Video Dynamics of a Worldview Pt. 2

Summary

In this video lecture, Derek Atkins explores Christian strategies for worldview conservation, alteration, and transformation within the context of the course 'Worldview and Biblical Decision Making' at the East Asia School of Theology. He discusses the principles of indigenization and pilgrimage, emphasizing the importance of studying God's word, discerning scriptural truths from cultural expressions, and engaging in community. Atkins highlights the role of Spirit-filled imagination, evangelism, and discipleship in facilitating change, while acknowledging that ultimate transformation is through God's power. He also addresses the challenges faced in evangelism and discipleship, encouraging active participation in Christian practices and broader cultural engagement to effect lasting worldview change.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The lecture discusses strategies for worldview conservation, alteration, and transformation in a Christian context.
• 📚 Emphasizes the importance of studying and being saturated with God's word, as mentioned in Romans 12 and Hebrews 4.
• 🔍 Highlights the need to discern between non-negotiable truths of scripture and various cultural expressions of Christianity.
• 👥 Stresses the importance of community and the role of the 'community of saints' in worldview discussions.
• 🌏 Discusses the concepts of indigenization and pilgrimage in expressing the gospel in different cultural contexts.
• 💡 Encourages the use of Spirit-filled imagination and creativity to incarnate God's truth in every time and place.
• 📣 Mentions evangelism as a strategy for facilitating change, emphasizing that God is the ultimate agent of conversion.
• 🤔 Introduces the concept of dissonance as a tool for creating conditions favorable for worldview change.
• 📚 Discusses the role of discipleship in facilitating personal and communal growth and change, with God as the primary agent.
• 🏛 Recognizes the powerful role of institutions in social transformation and the potential for Christians to engage at various societal levels.
• 🌟 Concludes with a call to consider personal strategies and activities that have brought about significant worldview change.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Derek Atkins' video lecture?

The main topic of Derek Atkins' video lecture is the dynamics of worldview conservation, alteration, and transformation, specifically within a Christian context.

What are the two Christian strategies mentioned by Derek Atkins for worldview transformation?

The two Christian strategies mentioned are indigenization versus pilgrimage, which refer to the local expression of the gospel in time and space, and the unchanging truths of the Gospel, respectively.

According to the lecture, why is it important to prioritize frequent and regular time studying God's word?

It is important to prioritize frequent and regular time studying God's word to be completely saturated with it, as it is a foundation for understanding and discerning the truths of scripture and cultural expressions of Christianity.

What is the role of the community of saints in worldview transformation according to the lecture?

The community of saints plays a crucial role in worldview transformation as it is a collective project where conversations about faith and worldview should continually take place, enriching each other's understanding.

How can Christian missionaries facilitate worldview transformation through conversation?

Christian missionaries can facilitate worldview transformation by engaging in conversations with other believers around the world, sharing different cultural expressions of the Christian faith, and challenging each other's perspectives.

What is the importance of Spirit-filled imagination and creativity in engaging cultures with the gospel?

Spirit-filled imagination and creativity are important in engaging cultures with the gospel because they allow for the incarnation of God's truth in every time and place, respecting both the transcendent link to God's word and the cultural context.

In the context of evangelism, why is it said that we cannot bring about conversion through certain techniques and methods?

We cannot bring about conversion through certain techniques and methods because it would imply trusting in those procedural aspects rather than in the power of God, which is the ultimate agent of change in a person's life.

What are the different types of dissonance mentioned in the lecture that can lead to worldview change?

The different types of dissonance mentioned are cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narratival dissonance, which challenge a person's intellect, emotions, ethics, behaviors, and narratives, respectively.

How can participation in Christian activities like retreats or church services influence worldview change?

Participation in Christian activities can influence worldview change by creating active dissonance, where individuals are actively involved in experiences that challenge their usual behaviors and beliefs.

What is the significance of storytelling in Christian evangelism and discipleship?

Storytelling is significant in Christian evangelism and discipleship because it allows for the conveyance of life-changing narratives that can challenge and reorganize a person's worldview, making it a compelling tool for persuasion and transformation.

What role do institutions play in social and cultural transformation according to the lecture?

Institutions play a powerful role in social and cultural transformation as they can influence large segments of society, often from the top down or through middle-class influencers, shaping societal norms and values.

What is the CRW strategy mentioned in the lecture, and how does it relate to worldview transformation?

The CRW strategy, which stands for 'Reaching Leaders,' is about impacting the culture by engaging with future leaders within institutions that nurture them. This strategy aims to bring about significant and lasting positive worldview change by influencing those who will shape the culture.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Worldview Dynamics: Conservation, Alteration, and Transformation

In this segment, Derek Atkins introduces the topic of worldview transformation within a Christian context. He discusses the importance of indigenization versus pilgrimage, emphasizing the need to express the gospel in a way that is both locally relevant and true to its core truths. Atkins stresses the significance of studying God's word, discerning between scriptural truths and cultural expressions of Christianity, and engaging with the community of saints. He also highlights the role of Christian missionaries in fostering dialogue and understanding among different cultural expressions of faith. The paragraph concludes with an emphasis on the need for Spirit-filled imagination and creativity in incarnating God's truth across cultures.

05:01

📚 Evangelism: Facilitating Change Through God's Power

This paragraph delves into the concept of evangelism as a strategy for worldview alteration and transformation. Atkins clarifies that while humans can create conditions for conversion, it is ultimately God who brings about change. He references biblical passages that emphasize the transformative power of God's word and the Holy Spirit. The paragraph also explores the idea of creating dissonance as a means to facilitate change, discussing cognitive, affective, and evaluative dissonance. Atkins suggests that new experiences, relationships, and encounters can challenge and reorganize preconceived notions, leading to a more open perspective towards the Christian faith.

10:05

🤔 Active Dissonance and the Role of Evangelism in Worldview Change

Continuing the discussion on evangelism, Atkins introduces the concept of active dissonance, which involves engaging in behaviors and actions that challenge existing worldviews. He discusses the importance of participation in Christian activities and the power of storytelling in altering perceptions. Atkins emphasizes that a holistic approach, addressing cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narrative aspects, is crucial for effective Christian witness and persuasion. He also invites reflection on the challenges to Christian evangelism in Asia and the US, highlighting issues such as scientism, ignorance of the Bible, negative Christian examples, and changing moral standards.

15:08

📖 Discipleship: Nurturing Growth Through God's Word and Spirit

In this segment, Atkins focuses on discipleship as a means of facilitating personal and communal growth in the Christian faith. He reiterates that while humans can create conditions for change, it is God who ultimately brings about transformation. Atkins references biblical passages that underscore the importance of God's word and the Holy Spirit in guiding and transforming lives. He also discusses various scenarios that can invite change, including cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narrative scenarios. These scenarios are designed to challenge assumptions, engage emotions, confront ethical norms, and encourage new behaviors and stories that align with Christian values.

20:09

🌐 Broader Cultural Engagement: The Power of Institutions in Social Transformation

Atkins expands the discussion to include broader cultural engagement, emphasizing the role of various institutions in societal transformation. He challenges the notion that change can only occur from the grassroots level, arguing that significant cultural shifts often come from the top down or from influential middle-class individuals. Atkins highlights the potential of reaching future leaders through education and other institutions to impact the broader culture. He encourages reflection on strategies and activities that have led to positive worldview changes in personal lives, families, ministries, churches, and broader cultural contexts.

25:09

🔍 Strategies for Lasting Positive Worldview Change

In the final paragraph, Atkins invites participants to consider the strategies and activities that have led to significant and lasting positive worldview changes in their lives. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with leaders and institutions that shape society, drawing on biblical examples like Daniel to illustrate the potential for Christians to influence cultural change. Atkins encourages participants to reflect on their own experiences and to discuss these insights in the upcoming class.

Keywords

💡Worldview

A worldview is a comprehensive framework through which an individual or group interprets the world and its experiences. It encompasses beliefs, values, and attitudes that shape one's understanding of reality. In the video, the theme revolves around how worldviews can be conserved, altered, and transformed, particularly through Christian strategies.

💡Indigenization

Indigenization refers to the process of adapting or expressing something in a way that is native or specific to a particular culture or region. In the context of the video, it is about expressing the gospel in a way that is relevant and meaningful to the local culture, while maintaining the unchanging truths of the Gospel.

💡Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage, in this context, symbolizes the journey of faith that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries. It emphasizes the enduring and universal truths of the Gospel, which remain constant regardless of time or place, contrasting with the local aspects emphasized by indigenization.

💡Scripture

Scripture, in the video, refers to the sacred texts of Christianity, particularly the Bible. It is highlighted as a primary source of truth and guidance for Christians, essential for understanding and living out the faith. The script mentions Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 4:12 as examples of scriptural references.

💡Community of Saints

The community of saints refers to the collective body of all believers in Christ, both living and deceased. The video emphasizes the importance of this community in discerning and discussing the truths of the faith, suggesting that it is a shared project rather than an individual one.

💡Evangelism

Evangelism is the act of spreading the Christian message with the intent of converting others to Christianity. The video discusses evangelism as a strategy for worldview transformation, emphasizing that while Christians can create conditions for conversion, ultimate change comes from God.

💡Spirit-filled Imagination

Spirit-filled imagination refers to the creative and innovative ways in which Christians can express their faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. The video uses the example of Christian hula dancers to illustrate how God's truth can be incarnated in various cultural contexts.

💡Dissonance

Dissonance, in the video, is used to describe the cognitive, affective, and evaluative conflicts that can arise when new ideas or experiences challenge existing beliefs or assumptions. It is seen as a tool for facilitating change in worldview, as it prompts individuals to re-evaluate their perspectives.

💡Discipleship

Discipleship is the process of training and equipping individuals to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. The video discusses discipleship as a strategy for personal and communal growth, emphasizing that change and transformation are facilitated by God through the power of His word and the Holy Spirit.

💡Cultural Engagement

Cultural engagement refers to the active involvement of Christians in various societal institutions, such as familial, educational, and political systems, to influence and transform culture. The video suggests that significant social changes can be achieved through engagement at different levels of society.

💡CRW Strategy

CRW Strategy, mentioned in the video, likely refers to a specific approach or method for reaching and influencing leaders within institutions, which can have a broader impact on society. The acronym itself is not defined in the script, but the context suggests it involves strategic engagement with influential individuals.

Highlights

Introduction to the lecture on the Dynamics of Worldview Conservation, Alteration, and Transformation.

Exploration of the indigenization versus pilgrimage principle in Christian worldview transformation.

The importance of incarnating God's cross-cultural and trans-temporal fruit in worldview discussions.

Emphasizing the need for frequent and regular study of God's word for worldview conservation.

Discerning the difference between non-negotiable truths of scripture and cultural expressions of Christianity.

The role of the community of saints in worldview conversations and the importance of a collective approach.

The opportunity and responsibility of Christian missionaries in facilitating cross-cultural conversations.

Using Spirit-filled imagination and creativity to incarnate God's truth in every time and place.

The transformative role of evangelism in facilitating change within broader communities.

The intrinsic power of God's word and the Holy Spirit in bringing about genuine life change.

Creating dissonance as a method for facilitating worldview change through new experiences and encounters.

Different forms of dissonance: cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narratival.

The challenges to Christian evangelism in Asia, including scientism and ignorance of the Bible.

The concept of discipleship as a strategy for worldview alteration and transformation.

The role of God in causing growth and change through His word and the Holy Spirit.

Creating scenarios and opportunities for change through cognitive, affective, evaluative, active, and narratival engagement.

The potential benefits of cross-cultural encounters for worldview transformation.

Involvement in social, religious, political, judicial, and economic institutions for broader cultural engagement.

The CRW strategy of reaching future leaders within institutions to impact the culture as a whole.

Transcripts

hello my name is Derek Atkins and this

is part two 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 during the first part of this

video lecture

we looked at some of the different ways

that cultures and World Views change

over

time now we're going to look at some

specific Christian

strategies that are that can be used um

in the process of worldview conservation

alteration and

transformation so the first um

specifically Christian

strategy that I want to mention that is

used in worldview

transformation is that of

indigen

indigenization versus

pilgrimage um and we're talking here

we're talking about incarnating God's

crosscultural trans temporal fruit we

will talk more about this area in the

session on Christian worldview itself so

for now just be aware that the

indigenous principle refers to the local

aspects of expressing the gospel in

concrete time and space whereas the

pilgrim principle relates to the

unchanging truths of the Gospel itself

no matter when or where it is expressed

first and most we must prioritize

frequent and regular time of studying

and being completely and totally

saturated with God's word and we see

this principle um talked about in Romans

12 veres 1 and 2 as well as Hebrews

412 we must also take the time to

discern the difference between the

non-negotiation a truths of scripture

and the various cultural expressions of

Christianity that have been offered

through time as well as contemporary

context we also need to consider the

community of saints this is as much a

community project as it is anything else

Western and Enlightenment thought has

tended to push these kinds of questions

into the personal realm but really this

is a conversation that should be

continually taking place within the

community of saints we must critically

listen to and learn from other cultural

expressions of the Christian faith of

all the people in the world Christian

missionaries have the greatest

opportunity for this kind of

conversation they also have the greatest

responsibility to help more isolated

segments of Christianity to hear from

other believers around the

world what what this does is it opens up

new ways to understand and live out the

Christian faith that you might have been

blinded to by your own world view in

addition God can use you to challenge

other believers to see things they might

have missed and to live out their life

before God more

Faithfully another strategy we can use

in engaging cultures with the gospel is

to use Spirit-filled

imagination and creativity to Incarnate

God's truth in every time and place so

for example the the picture in this

slide is of Christian hula dancers

dancing to the song I Can Only

Imagine to be truly faithful to God

Christianity must continually speak seek

to Incarnate itself into every place and

time this is the IND ious principle we

referred to earlier while at the same

time not falling prey to the Perpetual

tendency to make this expression of God

on Earth the one true and Timeless one

faithful expressions are both

transcendently linked to God and his

word and creatively and imaginatively

incarnated into the cultures which they

have both been which they are both

transformatively apart within culture as

well as the ones which are set apart

from it that is against

culture another Christian strategy for

worldview alteration and transformation

is

evangelism in evangelism how we go about

facilitating change in our own lives and

the lives of those around us within the

broader communities of which we are a

part and ultimately the world is

multifaceted and not easy to codify in

some sort of simple set of bullet points

I say facilitate here because ultimately

God is the one who must cause conversion

to take place in the life of The

Listener we can see to cre create

conditions for our convers for we can

seek to create condition for conversion

and change but we cannot bring it about

through certain techniques and methods

for then we would be trusting in those

procedural aspects rather than in the

Magnificent Power Of An Almighty

God so with that said let's make some

ideas more explicit

here remember that it is God alone

through the power of the spirit and his

word who brings about genuine life

change we see this in John 168 and

Hebrews

4:12 the word of God has intrinsic power

to transform people's lives through the

complete rendering of a person's and a

Comm community's former world view in

addition thank God quite literally that

we have the Holy Spirit at work in all

of this to convict the world of sin

righteousness and judgment and to guide

us into all truth a truth that is

comprehensive and successfully

encompasses and integrates all three

elements of worldview formation

maintenance and and

transformation we can also create

scenarios and provide opportunities that

make perspective change more likely this

can be done through creating

dissonance um so one of the ways that a

former Professor described this as was

as um creating dissonance this

dissonance is not created merely through

the sharing of new information and ideas

it is also created by encountering new

experiences that require adequate

explanations and new relationships that

alter and reorganize previous

stereotypes and assumptions about God

people reality Etc that is to say World

viwed dissonance is produced not only by

new ideas and claims but by new

experiences and most of all by new

encounters with people this is why it

can be a good move to take people to

church where they will have a set of

experiences that are likely to make them

more open to

change now dissonance can take several

different forms you can have cognitive

dissonance and this happen s when um you

introduce new ideas you challenge old

ideas

Etc there can Al you can also have

effective

dissonance um this this is when um

people's emotions and passions are

challenged for example one coworker once

asked a Christian working at a

restaurant this question I always

thought Christians were sad straight

laced and sober why are you so joyful

all the time and so this is affective

dissonance where um a a

non-believer is confronted with

different emotions and passions that are

different from what they would

expect there's also evaluative

dissonance this has to do with ethics

and norms for example a non-Christian

might observe I thought Christians were

against everything and for almost

nothing but you seem to really care

about Justice the poor human flourishing

Etc all of the things I care about but

here's the twist most likely from a very

different source of concern and

motivation when all three of these

aspects of a person's worldview are

challenged together in a compelling

Manner and lifestyle that is cognitive

dissonance affective dissonance and

evaluative dissonance they can become a

powerful witness and an extremely

persuasive model for Effective Christian

witness and persuasion

now let's talk about active dissonance

this has to do with behaviors and

actions here new act experiences come in

the form of diff of having people

actively participate in something that

causes them to reconsider how they have

always acted this is why participation

in Christian activities like a retreat

or a church service can be a powerful

form of persuasion for

people there's also narratival dissonant

which has to do with stories and

storylines one of the most effective

ways to persuade is to tell people

stories and to live out your life story

in such a way that you are a compelling

example of what it means to exemplify a

very different way of comprehending and

living in the world

today for example the prophet Nathan

used a story to change David's

perception of his guilt with regard to

Bath

Sheba what are some of the cognitives

affective

evaluative active and narrative

challenges to Christian evangelism do

you see in Asia

today in the US for example challenges

include scientism ignorance of the Bible

and the gospel negative Christian

examples

changing changing mores and immoral

Moray like tolerance for almost

anything the personal is personalization

of Truth and moral life the perception

that Christians never have any fun are

stupid gullible blindly believing and

abusive

so just as the US has these

challenges I want to ask you what are

some of the cognitive affective

evaluative active and narratival

challenges to Christian evang evangelism

do you see in Asia

today so here is another Christian

strategy for worldview alteration and

transformation

discipleship concerning

discipleship just as it was in the case

of

evangelism how we go about facilitating

change in our own lives the lives of the

those around us within the broader

communities of which we are part and

ultimately the world is

multifaceted I say facilitate here

because ultimately God is the one who

must cause the growth and change to

occur in our Liv again we can seek to

create conditions for growth and change

but we cannot produce it through certain

techniques and methods for we would then

be trusting in those procedural aspects

rather than in the Magnificent Power Of

An Almighty

God remember that it is God alone

through the power of his word and the

spirit who brings about genuine life

change see Jeremiah

2329 and Hebrews 412

we also have Psalm 19 veres

7-1 and

14 which

says the law of the Lord is perfect

Reviving The Soul the statutes of the

Lord are trustworthy trustworthy making

wise the simple the precepts of the Lord

are right giving Joy to the heart the

commands of the Lord are radiant giving

light to the eyes the fear of the Lord

is pure enduring forever the ordinances

of the Lord are pure and altogether

righteous they are more precious than

gold than much pure gold they are

sweeter than honey than honey from the

cone by them is your servant warned and

keep keeping them there is great reward

May the words of my mouth and the

meditation of my heart be pleasing in

your sight oh Lord my rock and my

redeemer you can also create scenarios

and provide opportunities that make

change more

likely we create the condition for we

can create the condition for worldview

change in a wide variety of ways in the

past it was typical to believe that

transformational change was brought

about primarily through

education but that rather half

Aristotelian model of change was more a

product of modernity and the

enlightenment than even Aristotle since

his view of virt Virtues as ual practice

to inculcate proper function and right

living was intimately bound

up in his view of knowledge and goodness

the enlightenment seemed to have left

out the second half of Aristotle's

concern in this

regard below are some ways to invite

change and

transformation some of these are quite

typical and others although frequently

used are often not made nearly as

explicit as they should be without

making them explicit we often miss

important opportunities and underutilize

important means for bringing about

important changes in the way we act

think and

feel so we can create cognitive

scenarios

these scenarios engage the

intellect that is to say we can

introduce new

information along these lines we should

we should continually ask questions

which intentionally seek to examine the

hidden assumptions of our own world view

as well as those of others who will let

us again this is why we Advocate the

scriptures as a primary vehicle for life

and worldview change we might introduce

such things using phrases like did you

know what do you think about have you

heard of would you

consider

[Music]

Etc we can also create affective

scenarios which engage a person's

passion and

emotions you you can encourage you can

do this by encouraging risk-taking and

new life experiences and trying to

develop new relationships you can tell

stories that pull on the heart strains

for example crew has disciples go out to

share their faith this forces them to

trust God to step out of their comfort

zone and to encounter other ways of

seeing the world other ways to do this

are to encourage going on short and

long-term mission trips to engage in

Interfaith dialogues

Etc in good discipleship we do not

merely study the Bible together and

introduce new Concepts and ideas we

actually take people out to encounter

the world around us good theology is

always developed through the experience

of

encounter with God and others in the

real world living and breathing and

existing all around

us this is part of giving new converts a

whole new set of rituals and practices

by which they find new meaning and

identity as

[Music]

Christians we can also uh use evaluative

scenarios these a these confront people

with questions about ethics and Norms at

this level new friendship display and

exhibit new ways of thinking acting and

feeling at a closer range and succeed in

challenging existing

paradigms in the process all parties are

changed and

enriched in addition find and create

ethical problems and situations and tell

stories that force people to re-evaluate

their own ways of judging the world for

example tell them the story of an

African tour guide explaining female

circumcision or the Chinese historian

talking about the practice of

footbinding

we can also use active

scenarios this this approach engages

behaviors and actions one of the best

ways to bring all of this about is

through crosscultural

encounters nowhere will such differences

and new experiences and ideas and values

be more evident than in the constant

significant encounter and interaction

with those who are truly

other than

ourselves this is one of the potential

benefits of short-term mission

trips and we can use naral scenarios

this involves stories and

storylines again we take on a new story

line in Christ that should change the

way we live and think about everything

past present and future in this way

contextualization becomes an inevitable

aspect of successfully navigating the

worldview Enterprise as a Christian who

wishes to be genuinely Christian and

enable others everywhere to become

genuinely Christian as well

so at this point I want to ask you the

question what are some of the challenges

to discipleship here in Asia do you see

so please consider that

question now let's um talk about

Christian strategies for worldview

alteration and transformation

and here I want to mention broader

cultural

engagement note here the powerful role

that institution that is familial

voluntary political educational

religious and economic and legal

institution just to name a few play in

Social

transformation I note this because many

people believe that change can and will

only occur from the grassroot

level you may have heard the quote

disciple enough Believers well and the

world will change well this may be the

case but history shows us that although

many revolutionary move movements or

events rise from the bottom up most

cultural changes come from the top down

or from a relatively small number of

middle class persons who have sufficient

influence on society to bring about

significant social

changes as Daniel shows us from the Old

Testament it is possible though

admittedly difficult to involve

ourselves as uncompromising Christians

and many different levels within the

social religious

political judicial and economics

institutions and systems of our culture

to help bring about change crw strategy

to reach leaders piggybacks off this

idea that by reaching the leaders of

Tomorrow within the institutions that

are nurturing and producing them you can

significantly impact the culture as a

whole

so what strategies and activities have

produced significant and Lasting

positive worldview change in your own

life family ministry Church culture Etc

so please um think about this question

and I will see you in class and we will

discuss this video lecture some more