “heard” and may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play Card
• Yourcurrentmarriageisthesecondmarriageforbothyouandyourhusband.Youlikerunning,photography,andcanoeing.Youareanarticulate,intelligentcollegeEnglishprofessorandagreatstoryteller.
• Youareamemberofaliberalprotestantchurch,attendchurchserviceseveryweekandareoftenaskedtospeakatchurchevents.Youprideyourselfonbeinghonest,broad-minded,tolerant,andintellectual.Godwilljudgeonebasedonhowgoodorbadhe/sheis.
• YoubelieveChristianityisthebestreligion,buttherearemanyroadsthatleadtoGod.Youreallyhatethenarrownessofthosewhosay,“Jesusistheonlyway.”YouthinkJesuswasthegreatestteacherandexamplewhoeverlived,butnottheSonofGod,unlessweareallsonsofGod.Godsurelywouldn’tsendsomeonetohell.
Marianne (age 49)
Liberal Protestant/Pluralist
Helps for Roleplaying
→ todoubthardertounderstanddoctrinesandthereforehavequestionssuchas
○ “Howcansomeonebe100%Godand100%man?”
○ “HowcouldalovingGodcondemnmentosuchaplaceasHell?”
○ “HowcanIbelievethefar-outmiraclesoftheBible?”
→ toknowfarlessaboutGodandtheBiblethanonemightexpectgiventheirbackground.
→ tobeopentohearingaclear,rationalexplanationoftheBible’sstory,includingwhoGodis,howsinhascreatedabarrierandbroughtdeath,andhowJesus,theGod-Man,hasprovidedthesolutionsowecanhaveagoodrelationshipwithGodforeternity.
People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Some people with this worldview may never have “heard” and may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youaremarriedwithalargefamilyandworkajobliketherestofyourfamily.Youspendalotofyoursparetimewithfamilyandfriendswhoimmigratedtogetherwithyou.
• Youhavebeguntomakemoreforaysintoyournewculturebutareoftenabsolutelyconfusedbyit,eventhoughitintriguesyou.
• YoubelieveinaUniversalSoulandyourreveredscrip-tures,Vedas,communicatespiritualknowledge.YoubelieveeverypersonpossessesanindividualsoulthatisextendedfromtheUniversalSoul,Brahman.
• Sinissimplybeingignorantofone’sdivinenature.But,goodkarmaisbuiltupbygooddeeds,whichhelponegainabetterstatusinthenextlifeonearth.Theulti-mategoalistoescapethecycleofreincarnationandachieveunitywithBrahman.
→ tosaysomethinglike,“Noneedforalarm;weallworshipthesamegod.”
→ toseetensionbetweenhis/herreligionandsomeoneelse’s.Helpinghim/herseetheinternalcontradictionsinhis/herbeliefsystemmayhelp,butshecouldjustaseasilyconfrontedwiththat,say,“Ohwell,onlyGodknows.”
→ tohaveaonedimensionalworldview.UltimaterealityisBrahman—theimpersonal,transpersonalreality.Theuniverseisnotexternaltogod.Itisgod.
→ toseealackofdistinctionbetweenthecreatorandthecreature.
→ tohaveclosetiestoalocalTempleandvariousHindufestivals.
→ toseetheworldasasourceofdistractions,exploitedbydesire,leadingignorantpeopleawayfromtrueknowledge.
Tami (age 39)
Hindu People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youaremarriedwithtwochildren.Yourfamily,imme-diateandextended,aremoreimportanttoyouthananythingelsetotheextentthatyoureallydon’tseemtohavemanyfriends.Butthat’sokay.Yourafterschooltalkswithyourteenagesonshavebecomethemostmeaningfulpartofyourday.
• However,youhavebeguntosellAvonrecentlytohelpmakeendsmeetandrealizethatyouenjoythecom-raderyyou’vediscoveredinmeetingwiththeladiesandtalkingaboutyourlifewiththem.
• YouhavebeenpartoftheJehovah’sWitnessesfor20years,faithfulascanbe,butrecentlysomeinconsis-tenciesintheirteachinghavebeenbotheringyou.
• YourhusbandhasbeguntoleadyouandyourchildrenthroughaBiblecomparisonstudysinceyouallhavebeenwonderingwhysomanypartsoftheJWBiblearedifferent;whytheywere“changed.”
→ tobestrictmonotheists,evendisavowingtheTrin-ity.ThereisoneGod:JehovahGodwhoisGodtheFather(however,thereisnoGodtheSon,norGodtheSpirit).
→ toassociateMichaelthearchangelwithJesus;“theonlybegottenoftheFather”wouldbeMi-chael.
→ todoubt(andargueagainst)thefactthatJesusisGod.Hewasperfectmanandthereforeaperfectsacrifice,butnotGod.
→ todisbelievethatanyonecanknowtheyaresavedsincesalvationwoulddependuponaper-son’sbeinggood.Onecanonlydotheirbestandhopeitmightbeenough.
→ todoubttheexistenceofHellsincetheybelievethatlostsoulswillbeannihilatedafterjudgment.
Gayla (age 47)
Jehovah’s Witness People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youhaveacollegedegree,ahusband,twocollege-agekids,agoodlife,andaresatisfiedwiththingsastheyare,exceptthatyouhaveadesiretobetteryourlifeforyouandyourfamily.
• Youareaniceperson,liberalpolitically,andthinkthatwarisapointlesswasteoflife.Youareasuccessfulcareerwoman,ahardworker,activeinthelocalgar-denclubandagoodwifeandmother.
• Youattendedchurchoccasionallyasachildandnowattendonlyforformaleventslikeweddingsforfamilyorfriends.God,ifHeexists,doesnotplayaroleinlifetoday.
• Youbelieveoneshouldbegood,butdonotbelievethereisanylifeafterdeath.Evolutionishowwegothereandtheworldwilljustkeepon,unlesswedestroyourselves.
→ tobelievethatonlymatterexists.Everythingintheuniverse(includingmankindsinceheisintheuniverse)islimitedtooperationinaccordancewithphysicallaws.
→ toexcludeordiscountanysupernaturalorspiri-tualexplanationofoccurrencesintheworld.
→ toassertthatnaturallawsprovideastructureorframeworkoftheuniversewithinwhicheverythingfunctionsorbehaveswithoutexception.
→ tobelievethat“thereisnohighertribunalfortruththannaturalscience”(W.V.Quine).
→ tobelieveinGodbutusehernaturalismmethod-ologyinherscientificwork.
Katie (age 55)
Materialist/Naturalist People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youaresingleandhaveworkedajobataclothingstoresincerightafterhighschool.
• Youenjoytheoutdoors,includinghikingandskiing.
• YourwholefamilywasraisedintheLDSchurchandyoubelieveinthetenantsofthatreligion—thedeath,burial,andresurrectionofJesus;thatheisasonofGodinthesensethatallofusare“sonsofGod.”
• YoubelieveintheBibleandthebookofMormon.Youdohaveaconcernaboutthepolygamypracticedbysomebreak-offgroupsthatgiveMormonismabadname.
• YournewboyfriendhasbegunattendinganevangelicalchurchandyouthinkitmightbesomethingyoushouldcheckoutsinceheisgettinggenuinelyinterestedinchurchandreadinghisBible.
→ tobeaggressiveinsharingtheirownfaith.
→ tobelievetheyaretheonlytruechurchandthatallChristiansoutsideMormonismarefollowingadeficientGospel;afalseChrist.
→ tonotrealizealltheunusualthingsMormonismteaches,northeerrorsandinconsistenciescon-tainedintheBookofMormonandtheothertwo“scriptures”oftheMormonChurch(DoctrineandCovenants,ThePearlofGreatPrice).
→ to“believetheBibleistheWordofGodasfarasitisittranslatedcorrectly.”Theybelievethetexthasbeencorruptedbyerrorsofcopyistsandtranslators.
→ tobelieveinapluralityofgodsandthathumansmayprogresstogodhead.
Brianna (age 32)
Mormon People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youareawell-educated,hard-workingMuslim.Yourwholeextendedfamilyworkshardinthefamily-ownedhotelbusiness.
• Youseektopleaseyourhusbandandfamilyandbelieveyoushoulddoallyoucantohelpyourhus-bandkeeptheobligationsofIslam:recitingtheMuslimcreed,prayingfivetimesdaily,givingalms,andfastingduringRamadan.
• AsaMuslimyoubelieveinanall-powerfulGodandthatmanhaslosthisway,worshipingfalsegods.Buttherewillbeabsolutejusticeattheresurrection.
• However,thepoliticsoftodaymakeyoureticenttotalkaboutyourreligionandbeliefsbecauseitmightcausedifficultieswithyourneighborsduetotheirprejudices.
→ togive“ummah”(community)aplaceofprimeimportanceintheirlives.
→ tobelievehonor(savingface)isveryimportant.
→ toseebeingMusliminAmericaasdifficult—peoplelackrespectforyou,orareafraid,orlookdownonyouifyouareMusliminAmerica.
→ toseeJesusasagreatprophettobelistenedtoandfollowed,butnotasGod.
→ tobelieveinoneGodwhoistranscendentandfearsome.
Samantha (age 40)
Muslim People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youareacollegegraduateandcomputersystemsana-lyst.Youareveryathleticandenjoyhiking,kayaking,andrunning.
• Youwereraisedwithoutanyreligiousmoorings.Youlivedthefastlife,andarenotclosetoyourfamily,wholivesfarawayinanotherstate.
• Youareavegetarian,livewithyourboyfriend,andliketotalkaboutspiritualthings.Youbelieveinapervadingforce(God)andamultitudeofspirits.YouespeciallylovetotraveltoColoradobecausethereyoufeelmuchclosertoyourpersonal“Avatar”(mediatorybetweenyouandtheGod-force).Youlovethemysticismofyourbeliefs.
• Youbelievethathumansareintrinsicallygoodandonemustgetintouchwithone’shigher-powerforfullrealizationinthislife.
→ toseethisphysicalworldasaplacetolearnandgrowbeforethesoulmovesontohigherlevelsofexistence.Weareinvolvedinanongoingteleo-logical(endorpurpose)evolutionaryprocess.
→ toemphasizethattheindividualistheprimarysourceofauthorityonspiritualmatters;thereisastrongemphasisonindividualfreedom.
→ tomaintainacorebeliefin“channeling”—peopleactaschannelsorconduitsofinformationfromentitiesoutsideofthemselves(God,gods,god-desses,spiritmasters,etc.)which,bynature,mustrivaltheScriptures’authority.
→ tobelievein“alternativetherapies”totraditionalmedicineforhealing.
→ tobelievethatmajorchangesinsocietyarelinkedtotheearth’saxialprecession(whichproducenewastrologicalages).
Cathy (age 31)
New Age People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• YourfamilymovedtoAlaskafromRussiainthelate1760’sandwereinvolvedinthefurtradeforseveralgenerations.Your“dedushka”(grandpa)wasthefirstofthefamilytomovetoOregon,butseveralthenfollowedhimtoOregonandCalifornia.
• Yourgreatuncle(Dedushka’sbrother)wasanOrtho-doxpriestandhissonandgrandsoncontinueinthepriesthoodtoday.
• Youseeaseparationinyourlifebetweenyourbeliefs(private)andyourpubliclife,quitepossiblybecauseyou’veobservedthisallyourlife.(ThepriestsinyourfamilyareallalcoholicsandyouknowseveralRussianmafiamemberswhoconsiderthemselves(asdooth-ers)verydevoutOrthodox.
• Oneofyourchildrenisfaithfulintakinghisfamilytochurch.Hissisterisnot,exceptforholidays.
• You’vebeguntowonder:“Isitallreal?DoesGodde-sireapersonalrelationshipwithyou?”
→ tobeOrthodoxinnameonly.
→ tobemainlyinterestedintheirreligionwhencri-sesoccurandduringafewmajorholidays.
→ totalkaboutspiritualthingswhentheywantsomethingfromGod(i.e.haveasickchildandhaveexhaustedalltheirphysicalresources;look-ingforamiracle).
→ tobeverysuperstitiousandcreateandmaintainalotofroomintheirlivesforspiritualthings.
→ toputacoatofglossoverbald-facedpagan-ism(or“baptize”theirpaganism)withoutevenrenouncingtheirformerreligionorunderstandingwhereitwentitwrong.
Valeria (age 58)
Orthodox People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youattendedanivy-leaguecollege,didaninternshipatCNN,andfor8yearsnowhavebeenajournalist.
• Youalwaysthoughtyourparentswerecool,butre-centlytheybecamepartofachurchthatis“oneofthose”—theyaretellingyouabouttheirfaithandtryingtoconvertyou—whichisjustwrong;it’sunethical!
• Youbelievealltruthisrelative.Historycanevenberewrittennowtojustifyafeministornon-westernbias.Afterall,theprevioushistorywaswrittenbywesternmalesfortheiradvantage.Eachinterpretationhasvalue.
• Youenjoyyourjob,butarecynicalandskepticalofallauthority—evenatthepaperwhereyouwork.
• Youlivefortheweekendwhenyoucanspendtimewithyourclose-knitgroupofjournalistfriends.Youare“TheScriveners”andnoonecancomebetweenyou.
→ toconsiderpersuasionaswrong,sinceonlymodernswhobelievethereisobjectivetruthtobearguedwoulddothatsortofthing.
→ tochoosesexualorientationorreligionasonechoosesacar—oneortheotherisnotrightorwrong;itissimplyapreference.
→ tobeintolerantofanyonewhoclaimstopossessuniquetruth;torejectChristianitysimplybecauseitclaimstobetrue.
→ tobeputoffbyclassicevidences;theyerectbarri-erswhenconfrontedwithsuch.Pre-suppositionalapologeticswouldbemoreeffective.
→ toholddialogueandtoleranceascorevalues.
→ tobeinclusiveandpassionateaboutfairness;be-lieveminoritieshavebeenleftout,marginalized,andoppressed.
Elise (age 33)
Postmodern People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• AsachildyouattendedtheCatholicparochialschool.Youreallylikedtheceremonyandreverenceofthechurch,butthat’saboutall.
• Youfeelthere’smoretolifethanwhatyouareex-periencingsoyouwaverbetweenseekingGodandbecomingacynic.YouattendMassatleastonceamonth,butlifeisabigquestion!
• Youattendedastateuniversity,medicalschool,andarenowasurgeonunderalotofstress.Youroutletisworkingoutatalocalgym.
• Youloveyourhusbandandtwokidsthoughyoucan’tfigureouthowtogetoutofthetrapyourcareerhasplacedyouin.Yourfamilyhasalotofdebt,andthoughyouhaveaverygoodincome,itisusedmostlytopaythebankforthenicethingsyouandyourfamilyown.
→ tobeRomanCatholicinnameonly;toattendchurchonmajorholidaysandforweddingsandfunerals.
→ tosayI’ma“non-practicing”Catholic,especiallyinforeigncountrieswhereCatholicismisdominant.
→ todisagree(evenspeaknegativelyabout)certaindoctrinesorideasthattheChurchpromotes(suchaspriestsnotmarrying,pre-maritalsex,judgingabortion).
→ toknowverylittlesignificant,deeperteachingsoftheChurch.
→ toassociatebelongingtotheChurchasaculturalnormwhichcouldbeabarriertoacceptinggospeltruth.Someonemightsay,“WhatyouhavebeentellingmefromtheBiblesoundsgreat,butI’mPortuguese/Chilean,etc.”
Darla (age 32)
Roman Catholic People with this worldview may have tendencies:
Worldview Role-Play CardHelps for Roleplaying
• Youhadadifficultchildhoodinwhichyourfatherdiedinacarcrash(youwereinthecarwhenithappened!),yourmotherremarried,butdivorcedthreeyearslater,andthenyoulostyourolderbrotherwhenhewashitintheheadwithabaseball.
• Yougraduatedfromhighschoolandcollegeandlandedagoodjob,marriedandhadchildren.
• Youneverthoughtyouhadaproblemwithangeruntilduringwhatyouthoughtwasanormallossoftemperoneday,yourcolleaguetoldyouheknewhowyoucould“beatit.”
• Youstarted“auditing”sessions—somethinghecalled“Dianetics”untilyouwereableto“clear”your“reactive”mindofallthe“engrams”(badimages)fromyourpastwhichwereaffectingyourpresentlife.
• Beforelong,youwerepartoftheScientologyOrgani-zationandmovingtowardknowingyourtrueidentity.
→ tobemoreconcernedwithaperson’spracticalapplicationofScientologistmethodsthanactuallyconverting.
→ tobeinvolvedin“spiritualrehabilitation”whichconsistsofcounselingsessionscalled“auditing.”Thepractitioner’saimistofreethemselvesofthelimitingeffectsofpasttraumaticeventsbydeliber-atelyreengaginginthosepainfulevents.
→ tobelievein“assumption”(similartoreincarna-tion)inwhichpreviousincarnationshaveadirecteffectonone’spresentlife.
→ tobelieveintwomajordivisionsofthemind:thereactivemind(whichabsorbsallpainandemo-tionalsuffering)andtheanalyticalmind(whichisrational;responsibleforconsciousness).
→ toemphasizesurvivalasparamount.
Patricia (age 44)
Scientology People with this worldview may have tendencies:
