{"id":28946,"date":"2022-10-05T01:09:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T08:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=28946"},"modified":"2022-10-04T21:13:09","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T04:13:09","slug":"the-importance-of-a-growing-worldview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/the-importance-of-a-growing-worldview\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of a Growing Worldview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading Lyons article, \u201cThe Upheaval,\u201d and Solzhenitsyn\u2019s \u201cMen Have Forgotten God\u201d speech, I am challenged to consider, what value does a geopolitical framework provide Christians in engaging the world? <\/em><\/p>\n

Lyons argues that we are living in a time of \u201cepochal change\u201d in which at least three revolutions have impacted the world. One is a geopolitical revolution in that our world is seemingly becoming smaller and more interconnected. Whereas regional conflict that was once contained, at least to a degree, is no longer the case as an event in one location can have massive implications for the rest of the world. One example of this would be the economic inflation of the US and the implications our struggling economy has had on the rest of the world. A second revolution is on ideology, such as cancel culture, wokeness, social justice, <\/em>and the like. Lyons writes, \u201cwhatever its name, what\u2019s clear by this point is that this all-consuming new belief system is exceptionally zealous, insatiably revolutionary, self-righteousness brutal, and going ideologically viral with breathtaking speed and essentially no opposition.\u201d Finally, the third revolution is technological, the advancement of a digital world, which Lyons suggests is moving us into a post-truth era.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Solzhenitsyn\u2019s speech delivered in May of 1983 is an eerily prophetic call that holds as much truth in 2023 as when it was first delivered. Born and raised in Russia, Solzhenitsyn began to speak out against the brutalities of Stalin after serving as an officer in WWII. Reflecting on what led to this development of Russia, Solzhenitsyn plainly stated, \u201cMen have forgotten God; that\u2019s why all this has happened.\u201d Not only did men forget about God, but they had grown accustomed to this kind of world. This reminds me of 1 Peter 2:11, which says, \u201cBeloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.\u201d[2]<\/a> Solzhenitsyn does not blame any system or government, but instead says that the real problem was perpetuated by human nature, within every individual. Yet, though Stalin sought to stamp out religion, there was \u201csomething they did not expect: that in a land where churches have been leveled, where triumphant atheism has rampaged uncontrolled for two-thirds of a century, where the clergy is utterly humiliated and deprived of all independence \u2026 they could not suppose that beneath the Communist steamroller the Christian tradition would survive in Russia.\u201d There was, and is, hope! No matter how great the attack of Communism, \u201cit is doomed never to vanquish Christianity.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

In considering what value a geopolitical framework provides Christians, I am challenged by Lyons, who states:<\/p>\n

No matter where we live in the world, then, it would be wise for us to think carefully about the global chaos that is only beginning to consume us all. What is happening? Why is it happening? Where are we headed? What, if anything, can and should we do, individually and collectively?[4]<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This assignment has demonstrated the importance for me to more seriously consider how I can continue to grow in my geopolitical awareness. If I am honest, I would say this has not been a priority of mine in the past. This is not to say that I have fully neglected the topic, but that there is much room for improvement. Here are a few practices or considerations:<\/p>\n