Patterns of ideas

Summit Ministries' mission is to teach young Christians about worldview, the pattern of ideas that influences one's soul. The institutional or traditional Christian framework or lenses for this teaches that deep down people seek to answer four basic questions. Recently deceased Ravi Zachariah, one of the most trusted contemporary Christian apologists,

claimed the four basic questions are:

1. where did we all come from? (origin)
2. what is the right way to behave? (morality)
3. what is my purpose? the world's purpose? (meaning) and
4. where am I going or how does it all end? (destiny)

Let me first say, I have been around young people a long time and I don't find these are the questions that flow through their mind on a regular basis unless they are in a Christian worldview class. They are good questions, deep questions, fundamental questions, but not necessarily SALIENT or relevant questions to most people. I have found that what someone believes about "heaven and earth" seems to drive all other patterns of ideas. But, people are rarely aware of these beliefs.

These are consistent questions organized and institutionalized by Christian theologians and philosophers whose answers explain their worldview best. It is not really a lens but theologically crafted conclusions forming a framework Christian pastors and teachers embrace to defend the Christian faith. It is a convenient and often successful way to logically compare all other religions' to Christianity. Their well developed apologetics then can claim, "we (Christians) win!" But, young people who are subjected to these "patterns of ideas" go, "what?" Atheists and other religious scholars develop their counter arguments and the battle is on.

I want to make 2 points about this common, entrenched practice within the Christian church. Before I make my points, I do want to acknowledge the veracity of institutional Christian worldview apologetics. They have stood the test of time.

First point: the questions that are the most SALIENT (top of mind) to young people are more psychological than metaphysical. The study of the soul of human beings (psychology) has found that people wish to
(1) be happy or satisfied,
(2) accomplish goals, and
(3) be accepted.

These questions likely can be answered through the worldview models of Summit and Ravi Z. However, the more salient psychological yearnings of young Christians can lead to BLUNDERS in applying a clear epistemological (what is knowing) and ontological (what is real) pattern of ideas when underlying biases form a lens inconsistent or at odds with the worldview presented.

Which questions do you think Jesus was answering? Did He mention creation in His teachings? What was His view on morality? Actually, He had His harshest words for the moralists. Interestingly, Jesus thought the psychological questions were important and relevant. He addresses each in the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes explain the way Kingdom dwellers are satisfied (Blessed or fortunate), a contrast to humans' view of happiness. Jesus covers the 2 components of motivation with "where your treasure (value) is, there will your heart (motives) be also" and "seek ye first (saliency or primacy) the Kingdom of God." Jesus invites us to reflect His light (glory) to the world as our goal. This is quite different from humans' desires to pursue and produce their own outcomes. Finally, Jesus explains that righteousness, the verdict of the judge, is taken care of by Himself. In other words, He has made the way for your acceptance, nothing more you need to do.

When a young person can connect psychologically with the Gospel, he or she is ready for point two.

Second point: The institutional approach of the four metaphysical questions are heavily cognitively loaded. In other words, there is great reasoning from head knowledge, but the apologetics do not necessarily foster a passionate relationship with Jesus. It's in the intimacy with Jesus that we we receive the best answer to the 3 psychological questions.

The "patterns of ideas" that form or shape a Christian worldview starts with a deep relational knowledge of Jesus (gnosis knowledge). Head knowledge of Christian worldview absent a heart knowledge of Jesus will be puffy and arrogant, not humble. Do you KNOW Jesus (the Bible calls gnosis knowledge) or just KNOW ABOUT Jesus (eido knowledge)?

Anyone else see what is happening around us?  This led me to ponder the core ideas of psychology within a relationship with Jesus. Try it!

What else can steer you away from blunders that often come from proper theological and metaphysical patterns of ideas but are absent Jesus' psychology?