Category Archives: Philosophy & Ethics

Reframing Spirituality

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in New Posts, Philosophy & Ethics, Sociology, The State, Theology, Unio Mystica

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As I push through my doctoral reading regarding biblical concepts and approaches in  pastoral leadership I find one conversation very interesting. Several of my readings have alluded to an idea found within the study of organizational structures called  Dramaturgical Theory (Boleman and Deal, 2008).

According to the theory, people in organizations (secular or religious), “…perform” at their jobs. Like the theater, success depends on a “recognition that performances play with reality in such a way as to turn the taken-for-granted into a plausible appearance” (Boleman and Deal, Reframing Organizations, p.293).

This concept is not new. It was developed back in the 1960′s by psychologist, Erving Goffman who proposed that “instead of looking inwards at where our behavior comes from, we should look outwards, at what our behavior is trying to achieve” (Simon P. Walker, Leading out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership, p.24). In other words, a successful “performance” should persuade others to a point of believability. Let’s just say it should be “authentic”.

The problem arises when authenticity is only acted out on the front stage and not the back stage of our lives. How many people do you know like that? They will do anything to get applause. They will perform their dance with all the right props, lighting, and sound effects in order to make their lives plausible. Yet when they retreat backstage they find their lives are a mess. This is reality for them. What causes that? Can it be confusion about their fundamental approaches to spiritual formation? Their lack of understanding between the mind and the heart?

What does it mean to be “transformed” into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18)? Is this merely one approach, or are there more. What does Paul mean when he says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”(Rom.12:2)? How do you do spiritual formation? What spiritual disciplines do you exercise to ensure the authentic performance of your faith?

The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World

04 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in New Posts, Philosophy & Ethics

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“The greater our familiarity with the ideas that have shaped our culture over the centuries, the greater our ability to understand–and influence–that culture for Christ. From ancient Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle to Christian philosophers like Augustine and Aquinas to the molders of modern thought such as Kant and Nietzsche, R. C. Sproul traces the contours of Western philosophy throughout history and demonstrates the massive consequences these ideas have had on world events, theology, the arts, and culture–as well as in our everyday lives“–back cover flap.

You will not be disappointed. This is vintage Sproul, accurate, cogent, and just plain insightful. There are very few authors  who can take difficult concepts and ideas and make sense of them for his audience–a must read!

What It Takes To Find Meaning

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by in Anthropology, Biblical Worldview, New Posts, Philosophy & Ethics, Science

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In this Q & A session Ravi Zacharias is joined by Scientists Dr. Lou Alberts and Dr. David Block, in their discussion of the concept of the fall of man and the meaning of life. This is part 2 of 4. I encourage you to listen to the entire session. It’s well worth it! Following is Ravi’s assessment on what it takes to find meaning.

Every person who says they have meaning must have these four components:

1. A Sense of Wonder. The alternative is boredom or monotony.

2. The need to have the Knowledge of the Truth. Just because I find meaning does not mean, therefore, it is meaning. It needs to be within the confines of truth. Otherwise LSD/Cocaine in my veins can give me meaning too.

3. The Experience of Love

4. The Confidence of Security

Ravi Zacharias, Radio Broadcast, Mind and Heart Q&A (part 2 of 4) http://www.rzim.org/resources/listen/justthinking.aspx

God’s Chorus Line

22 Thursday Jul 2010

Posted by in Biblical Worldview, New Posts, Not-So-Often Devotionals, Philosophy & Ethics

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A Chorus Line is a musical about seventeen Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line.
With nineteen main characters, it is set on the bare stage of a Broadway theatre during an audition for a musical. The show provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers.
Specifically, A Chorus Line takes the audience through the final grueling audition run by the director, Zach, for a new Broadway musical. At the beginning of the show, Zach, a driven, compulsive worker, has assembled thirty semi-finalists and is putting them through a vigorous series of dance combinations, including ballet and jazz. Soon he thins this group down to the final sixteen, eight boys and eight girls. They and the audience know that eventually this number will be cut in half and Zach will choose only four boys and four girls to be in his new musical.
After these brave dancers explain why they go through a life filled with rejection and injury-What I Did for Love, Zach makes his selection, eliminating the last group who reluctantly leave the stage. The lights soon fade on the remaining eight ecstatic dancers as they are told to prepare for rehearsals of their new Broadway show. They fade only to come up as each performer, now dressed in full, shimmering finale costume, reappears to receive an individual bow before joining together to perform the brilliant dance finale and showing exactly the talent, guts, and determination it takes to make it into a chorus line.
Christians are dancing in the “Dance of Life” through a series of rigorous dance combinations-faithfulness, love, integrity, prayerfulness, community, authenticity, reality, truth, etc., etc.
In the parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20) we see several analogous criteria giving us a glimpse in what it takes to dance well. The various soils represent human hearts (the dancers). The inhospitable hearts in the parable gradually become more and more receptive (from indifferent, to opportunistic, to very interested), but nevertheless remain preoccupied with the cares of their present life in rebellion against God’s true purposes. They did not make the final cut. The “good soil” represents a consistently attentive and accepting heart. Think of them as the final eight who make it into a chorus line.
The “audition” of life is grueling at times. It is run by THE director, unlike Zach in many ways, who tirelessly encourages His people to keep on dancing. God wants you to make the final cut…DANCE WELL!!
OJD