Paradigm Spirituality

Paradigm Spirituality

Paradigm means – how you see something – your perspective on something – your view or opinion on an issue or a topic.

So what we want to do when we study Paradigm Spirituality is we want to take a look at how we can change or perspective (paradigm) from thinking about the earthly things to thinking about heavenly things.

One Year to Live

Suppose your doctor tells you that you only had one year to live because you have a terminal illness… you get a second, third, and fourth opinion and they all agree that you have one year to live. The good thing is there will not be any negative effects of the disease until it has reached its course.

Now… how that scenario would change the way you view life… the way you view temporal things of this earth.

How would you live and invest the rest of your time here on earth?

Our life is so short compared to eternity… we need to understand that this time we spend here on earth so short… it’s nothing compared to eternity.

Think about your life span as being a small grain of sand… now think about eternity being a vast dessert. That does not even compare… that’s not a good enough example.

Put it this way… you will live forever somewhere. Your life here on earth is just a dress rehearsal for eternity.

James tells us in chapter 4 vs 14 that our life is like a vapor… only here for a little while and then vanishes away. That is how short our life is here on earth compared to eternity.

We can chose to live our lives as if this is all there is, or we can view our earthly existence as a brief pilgrimage designed to prepare us for eternity.

An earthly paradigm is one who adopts the temporal way of thinking… they treat the temporal (their earthly existence) as though it is going to last forever and the eternal as though it is temporary.

But an eternal paradigm knows that our stay here on earth is brief and that this is only a journey that we are pilgrims heading to another home.

Now let me ask this question… do you find yourself struggling back and forth between being earthly minded and eternal minded. If you are honest you can not help but be drawn into this world… that is what this world does is it pulls you down. But as Christians we are to rise above it and renew our minds with biblical truth and reinforce this truth through relationships with other children of the kingdom.

Experiencing our Mortality

I teach the teens on Wednesday nights… and this is a tough thing to try to get across to some of them. When I was 18 I was bullet proof as well.

But after you get older, get married, have children, have friends that you went to school with have heart attacks and cancer and pass away… then you start to think about your own mortality.

Our value systems become confused when we invest more of our thought and concern in things that are doomed to disappear than in that which will endure forever.

Agustine wrote, we must care for our bodies as though we were going to live forever, but we must care for our souls as if we were going to die tomorrow.

Does this mean that we should be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good? In fact, it is the opposite – when people become heavenly minded, they treasure the passing opportunities of this life and become more alive to the present moment.

Romans 8:18
Rom 8:18
(18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

So now… we understand there is two view, perspectives, paradigm of thinking… one is a temporal (earthly view) and the other is an eternal view.

What could keep someone from changing there perspective, having a paradigm shift? Could it be that they don’t trust God?

Can We Trust God?

As we’ve been discussing… we have two rival value systems.

The temporal value system demands no trust and dependence upon God because it is based upon what is seen.

The eternal value system is unseen and therefore requires a walk of faith.

2Co 5:7
(7) for we walk by faith, not by sight;

Can we trust God?

We can some up these two rival value systems in this table:

People who think temporal want pleasure, recognition, popularity, status, and power… but the pursuit of these things only leads to emptiness, delusion, and foolishness.

The opposite of that we have the eternal thinking people. Those are the ones who really think about the things they do and how they do them will give glory and honor to God. They make it a priority to know God, get His approval, being a servant, having integrity and character, with humility… these people have fulfillment, reality and wisdom.

1Pe 1:8-9
(8) whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and having been glorified,
(9) obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Our Earthly existence if not about us!

The most important thing for us to realize about our earthly life is that our life is about God and not about us; all things are created by him and for him, and we exist to serve God and not to persuade God to serve us.

Even in our jobs... we need to glorify and honor God. Colossians 3:22-24 states that in our careers, for example, we should execute our tash with quality and care as servant of Christ rather than pleasers of men. In other words we are working for God... to please God not to please man. Our ambition must be different from that of others; instead of pursuing position, power, prestige, or wealth, we should seek the approval of our God!

Bottom line is this... paradigm spirituality is about the way you see your spirituality. Do you see it as temporal or do you see your time here on earth breif and you must do what you can for the glory of God now.

Jesus said that we must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day: night is coming when no one can work... So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people... Conduct yourselvs with wisdom toward outsiders, making the mose of each opportunity.... Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men bus as wise, making the most of your time, becasue the days are evil... and time is short