The question is not whether the whole of our lives will by shaped by some grand story. These five tools, which I’ll be exploring in detail over the next five weeks will help us form a matrix, or framework, through which we can fulfill our calling in a way that glorifies God, serves the common good, and furthers his kingdom. The problem many of us experience is that the models we use to understand the world around us and make decisions are often based on our experiences and the surrounding culture. They help shape actions and behavior, influence what people pay attention to in complicated situations, and define how people approach and solve problems. Mental models are based on incomplete facts, past experiences, and even intuitive perceptions. a person’s understanding of the surrounding world. …a person’s thought process for how something works (i.e. Susan Carey’s 1986 journal article, “Cognitive Science and Science Education,” defines a mental model as, These five cognitive tools are similar to what some have described as mental models. Biblical Self-Interest – Understanding that obedience to God’s call on our lives is in our own best interest.
Stewardship – Understanding that we are accountable to God for what we do with everything that he has given us.ĥ. Wisdom and Knowledge – Understanding that as Christians, we trust the Bible as our only authoritative source for faith and practice.Ĥ. Gifts and Talents – Understanding your comparative advantage.ģ. Personal Vision – Understanding who God has created you to be and what he has called you to do.Ģ. By using these tools, we can take biblical principles and apply them to the various contexts we encounter in our daily lives.ġ. In order to answer that question, I want to offer five cognitive tools based on scriptural teaching that can help us simplify and organize the countless inputs we get from the world around us.Īs Christians, these tools should shape and support our thinking and decision-making, as well as enable us to build a holistic biblical worldview. How do I apply the principles that you are teaching to what I do every day? One question I am often asked when I speak to groups about both my book and what we do at IFWE is, Five Tools for Applying Faith, Work, and Economics to Your Life It requires being able to combine all of these things in order to make sense of the daily decisions we must make to live out our lives. It requires understanding the Bible in its original intent, its contexts, and its modern day relevance. It requires learning to think critically and practically about what the Bible has to say. Thinking biblically requires much more than memorizing a lot of Scripture. Scripture is the standard by which we must test all other truth-claims.
As Christians, we are committed to the Bible as the inerrant and authoritative Word of God. John MacArthur writes in his book Think Biblically,Ī truly Christian worldview begins with the conviction that God himself has spoken in Scripture. We must learn to think differently – to think biblically – because what we think shapes who we are. In a world of differing voices competing for our allegiance, God tells us that we must learn to “think biblically” so we can distinguish good from evil and act accordingly. Then you will be able to test what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. The untamed episode 50 explained.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.