Recently I saw this sign on the back of a car, ‘The problem with having an open mind is that people keep wanting to put things in it,’which seems to be a variation of a quote by Terry Pratchett. Thinking about this quote, what are you feeding your mind? Is it the values of the world from popular magazines and TV shows?
Unfortunately this is a common problem for each of us and also for our young people. According to ‘A spectator’s guide to worldviews- ten ways of understanding life,’ a new book, published by Bluebootle books ‘we are influenced every day in ways we don’t even notice.’ This is fact advertisers and those selling their products count on. They know this only too well and so regulate their ads to maximize the effect of this tendency. Some of us are better than others ant resisting advertising and the urge to buy whatever the latest product on offer. But it’s not just in material ways that people are influenced and especially our young people. Too often people don’t understand the particular world view being pushed behind certain films and music etc.
It is so easy for us to be influenced by the world’s standards and the views being pushed in many films, songs and advertising campaigns. So many advertising campaigns work on the premise of selfishness and that you as an individual are worth more than anyone else. Slogans such as ‘you’re worth it,’ or It’s all about you,’ etc promote a selfish world view.
We only have to look at our world to see that even though we have adequate resources to feed people in this world, many are dying of starvation every day. Why? Because people are more concerned with getting the latest gadget, or maintaining their comfortable lifestyle and providing for themselves than caring for the needs of others. Imagine if each of us decided to forgo just one of our pleasures, what we could do with the money saved.
As it draws near to the Christmas giving time of year, charities are desperate for help for people. The Ulysses Club, a group of motor cycle riders all over 40 years of age, is conducting the annual fun run and collecting for several charities. The charities have urged them to collect food this year, which is indicative of the way many people are struggling even in this land of Australia generally known as ‘The Lucky Country.’
Our faith is worthless unless it is also practical, James 2:20, 26. This is the idea behind ‘A spectator’s guide to word views- ten ways of understanding life,’ edited by Simon Smart. His aim is to aim integrate faith and daily living.
Can I suggest that as Christians it should also be the aim of each of us? What practical steps can you take this week to show the correlation between your faith and daily living?
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Practical Christian living- matching words and actions