i) Lesson 6 HUMANISM’S METASTORY – The Story that is Shaping Western Cultures

Session 6

                     Read pages 130 - 156  

1) Is there validity to the way I have presented this meta-story or is it a caricature?
       Are these as significant / as “impossible” an event as the Big Bang itself?
               The Big Bang - the expanding cosmos - formed out of ???
               The Biological Big Bang - Life
               The Anthropological - Homo Sapiens
               The Psychological - Search for meaning / purpose / truth / justice etc
               The Bio-technological - human partnership with evolution
               "Deification" - Mankind perfected
 
2) Discuss the two key assumptions that this story makes?  Does our culture recognize / acknowledge these assumptions? How can we create awareness of these assumptions?  page 147

           - It’s all by chance (by implication - no god)  billions and billions of years
           - Truth is discovered only through reason working through the scientific method.
                   All answers to Life's Ultimate Questions arise out of these two

3) How is this meta-story shaping western culture and its soul?
        Think through these institutions:
             - education, health care, judicial system, politics (the progressive agenda), etc.
        Think through these life issues:
              - Life meaning / purpose, what is a human, our sexuality, ethics - right or wrong,
         Think through these rites of passage rituals
              - birth, adolescence, marriage, retirement, death, birthdays,
        The Meta-story suggests the possibility of extinction (page 145 - 146).
                        How does this fear impact our lives?

5) Wrap up         Romans 1:18-32        Atheism and Cultural Genocide - 10 Steps
         Do we see this moral slide in our “no - god (godless)” culture?
                Identify the current cultural stages of this slide as described in this passage.
                     A possible commentary on this passage.

         1) Not responding to the whispers of our conscience

         2) Not acknowledging / affirming God’s existence – Hebrews 11:6

         3) Not giving thanks, not worshipping Creator

         4) Pride – intellectual “games” to rationalize our “god-less” perspectives

         5) Elevating created things / ideologies to be the primary focal points of our lives

         6) Crossing Sexual boundaries. Cheapening sex.
               - using it to manipulate others rather than to celebrate covenant relationship.

         7) Men slide first / women fall next - women the last vanguard to protect
            cultural purity / integrity / moral strength.

         8) Increasing sexual perversion

         9) Complete breakdown of family and society - loss of civility

        10) Wholesale approval of evil, wholesale disapproval of the good

Understanding Sexual perversion from a Biblical Perspective.   Please read page 203 last paragraph (and following) to understand how I am using the term idol in these next four points for discussion.

         • Satanic attack on the Image Bearer, the idol - Genesis 1:27

         • Not merely destroying the temple.       Destroying the idol itself

         • The ultimate assault on the One who is represented by that Image / idol
                Satan cannot attack God directly so he focuses on the idol.

         • Our sexuality / marriage is the best illustration we have of what God is like.
             True love, covenant faithfulness, intimate knowing, unconditional acceptance
                  unlimited joy in, and jealous passion for the other (ie.  you are mine and mine alone), 

                    etc.

                        Ephesians 5:22- 33 especially verse 32

j) Lesson 7 WHAT IS TRUTH – The Need to make Faith Assumptions

Read pages 157 - 195.

Theme:  Not apologetics, but personal integrity and humility are the first steps towards finding truth.   The pathway to truth is through the heart, secondarily through the mind.

With respect to “Plato, Moses, and Aristotle” Page 157 - 163

 1) Discuss the 3-column chart on page 159.   Three different perspectives of reality.  How does each view of ultimate reality shape life in the day to day?  Which column best represents your life?

 2) If we, here in the West, don’t think deeply about these questions about foundational truth - then what will inevitably shape our lives, by default?

        Discuss:  People who don’t do basic philosophy will be led /  brainwashed by those who do. 

 Basic philosophy is simply the ability to reason logically down to foundational truths / assumptions.  

 Compare: People who don’t do theology will be led by those who do.  Berean Christians. Acts 17:11

A Reference Guide - The standard for truth in the various global spheres

• In Christianity - Revelation  - the Bible    (In practice however for far too many - we look to the leaders we “like”)
• In the West  - scientific evidence / logical reasoning - If science cannot prove it then it is myth or error.
• In the East - truth is intuitive    Becoming quiet so truth can be “dropped” into our minds / heart  “That flash of insight / the light turns on / Enlightenment”     The collected writings of the sages who were trained in this spiritual listening,
• In Islam - Revelation - the Quran from Allah, the Hadiths (traditions) from the First Community    In practice - Truth is found in trustworthy elders (community authority    “Leaders critically examine for truth. The rest simply accept their teachings.”     Islam is more an Oral tradition - unquestioning submission to Allah / Elders.

3) Discuss: Today there is a strong tendency to avoid thinking about these foundational questions.  Our postmodern culture has made these issues irrelevant.  Postmodernism teaches - life is short, it’s an accident, create your own meaning, ultimately life is  irrelevant, death is the end of me (ie. no judgement day), the key value today is fun, live for today, complete your bucket list, no need to address the big issues, they are far too divisive and ultimately irrelevant etc.

       To what degree have I absorbed (been brainwashed by) these sentiments?

 With respect to “The Challenge of Circular Reasoning” page 167 - 170

 4) Discuss the reality of brainwashing in every culture, in our culture and subculture.  How do we avoid this trap?  How do we prevent / minimize the brainwashing effect as we mentor and disciple the next generation?  Discuss the relationship between education and indoctrination.

By way of example - According to Einstein: A Life, a biography published in 1996, he was devoutly religious as a child. But at the age of 13, he “abandoned his uncritical religious fervor, feeling he had been deceived into believing lies”.

Christians would in turn argue that Einstein was shaped by (brainwashed?) by modernism’s foundational assumptions - reason and science are the pathway to truth.

How do we respond to "experts" in our culture?  Can experts be wrong, brainwashed as well?

5) Explore our human dilemma of needing solid  answers, yet having to make heart assumptions, because we simply do not have the ability to verifiably prove the “truth claims” we need to make.  (solid answers to meaning, purpose of life, what is truth, right or wrong, what comes after death etc.)

 With respect to “A Short History of the First Principle, the Axiom for “What is Truth?” pages 171 - 174

 6) What is accepted as “obvious truth” in our North American culture?  Consider the following: culture’s truth standard,  - reason working through science

•     cosmology,  origins - by chance over billions of years
•     meaning / purpose of life,  - ultimately there is none - we are accidents on an accidental planet.  We each need to make our own meaning as best we can with what nature / chance has given us.
•     morals, ethics?    - all have evolved / are the result of majority consensus, subject to change, to each his own 

Discuss the reality that within any belief system like atheism / Christianity faith assumptions become concrete facts in practice and in discussion.  We hold to them religiously.

7) Consider the reality of human pride.  How does pride shape our thinking, our search for truth?  Discuss the reality of our many limitations, our life choices, our physical, emotional, intellectual spiritual limitations.   (Sidebar Page 173)

 8) Discuss: My truth is first of all something that I love i.e. “something I want to be true” rather than something I logically know to be true.

• The epic error of Modernism may be the declaration that we are rational creatures.  
• The epic error of Postmodernism may be the claim that “what I feel is truth for me”
• We are driven far more by our wants and our fears, by our subconscious drives than we realize.  
• We are far more vulnerable to twisting and manipulating facts  than we realize,

 With respect to “Reality Checks … “ page 175 - 179

 9) The best that we can do in our effort to find truth is to examine and harmonize the confirmed facts from science, from history, from experience.   Discuss the danger of twisting known facts so that it supports the truth position that I want to be true.   How can we avoid this temptation?   How can we promote honesty, personal integrity in processing known facts?  

With respect to “Religion’s Reality Checks through Careful Responses to Critics”  (Page 188 - 9)

 10) Compare Christianity’s approach to criticism with that of Islam’s or Atheism’s.  How did these contradictory approaches develop?

With Respect to “External / Internal Validation” (Page 193 -195)

11) Share stories as to how truth was affirmed by the Spirit in your life.

12) Reread and discuss the short section “An Honest Question” page 194.  Do you agree / 
disagree with the suggested approach?  In evangelism we ask others from different faiths to consider our truth claims.  Should we be willing . diligent in considering theirs as well? 

Wrap up

John 14:6    In Judeo-Christian thinking truth is a person, not simply a dogma.  What
difference does that understanding make in our search for truth?

Matthew 13:10 – 17 This difficult passage describes the challenges facing us when stuck in our own “truth”.   The root problem is “hearts that have become calloused.”  Consider the impact of human pride / lack of humility, lack of awareness / acceptance of our creature-liness / the reality of our limitations / our brokenness.  

 How can we encourage these missing heart attitudes (in ourselves / in others)? 

 How does God attempt to develop these heart attitudes in us?  How does he attempt to break through all of our defenses? 

 

k) Lesson 8 THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN METASTORY – The Story with an Origin in Heaven itself.

Read pages 198 - 224

Possibly the best way to process this section is simply to have someone read this section orally (practiced  beforehand).  The rest just follow along or listen.  Simply allow the story to speak for itself.  After the reading share highlights / impressions / stirrings etc.  We need to begin with the confidence that God the Spirit  will come alongside any speaking of gospel truth.

 
I had the following objectives as I tried to tell the Biblical Meta-Story:

a) Summarize the Genesis to Revelation Story as short as possible
b) Provide a context sufficient to give meaning to “Jesus saves”
c) Truth not “dumbed down” but bare-bone basics
d) Clarify or bypass confusion (some areas that cause some to get stuck)
          Gen 1-9 / other religions /  broken church & Christians
          Suffering, evil, etc
e) Correct “Evangelicalisms” - deadly errors that are creeping into our churches
          Easy believism / decisionalism / health and wealth / it’s all just about going to heaven
          Emotionalism, theological shallowness, universalism (i.e. no hell) etc.
f) Inspire - a Story that needs to grab our heart and imagination

Possibly after the reading, critique it, discuss to see if and how well these objectives have been achieved.

1) One theme that runs through my presentation of the Biblical Story is that many have walked away from the Judeo-Christian Story because they have never really encountered the whole Story in a dynamic way. Many seem to think they are familiar with the Bible. But somehow they have never actually encountered the Story in a heart - shaping way? (This was the author’s experience and the seed that became this book - see preface) What might contribute to such a shallow - Bible understanding scenario in our lives, in our churches?

2) The creation account (Genesis 1 - 9) has created so much controversy. How many of our people have rejected the whole Bible Story based on unmovable claims based on the Genesis account. I have side stepped all of these issues believing them to be distractions. Why are we humans so prone to getting distracted by side issues, and as a result miss out on the main truths?

   

For the author's perspective on these chapters see website lifesultimatequestions.com and see tab Essays - scroll down to Reconciling Genesis with Science

    Discuss - agree / disagree

3) The key to living the Christian Life is to imagine ourselves participants within the Genesis Revelation  story. We all are so busy living our own little story (birth to death) that we so often forget the bigger story. How can we embed our story into His Story in a day to day way? Discussion starters - practicing the presence of God, Kingdom values & goals, prayer, witnessing, Kingdom communities etc.

4) Share together any experiences of a “Wow-encounter” with the truth in this “Revealed to us” story..

Wrap up

5) Read and reflect on 1 Peter 1: 3 - 12 A prophetically anticipated story that transforms our humanity 

1 Corinthians 2:9 a story more glorious than we (or angels) could have ever anticipated.

Is it too good to be true?  We use this adage when considering purchase / investments etc.

l) Lesson 9 APOLOGETCS - The Evidences that Strengthen Christianity’s Circular Reasoning

Read pages 225 - 254.

Limitations of Apologetics

1) One focus of this book has been to clearly show that everyone must begin with faith assumptions.
Everyone must make the leap of faith before they can even begin the reasoning process.
(See page 190 textbox)  Before we even begin with Apologetics we need to be aware of its limitations.

eg.  We can know that someone like Jesus did live at the turn of the millennia.  There is enough extra
biblical and extra-biblical evidence for that. But we do need to accept by faith that the Bible’s interpretation of that one
solitary life is the truth.

2) Discuss:  A good grasp of a strong apologetic of the Christian Faith can never prove the truth
of the gospel.  It can only show that the Jesus-truth is the best hypothesis (the best intelligent guess)
for life and all that needs explaining.  It is a far better hypothesis than all the others from the various
religions (including secular atheism) that are available.

(a biased statement to be sure but given after careful examination of all the facts))

3) How do we move from the humble realization that the Bible Story is the best hypothesis we have
to the confidence of faith that will stay true even in the face of a martyr’s death. (See page 193  External / Internal Validation)

Witnessing to Others

4) How important is the humble confession that we too are beginning, or did begin, with faith assumptions when we
share with others who are struggling to understand and believe?  

5) Why doesn’t God come right out and show himself to those struggling to belief?  Consider that
Jesus never appeared to any of the Pharisees after his resurrection? Consider too that only two
(Joshua and Caleb) entered the promised land from the whole generation that witnessed the Exodus
and all of the unbelievable wilderness wandering miracles.  Consider the value that God places on faith and a love
response to him. He could overwhelm anyone if he wanted to but he doesn’t.

Apologetics and Personal Growth

6) There are two struggles in our lives: first of all the struggle to believe that Jesus is indeed the “Way,
the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6)  and secondly the struggle to live that truth in our day to day through
all the ups and down of life’s varied situations. How are these two struggles related?.  Which of these
struggles is the focus within your life at this time? (Possibly a sharing and a praying for each other time.).

7) Western culture, and much of the church with it, is focusing more and more on experiences, on feelings. 
This is a reaction to the more intellectual approach to the faith of yesteryear?  (Apologetics was a strong
component of that earlier trend - during the age of Modernism / rationalism)  

    

How is this lack of apologetics teaching today impacting our grasp of and our commitment to the Christian Story? How is the increased emphasis on feelings in our day impacting the strength of our commitment to Jesus?

8) How important is it that every believer have a working knowledge of their personal 12 Stones?
How might one develop such a working knowledge?

9) Evaluate the following facts, realities.  How helpful are they for our individual struggle to believe
that Jesus is the truth,

• Many highly influential contemporary people have been solid believers in Jesus.  Stone # 6
• Many highly successful scientists are committed believers.  Stone # 8
• It is helpful to understand the negative bias (so often unrecognized) that critics of the Christian Faith have.
• Good intellectually satisfying answers have been presented by Christian apologists to all the criticisms leveled at Christianity and its book, the Bible.
• The Bible has earned the right to be seriously considered when searching for answers to life’s big questions.  (Most now a days simply dismiss the Bible out of hand. Most are unaware of its long unprecedented history.)

10) Today’s critics are strongly focusing on undermining confidence in the Bible as a reliable document
from antiquity. They see it simply as myth. They point to the unbelievable miracles, the supernatural events

in the Bible. When processing this criticism we need to be aware that we are dealing with a completely

different perspectives of reality. The atheists view reality simply as monolayered, no spiritual dimension,

no god, angels Satan etc. The Bible teaches a multilayered perspective of reality. There is both a godly

supernatural layer, as well as a Satanic evil layer. Both layers do intersect with our material layer.

Which perspective of reality fits our observation of our world better? Consider all the amazing advances in science

over the last half century. The mega information in DNA, molecular machines, .the mystery of life that

evolutionary scientists have tried to solve for 50 years with no success, the mystery of evil that seems

again to be overwhelming the human story.. ..

A perspective that allows for a Creator God will have no problem with miracle and the supernatural.

Wrap Up

Romans 1: 18-20  This passage claims that their is plenty of evidence for Biblical perspective of reality  Where is all this
evidence? What has happened to it? Consider the fact that most science facts need to be interpreted.

Has all the evidence been kidnapped by science?

 

Psalm 19  Possibly a simple meditative read-through as a closing.  God-evidence in creation,
in his Word, and in experience.

m) Lesson 10 AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY - More than a Tradition, More than Simple Mental Assent

Authentic Christianity - Discipleship : Twelve Steps that Embed my Life-story into His
Kingdom Story   Read pages 255 - 277, Review pages 23 - 36

1) How does a person become a believer?  When listening to testimonies of people who have
become Christians one is struck by the variety in this life changing experience.  No two
testimonies are alike.  We as humans are so prone to want to establish a formula for everything
including how to become a Christian.  This may be misguided.   In the context of all these
variables, what are the essentials?  How can true disciples help others find and follow the
Jesus path?

2) Process together the challenges, myths Christians today face in being authentic disciples. 
Discuss the Commit section, the categories of types of  “Christians” on page 257 - 258. 
(7 categories of “Christians” are listed.  Which ones qualify as the real thing?)

3) In what ways is popular culture shaping your life?  How is this influence creating anemic
Christianity in our churches?   Process the questions on Page 267 - 268.

4) Examine today’s popular Christian culture.  How is growth encouraged within today’s
Christian Culture,  in our homes, in our churches? Is it possible to live the story on a part-time
basis i.e. just Sunday, just a mini-devotional now and then?

5) Pages 269- 277  Take the Personal Assumptions Inventory (Appendix B).  Honestly seek to determine
which meta-story is influencing your own life the most.  Honestly ask yourself, "Which Cosmic
Story do I want to build my life on?  Which story do I believe is the true one?"  What steps do
you need to take to bring your life into line with your convictions?  

Wrap up

6) Reflect on Matthew 6:33   To what degree are the 12 disciplines from pages 23 - 36 part
of your life?  

How can we encourage each other to make following Jesus our first priority,

    really not just the first priority but the priority theme for every aspect of our lives?

        Discuss this nuanced difference.

  

7) Reflect on Matthew 28:18-20  (the key verb is ‘make disciples, the rest are subordinate verbs,  
Has the church placed so much emphasis on the "Go" that it has lost sight of the "make disciples"?)

.