What works

In a strictly practical approach to analyzing life, we can simply ask, “What works?”  In other words, we can look at a variety of lifestyles, life choices and worldviews and ask if any of these “work”.  But in order to answer the question, we have to know what “works” means.  I would guess that most haven’t given thought to the criteria they use to determine if a particular lifestyle or worldview is successful.  Can we say the man who chooses homelessness as a lifestyle is successful?  We can if his goal was to be free of financial responsibility  and material ownership.  Can we say the pansexual is successful?  We can if his or her goal is to satisfy the sexual drive at any cost.  Can we say the business man is successful?  We can if earning their first million by 30 and ten million by 35 and they do so, at whatever cost.
But if we shift the goals of these life choice one space to the right, we would have to say that they have all miserably failed.  What really is at stake here is determining how we define success and upon what ground that definition is built.  Are we willing to define "success" upon our own thinking?  Are we willing to build our entire life and influence the lives of those around us, simply because we think we are doing the right thing, based on our own wisdom? 

The framework of worldview

Any idea or concept can only make sense or “works” within the culture/context/worldview in which it is conceived or fabricated.  Of course, a “foreign” idea will most likely be irrational, ridiculous or just “stupid” outside of its home worldview. So, it should come as no surprise that the world will “hate”, “find irrational” or reject the ideas, concepts and practices of the Christian worldview, as these things are completely foreign to worldly thinking.

But this does not necessarily mean that truth cannot be found outside of the Christian worldview.  Because people are almost always inconsistent within their embraced beliefs or practices, they will, inevitably believe or practice something that actually originates from within Christianity, as all men are made in the image of God and therefore will, in some senses, be drawn toward truth.

Those things, of which people are personally concerned, they will remain concerned with, even after becoming a Christian. The content stays the same, but the framework changes.  The form of the concern may change and the answer for the concern may change, but the concern remains.

But this does not take into account the problem of inconsistency.  Because no one is ever perfectly consistent in their beliefs, one may embrace a belief or practice that is inconsistent with their own stated beliefs, simply because they have not thought through the foundations or implications of such a belief.  This is why it is so important to ask questions.  If there is a belief or practice within the framework of your beliefs (Protestant, Evangelical, Orthodox, Roman Catholic or otherwise), that you don't understand or doesn't seem to make sense, ask the question.  It very well could be that you have uncovered an inconsistency within  that system or within yourself.  Find the answer and adjust your beliefs accordingly.

On a personal note, I have found that the beliefs and practices of Eastern Orthodoxy is the only system that can stand under any and all scrutiny.

Telling a good story

When we read the gospels, a large percentage of Jesus’ teaching is done via story.  Jesus tells a good story to communicate a truth that is helpful to his listeners.  I think it is valuable to see this potential everywhere.  One relatively difficult aspect of this learning to see/hear the story as a means to learn, as a tool for gaining further or deeper understanding. 

One only needs to look at Hollywood to see that storytelling is a huge industry, that is very popular.  Unfortunately, a very large portion of the stories that are told are absolute garbage, but the reality of what is taking place should not be ignored.  

We know from history that storytelling is widely loved.  We should recognize the value of this tool and learn to glean from the stories that we hear, what is valuable and what is not.  We should not simply sit back and allow the author to pour his version of reality into our heads without questioning and analyzing what is going in.  It is our responsibility as adults and as Christians to be fully aware and critical of this. 

So the point?  Learn to think, learn to analyze, learn to be critical.  Every book we read and every movie we see is telling a story.  Is the story true, in regards to the worldview that is being promoted?  Is the story beneficial?  Does it provide something for us to grow in, in understanding, in knowledge, in wisdom?  Can we take, even the simplest or rudimentary storyline and extract something valuable?  Or do we simply waste our time being mindlessly entertained, gaining nothing from our spent two hours?  Make good use of your time, even your "off" time.  We actually have very little.

Rock-n-roll

Communication of worldview is inevitable.  It very well may be that one cannot understand, fathom or make sense of what is being communicated.  One very well may not understand one’s own worldview, i.e., not even understand what one is communicating.  But communication takes place in everything we do.   

I bring this up due to my recent exposure to the band “The Swans”.  I have heard their name over the years but never listened to their music.  It occurred to me that when someone makes “music” like the Swans, they are not doing so in order to make excellent music that communicates excellence.  They are doing so, in my opinion, to communicate their worldview, deliberately.  Music like the Swans, the Sex Pistols, GG Allin, Napalm Death, etc., etc. is not made in order to be good music. It is made to challenge, to provoke and to indulge. 

I think this is important to realize when listening to this category of entertainment.  Some may be entertained by this sort of thing, but musically, it becomes boring quite quickly and is simply vulgar.  Sure, they may be challenging the status quo, they may be pointing out and articulating some things that are wrong with our society, but I think that there are better ways to achieve these goals. 

This music is provocative, ugly, violent and aggressive.  But that is the goal.  But it is not meant to be long lasting, good music.  We need to seek out the motivation of the artist in order to be responsible and have understanding of what is taking place. 

When it comes down to it, this is really an examination of rock-n-roll.  Rock-n-roll was started as a medium for rebellion.  Rock bands do what they do (at least the ones who are not in it for the money), the idea is to create a new form of music that is contrary (and really) the opposite of what is currently popular.  The idea is to push the boundaries, to break the barriers, to fight against that which is currently acceptable. 

I really don't have an end goal in all of this but only to say that any kind of involvement, on our part, in any form of entertainment or art ought to be done with understanding.