Two Opposing Views

Two  Opposing Views

June 24 Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME

            Acadia National Park is a beautiful place. It is full of gorgeous scenic mountain-views looking over the Atlantic Ocean. There is a 20-mile loop road that takes you all through the park. There are several scenic overlooks where you can stop and see different view of the ocean. On this trip we were looking at some of the same sights we had seen from our Boat tour on Wednesday. We saw the lighthouses, the sandy beach, thunder hole and Cadillac Mountain. Many of them didn’t look anything from the overlook like they did from the boat. One especially didn’t- that was the Thunder Hole. You experience the thunder of the sea against the rocky shores of Maine. On calm days you may wonder what all the fuss is about! But wait until the waves kick up a few notches. They say the best time to go see it about two hours before high tide. It is a small inlet, naturally carved out of rocks, where the waves roll into. At the end of the inlet, down low, is a small cavern where, the rush of the wave arrives, air and water is forced out like a clap of distant thunder. Water may spout as high as 40 feet with a thunderous roar! Hence the name: Thunder Hole. There was a walkway leading down to where the waves crashed into the cavern so you could see and experience what happens there. It was pretty amazing. Not the same as the view from the boat.

            As we were riding along the park loop road and seeing things from such a different perspective, I began to think of the Christian world view vs a secular worldview.  The Word says in Romans 12:2 “and do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  That is working towards living from a Christian World view. What is a world view? It reminds me of looking through a “grid” to make decision about how to live your life.  Webster’s defines worldview as a particular philosophy of life or conception of life.

  The chart below will give you an idea about the difference between Christian view and the secular view in thinking and how you view life:

Christian view	Secular view
Reduce your sense of self  Lk. 9:24-26 Decrease our sense of self-importance and measure ourselves against Jesus Phil. 2:2-4	Improve your sense of self
True knowledge is from God I Cor. 3:18 We can share knowledge and experience with others. God sees the big picture and has a plan for us. True wisdom comes from God and is written in His Word, the Bible.	Knowledge is from human thought
Getting ahead is losing self Mt. 6:19-21 I John 2:15-17 True success is accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior Goal is finding humility and grace	Getting ahead is money and power Based on the premise that the more earthly success we achieve, we gain as individuals. Success is defined by fame, riches, and power.
Narrow is the way to heaven Mt. 7:14-15 The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ as our Lord.	Wide is the way of tolerance Within each person’s power to get themselves to heaven through good behavior
Serve others first Mt. 21:16 True success in serving others as Jesus served. His example of humility in Phil 2:5-11 is our example for putting others first.	Serve self first Having others serve you is a measure of privilege of power, wealth and success.
Jesus makes you good I Jn. 1:9 Jesus died on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven. If we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we shed our sinful self and become a renewed being.	Good deeds make you good