What goes into the way you view this world? What shapes your perspective? How do you see it? What is your point of view?
Each of us has a perspective, a worldview that we apply to EVERYTHING! As followers of Jesus Christ we claim our perspective is based on HIM. To have that be the truth we will listen to Christ’s Words and apply them with actions.
And how do we keep our ‘Eye Healthy’? ie. keep a Biblical perspective? Look at what Jesus says in Luke 11:28: “Even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”
Luke 11:29-42
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 30 What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.
- The sign of Jonah is being dead and coming back to life
- It was enough for the entire city of Nineveh to repent, because God sent him
- Christ’s resurrection will be enough for those He was sent to
- Every generation has evil who wont believe & a chosen group who believe
- ‘Spiritual Scarcity’ isn’t a fruit of The Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23 = Christ’s Disciples
31 “The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen.
- To ‘Stand up against’ is to give evidence to the contrary…
- She did what she did to taste of God’s wisdom, NOW God offers HIMSELF!
32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.
- This ties back to how He said the only sign will be the sign of Jonah…
- The people of Nineveh, the whole city repented!
- They did that because God sent a man, Now God has come Himself
33“No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. 34 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness.”
- Think of your eye as ‘The way you see things’ ie ‘Subjective Reality’
- Your subjective reality is ruled by your theology, Biblical or Non Biblical
- There is no 3rd theology, it is either Biblical (good) or non-Biblical (evil)
- Healthy = Reality that is ruled by Biblical Theology (Relational Grace by Spirit)
- Unhealthy = Reality influenced by Non-Biblical Theology (legalism / scarcity)
How do we evaluate this health? Galatians 5:22&23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
35 “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.
- Christ tells us to ‘Make Sure’ …’Be Intentional’ about evaluating your life
- We need some objectivity / less subjectivity, that’s how we get into the corners
- The objective is to shine God’s light, we need each other to grow into that
37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.
- Some of what Jesus was saying was resonating with a Pharisee…
- He expected Christ to be caught up in legalism, like he was
39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
- Similar analogy to Christ calling Pharisees ‘Whitewashed Tombs’
- Their focus on appearances led to the rotting of their souls
- Doing things for others in need comes from experiencing forgiveness
42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
- A focus on minutia & disregard the big picture of The Gospel, does not go well
- A focus on the more important things and growing in obedience = balance
Summary:
Christ’s Resurrection is enough of a ‘Sign’ for those Christ is sent to.
The Resurrection is the gateway to a Christ Based Perspective
There are people who have humbled themselves before God and believed who had far less info than we have, they will testify against those who want more info.
Exhaustive information dosen’t creates Christ Based Perspective, Faith does!
How you look at things really matters! A Worldview born of Biblical Theology is a goal of Christian Discipleship. That is what makes your eye healthy & helpful to others.
Having a ‘Healthy Eye’ is seeing this world for what it is and seeing God for who He is. ‘The way you see things’ / perspective, effects every part of your life.
Having a healthy eye is living by faith & grace in a way that others notice: growing consistently in ‘The Fruit of The Spirit’.
You change your perspective by changing how you live: doing, not talking
We can make sure our light is not really darkness by living out honest relationships in Biblical community. It is the only way to get at ‘dark corners’.
We need help making sure…
God wants to clean our insides (soul) by having us do sacrificial things, not ‘Shows of Spirituality’. Following Christ requires sacrifice & change (Romans 12:1&2)
Perspective change happens through living & doing
Following the letter of the law rather than the Spirit is the height of foolishness. It leads to greed (not just for money) & wickedness.
Legalism is a sickness that rots your integrity
Christ calls us to live in balance: Observing God’s Word relationally not legalistically. We align our priorities with His by growing in His love and His Justice.
Application: Being intentional about growing in your Christ based perspective
Two aspects of good Biblical application:
Honest evaluation of your life.
Intentional action to change where you need to
How do you see it now? How can you change how you see it?
#1. Is Jesus’ Resurrection alone enough for you to declare Him Christ? Why or why not?
#2. What things / activities / people have had the most influence on your worldview?
#3. How does your relationship life exhibit growth in the fruit of the Spirit?
#4. How have you recently changed & what have you sacrificed as a result of your discipleship?