Video Dynamics of a Worldview Pt. 1

Summary

In this lecture, Derek Atkins explores the dynamics of worldview change and conservation within cultures, emphasizing the Christian perspective on transformation and preservation. He discusses the importance of discerning what should be changed or conserved within one's worldview, referencing biblical passages from Romans and Galatians. Atkins also examines internal and external factors influencing worldview shifts, including societal dynamics, minority groups, and external pressures like immigration and global communication. The role of the church in facilitating and responding to worldview change is highlighted, along with the challenges and opportunities presented by contemporary cultural shifts.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Every worldview is subject to two opposing dynamics: change and conservation.
• 📚 Key questions for Christians involve discerning what to change or preserve within their worldview and how to approach these processes.
• 📖 Biblical references such as Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 1:6 illustrate the balance between transformation and conservation in Christian worldview.
• 🧠 Real change often occurs at a deeper level, involving shifts in thinking and internal perspectives, not just external behaviors.
• 🌱 The concept of whole life change and transformation for Christians is often referred to as discipleship or mentoring.
• 🏞️ Internal dynamics, such as the passage of time and societal shifts, inevitably lead to worldview changes, even in conservative cultures.
• 🌐 External pressures, including immigration, international trade, wars, and rapid global communication, can significantly influence worldview changes.
• 🤔 The church plays a dual role as both a part of the culture and a countercultural force, aiming to transform the world while remaining distinct.
• 🛑 Not all change is positive or desirable; Christians must discern between changes that align with biblical values and those that do not.
• 🛍️ Global migrations and information exchange present both opportunities and challenges for the Christian church in terms of outreach and cultural engagement.
• 💡 The church must be careful not to become too wedded to the spirit of the age, as this can lead to crises when cultural contexts shift.

Q & A

What are the two opposing dynamics present in every worldview according to Derek Atkins?

The two opposing dynamics present in every worldview are the dynamic of change and transformation, and the dynamic of conservation and preservation.

What are the key questions Christians should ask regarding change and transformation?

Christians should ask what they should seek to change and transform, and how they should go about doing it.

How does Romans 12:1-2 relate to the concept of change and transformation?

Romans 12:1-2 encourages Christians to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, which is a call for change and transformation in line with God's will.

What does Galatians 1:6 emphasize about the conservation and preservation of the gospel?

Galatians 1:6 emphasizes the importance of not deserting the gospel for a different one, highlighting the need for conservation and preservation of the true gospel message.

What is often neglected in discussions about personal life change in the modern age?

The often-neglected aspect is that real, lasting change often takes place on a deeper level, requiring a change in the way a person thinks about various aspects of life.

What is the Christian concept of whole life change and transformation called?

The Christian concept of whole life change and transformation is typically called discipleship or, more recently, mentoring.

What are the internal dynamics that contribute to worldview change?

Internal dynamics include the passage of time bringing new things, the nature of societies being more or less conservative, and the continuums of buy-in and rejection among society members.

What are some countercultural dynamics that can lead to worldview change?

Countercultural dynamics include societies and minorities, innovators and change agents, and rebels and outcasts who challenge the status quo and advocate for new ways of seeing and acting in the world.

How can external pressures and realities lead to worldview change?

External pressures and realities such as immigration, international commerce and trade, wars and conflicts, and rapid travel and worldwide communication can introduce new ideas and challenges, leading to worldview change.

What are the dimensions of real worldview change according to the Christian perspective?

The dimensions of real worldview change include cognitive change (intellectual understanding), affective change (passions and emotions), evaluative change (ethics and norms), active change (behaviors and actions), and narratival change (stories and storylines).

What is the role of the church in worldview change from a Christian perspective?

The church is a worldview within a worldview and a countercultural worldview, meant to be both within the culture and distinctly different, exemplifying Christ-likeness and bringing about transformation in the world.

What is the challenge Derek Atkins poses to the viewers regarding the struggles of the church in their cultural setting?

Derek Atkins challenges viewers to think about the specific struggles the church faces in their cultural setting and to consider how these struggles might be addressed.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Dynamics of Worldview: Conservation and Transformation

Derek Atkins introduces the concept of worldview dynamics, emphasizing the constant interplay between change and conservation within every culture. He discusses the importance of discerning what Christians should seek to change or preserve, referencing Romans 12 and Galatians 1 to illustrate biblical perspectives on transformation and the preservation of the gospel. Atkins suggests that real change often occurs at a deeper level of thought and behavior, not just through superficial modifications.

05:01

🌱 Internal Dynamics and Countercultural Forces

This paragraph delves into the internal dynamics of worldviews, acknowledging that no worldview is static due to the passage of time and historical changes. It discusses how societies and minority groups, as well as innovators and change agents, can influence the evolution of a worldview. The narrative also touches on the impact of isolation versus exposure to foreign ideas and the role of rebels and outcasts in societal change, with examples from Japanese history and the concept of the nail that sticks up.

10:03

🛑 Extreme Cases of Change: Civil Wars and Conflicts

The third paragraph examines extreme societal changes, such as civil wars and conflicts, as catalysts for worldview shifts. It argues that these events often represent competing visions for society's future, using the American Civil War as an example of a conflict rooted in differing interpretations of biblical teachings on slavery. The paragraph suggests that such wars can be seen as battles over worldviews and the desire to accelerate social change.

15:04

🌐 External Pressures Influencing Worldview Change

This section explores how external pressures and realities can lead to changes in worldviews, with a focus on immigration, international commerce, wars, and the rapid spread of information through travel and communication technologies. It highlights the role of urban areas as hubs of change due to high levels of immigration and the challenges societies face in managing the influx of new worldviews and ideas.

20:05

📜 Christian Perspectives on Worldview Change

The paragraph discusses the Christian perspective on worldview change, emphasizing that change should occur through the ministry of God's word and the Holy Spirit. It outlines the dimensions of change, including cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narratival changes. The church's role as a countercultural force within society is also highlighted, with a call for Christians to be 'salt and light' and to exemplify Christ-likeness in the world.

25:07

🛠 The Role of the Church and Imperative Changes

The final paragraph addresses the role of the church in worldview change, cautioning against the dangers of withdrawal or becoming too captive to the culture. It stresses the importance of being 'in the world but not of the world' and the necessity of some changes from a Christian perspective, while also recognizing that not all change is inherently good. The paragraph concludes with a challenge to consider the struggles the church faces in cultural settings and the need for Christians to promote biblical worldview change.

Keywords

💡Worldview

A worldview is a comprehensive framework of beliefs, values, and attitudes that shape an individual's or a society's understanding and interpretation of the world. In the video, the concept of worldview is central to the discussion on how societies change and transform over time. It is used to explore the dynamics of conservation and transformation within cultures, as well as the Christian perspective on these dynamics.

💡Dynamics of Change

The dynamics of change refer to the forces or processes that drive transformation and evolution within a system or society. In the script, this term is used to describe the ongoing processes of both change and conservation within every worldview, emphasizing the need for Christians to discern what should be transformed and what should be preserved.

💡Conservation and Preservation

Conservation and preservation are the processes of maintaining or protecting something from change or decay. In the context of the video, these terms are used to discuss the Christian approach to maintaining the integrity of the gospel and traditional values amidst societal shifts and cultural transformations.

💡Transformation

Transformation implies a profound change in form, appearance, or character. The video uses this term to discuss the desired changes that Christians should seek in society and in their personal lives, particularly in how they think and act in accordance with God's will.

💡Discipleship

Discipleship, in a Christian context, is the process of training and equipping believers to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. The video mentions discipleship as a means of whole-life change and transformation, emphasizing the importance of internal change at a deeper level of being.

💡Countercultural Dynamics

Countercultural dynamics refer to the forces or movements within a society that challenge the dominant cultural norms or worldviews. The script discusses various forms of countercultural dynamics, such as innovators, change agents, rebels, and outcasts, and their roles in instigating change within a society.

💡Internal Dynamics

Internal dynamics are the inherent processes or factors within a system that drive its evolution. In the video, the term is used to describe the natural changes that occur within a worldview due to the passage of time and the introduction of new ideas and challenges.

💡External Pressures

External pressures are influences or forces from outside a system that can lead to change. The video discusses how immigration, international commerce, wars, and rapid travel and communication can all act as external pressures that prompt a society to adapt and change its worldview.

💡Christian Perspectives

Christian perspectives refer to the viewpoints and beliefs held by Christians on various issues. The script explores how Christians should approach worldview change from a biblical standpoint, emphasizing the importance of aligning with God's word and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

💡Cultural Interaction

Cultural interaction refers to the exchange of cultural elements, ideas, and values between different societies or groups. The video highlights the role of cultural interaction in accelerating worldview change, particularly in the context of globalization and the internet.

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of spreading the Christian gospel to others, with the aim of converting them to the faith. The script touches on the process of worldview change in the context of evangelism, discussing how Christians can effectively communicate the gospel to those with different worldviews.

💡Salt and Light

The terms 'salt' and 'light' are biblical metaphors used to describe the role of Christians in society. In the video, 'salt and light' are used to illustrate the church's dual role of being within the culture and acting as a transformative countercultural force, influencing the world with Christian values and ethics.

Highlights

Worldviews have two opposing dynamics: change and conservation.

Key questions for Christians regarding change and conservation in worldviews.

Scriptural references to transformation (Romans 12:1-2) and preserving the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).

The importance of personal life change and the role of deeper thinking in lasting transformation.

Christian discipleship or mentoring as a means for whole life change and transformation.

Internal dynamics within worldviews, including the inevitability of change over time.

Differences in worldview change rates between urban and rural cultures.

Impact of isolation versus openness to foreign ideas on the pace of worldview change.

The role of minorities and countercultural dynamics in driving worldview change.

Examples of rapid worldview change agents, such as Chairman Mao and Lee Kuan Yew.

The varying levels of tolerance towards iconoclasts in different societies.

Extreme cases of societal change through civil wars and conflicts.

External pressures such as immigration, international trade, and wars influencing worldview change.

The impact of rapid travel and worldwide communication on cultural interaction and exchange.

Christian perspectives on worldview change through the ministry of God and the Holy Spirit.

The comprehensive nature of real worldview change, including cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narratival changes.

The role of the church as both a part of and a countercultural force within society.

The importance for Christians to discern between desirable and undesirable change.

Challenges the church faces in managing change in the context of global migrations and information exchange.

The need for Christians to contextualize their faith without losing its core tenets.

Transcripts

hello my name is Derek Atkins and this

is part one of the video lecture the

Dynamics of a world view conservation

alteration and

transformation this video lecture is for

the course world viiew and biblical

decision making at the East Asia School

of Theology

every worldview has two opposing

Dynamics going on at the same time these

Dynamics are shown on this slide first

you have the dynamic of change and

transformation at the same time you also

have the dynamic of

conservation and

preservation so when we are

when we are discussing these two

dynamics that go on in every

culture we need to ask some key

questions and so the key question

surrounding these two themes

are with regard to change and

transformation what should we as

Christians seek to change and

transform and how should we go about

about it and when it comes to

conservation and preservation the key

questions that we need to be asking are

what should we seek to conserve and

preserve and how should we go about

doing

this for

example um let's look at Romans 12

verses 1 and two which is about

transformation and

change and then we'll look at Galatians

1:6 which is about conserving the

gospel so Romans 121 and2 says therefore

I urge you Brothers in view of God's

mercy to offer your bodies as living

sacrifices holy and pleasing to God this

is your spiritual act of worship do not

conf form any longer to the pattern of

this world but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind then you will be

able to test and approve what God's will

is it's good pleasing and perfect will

then we have Galatians 1: 6-

7A I am astonished that you are so

quickly deserting the one who called you

by the grace of Christ and are turning

to a different gospel which is really no

gospel at all so here we see both um

Dynamics reflected in the

scriptures Romans 12: 1 and 2 talks

about the dynamic of change and

transformation whereas galatian 1: 6 and

7 a talks about the dynamic of

preservation and

conservation and so here we see that the

Bible affirms that both of these

Dynamics occur and are

necessary from a Christian perspective I

think it is very important to remember

something that is often neglected when

talk of personal life change is

discuss in our Modern Age we often hear

the adage change is good change tends to

be pursued through things like diet and

exercise program psychological

counseling coaching positive thinkings

and things such as these I am not

suggesting here that changes do not take

place as a result of such things in fact

for some they do otherwise they would

not be around for very long but very

often real change changes takes place on

a deeper level yes a person may lose

weight on some diet and exercise plan

but all good diet and exercise

Consultants will tell you that lasting

change does not occur un unless that

person changes the way they think about

food and good health the process of

counseling coaching and positive

thinking is actually to create change at

a deeper level of being to change the

way a person thinks and acts internally

over the long course of time in this

sense these are programs that seek to

bring about change in a person's overall

world viw and approach to

life for Christians this concept of

whole life change and

transformation is typically called

discipleship or more

recently sometimes it has been called

mentoring for Christians the question is

really two prong the first question is

is how does worldview change actually

take place for

Christians what is the goal and means

for life change this involves both to

those who have been Christians for a

long time as well as new

Believers and then the second question

we need to ask is how does worldview

take place for those who do not yet

believe the

gospel what is the process whereby their

lives are Chang both in the context of

evangelism but also in the more General

context of General worldview

change these are some of the questions

we will we will try to begin answering

today so now we're going to talk about

why and how do worldviews

change the things mentioned here pertain

to all people Christian and

non-Christian alike in this s Christians

in any culture are subject to these

dynamics of worldview change just like

non-christians are so let's talk about

internal

Dynamics no worldview no matter how

conservative is completely

static the fact is that we do not exist

Beyond time and space in some sort of

abstract suspension or equilibrium and

this fact means that historically the

passing of time brings genuinely new

things with it be they natural

disasters the challenges of weather and

climate

diseases and

deformities changing birth and death

rates new inventions or the

deterioration and renewal of both social

and literal structures within the

society if there's one thing that never

changes is the fact that things always

change now if it is clear of course that

some World Views by the nature of their

belief and behavior systems are more or

less conservative than others Urban

cultures tend to be more liberal and

Rural cultures tend to be more

conservative for reasons that we will

note later in this video

lecture there's Al there's also the

the phenomenon of isolated versus

impacted worldview systems societies

that are geographically and culturally

isolated tend to change more slowly than

those that are constantly confronted by

Foreign ideas actions and values not to

mention the various goods and services

foreigners bring with them the

introduction of new ways of seeing the

world inevitably makes people and

cultures respond and try to manage what

they had come into contact

with for example beginning in

16003 Japan was completely isolated from

the rest of the world for more than 250

years no foreigners were allowed to

enter Japan and Christianity was

ruthlessly

exterminated during this period Japanese

culture changed very little then in

1868 the May restoration took place and

Japan once again opened itself to the

outside world following the Meiji

restoration Japanese culture began to

change rap rapidly as many foreign ideas

and practices began to be adopted by

people in

Japan no world view is entirely

monolithic in every society there are

continuums of buyin and rejection among

the members of the society while there

are clearly identifiable themes and

patterns that most if not all the

members of society adhere to not

everyone hold to those with equal

commitment and

conviction as certain groups buy for and

begin to gain greater adherence World

Views

change so let's look at some

countercultural

Dynamics the first form of

countercultural Dynamics we can see are

societies and minorities in every

society there are sets of minority

groups and those who find it hard to

live within the worldview boundaries set

by the

majority sometimes these have lengthy

histories behind them and at other times

they are only just beginning to develop

as countercultural communities seeking

to bring about

change there are also innovators and

change agents these may actually serve

to largely preserve a worldview

explaining how the new integrates with

the old but more often than not these

are iconoclastic people who Advocate a

new way of seeing and acting and

evaluating the world

often it takes more than one person or

generation to bring about radical

changes but in some cases one person is

dynamic and compelling enough to enact

rapid and radical changes over a

relatively short period of time chairman

maidong in China is a very good example

of a person like this as is Lee Guan Yu

in sing

then there are Rebels and

outcasts different societies have

different levels of Tolerance toward

icono class Asian societies tend to

ostracize and vilify such figures this

is why we have the Japanese proverb the

nail that sticks up gets hammered down

but in some Society such as America for

example tends to see iconic class as

courageous

Heroes the level of Tolerance and

acceptance lead tends to make cultures

more or less open and perhaps we might

even say susceptible to World viw

change this is one of the reasons why

most political candidates in the United

States campaign using the buzzword of

freedom and change these words

synchronized with most Americans

worldview

values now let's talk about extreme

cases of of change within

societies and I'm talking here about

Civil Wars and conflicts

I am not suggesting that all Civil Wars

take place because of internal conflicts

over competing World Views Civil Wars

can occur for many reasons sometimes

merely out of the desire for one person

or group to gain power over another who

nevertheless both possess largely the

same world viiew nevertheless such Wars

frequently do represent two different

visions of the future of society and so

can be classified as Wars about

worldview and a desire to accelerate the

process of social

change a a very good example of this is

the American Civil War because the

American Civil War was fought because of

comp reping

interpretations of biblical teachings on

slavery

so yes the the American Civil War was

about competing World Views and even

competing religious

beliefs now let's talk about external

pressures and

realities sometimes cultures and World

Views change and response to outside

pressures one way this happens is

through immigration and

immigration as people come and go within

a society they give and take ideas

behaviors and judgments with them the

more movement of people within a society

that take place the more challenges that

Society has to manage as they deal with

the influx and outflow of worldview

perspectives this is part of the reason

why urban areas with their constant high

levels of immigration are so much more

impacted by change and the relatively

stable rural areas are much less

impacted by

change another outside pressure that can

lead to worldview change is

international Commerce and trade

whenever Traders and other business

people are involved with International

and Intercultural commercial Ventures

they become conduits of new information

and facilitators of

change then we have international Wars

and conflicts

obviously these kinds of events Place

tremendous amounts of pressure on a

society to cope with rapid and

widespread change regardless of the

conflict's

outcome so this means that both winners

and losers in any given war will likely

experience some kind of major change as

a result of international Wars and

conflict then there's widespread rapid

travel and worldwide

communication this makes such things as

one week vacation Halfway Around the

World

possible with the age of transnational

wires and International

Communication as well as other more

recent forms of Rapid Exchange like the

internet for example the volume of new

information as well as the level of

international

interaction have increased

exponentially producing absolutely

unprecedented levels of cultural

interaction and exchange in recent

years now let's talk about Christian

perspectives on worldview change change

comes about first and foremost through

the ministry of God and his word through

the power of the Holy

Spirit real change involves compre a

comprehensive restructuring and

reorientation of every aspect of life so

real worldview change includes the

following

Dimension cognitive change these are

changes in our

intellectual understanding of things

there's also affective

changes these have to do with our

passions and our

emotion there are evaluative

changes evaluative changes are changes

in how we View and practice ethics and

the Norms that guide our

Behavior there are active changes these

are changes in our behaviors and our

action and then there is narratival

change these are changes in the stories

that we tell and the storylines that we

follow and even act live

out so let's look at some of these Chang

changes we have change um there are

stories that are often changed when a

world view change these stories are both

self-contained and sustained ways that

we understand the events of our lives

and how we see their meaning and

significance want

um and significance

so these

stories and even

storylines very often radically changes

in the context of the Christian story

and this often leads to transformative

changes in the first four areas that we

just mentioned in the previous

slide in some cases it is the change of

narrative that is first necessary before

any real change can take place in these

other

areas this is one reason why Christians

need to learn to tell the better

story Total life change can come both

incrementally that is step by step and

radically all at

once now let's talk about the role of

the church in world view

change by its very nature the church is

simultaneously a world viw within a

world viw as well as a countercultural

worldview thus Christians in any and

every culture should be both within the

culture and distinctly different from

the culture in genuinely Christian

ways Paul Hebert puts it like this we

are to be like salt and yeast bringing

about transformation in the

world one danger is to withdraw and form

Christian

communities that have no impact on the

world another is to become so captive to

our culture that we lose the

gospel we are to live as a

countercultural community and as

individuals in the world exemplifying

Christ

likeness the idea here is to be in the

world but not of the world we will talk

more about some specific ways we can be

Salt and Light in society a bit later on

from a Christian perspective some

changes are imperative but not all

change is necessarily

desirable I say this because American

and Western cultures tend to be more

liberal and less conservative seeing

change

as an inherently good thing rather than

recognizing that sometimes the impact of

change is more negative than positive

and that not all change is change for

the

better now recent changes in global

migrations and information

exchange have given Christians

unprecedented

opportunities for outreach and growth as

well as unparalleled challenges risks

and

difficulties when Christianity appears

to lack the resources to manage certain

aspects of change the problem does not

lie within

Christianity but within our historically

embedded

interpretations and applications of

Christianity

so here's my challenge to you I want to

encourage you to think about this

question what struggles do you see the

church having in your cultural

setting so I want to encourage you to

think about that this question

okay now when Christianity became

contextualized I to Enlightenment

rationalism it suffered a severe crisis

with the rise of the postmodern critique

of Enlightenment

rationalism whenever you marry the

spirit of one age you are always in

danger of becoming a widow in the next

age one obvious example from history is

when Nicholas cernus proved that Earth

revolves around the Sun the church at

that time had a vested interest in

retaining the geocentric view of the

universe but nothing in scripture

necessitated that

Viewpoint some of the things the church

has recently been struggling with and

must take special care to handle include

the theories of evolution

the origins of and nature of the

universe the reliability of scripture

and the relationship of the church and

state and so

forth and this brings us to the end of

part one of this video lecture in our

next video we will look at some

different strategies Christians can use

for promoting worldview change in a bu

biblical Direction