The Reality Pyramid
THE REALITY PYRAMID
Whose reality are you living in?
Reality = the world or the state of things as they actually exist.
What makes up reality? What is shaping your reality?
Here is what Francis Schaeffer said about reality:
“God has communicated to man, the infinite to the finite. The One who made man capable of language in the first place has communicated to man in language about both spiritual reality and physical reality, about the nature of God and the nature of man.”
Our culture has been shifting from belief in an absolute objective reality that exists outside of ourselves and instead is adopting the belief that what we feel and think creates our reality. Does this present a tension? Can these both be true simultaneously?
The bible speaks to this very issue in Romans 1:19-20. 19“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Schaeffer also said, “Tell me what the world is saying today, and I'll tell you what the church will be saying in seven years.” How could he be so confident about that? How much influence is our world having on us and our view of reality. One way we can assess this is by looking at our daily diet of information. Why is it important to be careful about how much information we are receiving from the world. Because………they suppress the truth! Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Nate shared the “Wisdom pyramid” in a past sermon as a way to understand and evaluate our information intake. Take a look at these two examples:
Reality = the world or the state of things as they actually exist.
What makes up reality? What is shaping your reality?
Here is what Francis Schaeffer said about reality:
“God has communicated to man, the infinite to the finite. The One who made man capable of language in the first place has communicated to man in language about both spiritual reality and physical reality, about the nature of God and the nature of man.”
Our culture has been shifting from belief in an absolute objective reality that exists outside of ourselves and instead is adopting the belief that what we feel and think creates our reality. Does this present a tension? Can these both be true simultaneously?
The bible speaks to this very issue in Romans 1:19-20. 19“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Schaeffer also said, “Tell me what the world is saying today, and I'll tell you what the church will be saying in seven years.” How could he be so confident about that? How much influence is our world having on us and our view of reality. One way we can assess this is by looking at our daily diet of information. Why is it important to be careful about how much information we are receiving from the world. Because………they suppress the truth! Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Nate shared the “Wisdom pyramid” in a past sermon as a way to understand and evaluate our information intake. Take a look at these two examples:
Draw a pyramid reflecting these 6 levels and write down what sources of information you are taking in from greater to lesser. See how it compares to the wisdom pyramid above. Then take some time to consider how those sources are shaping your understanding of reality. Can you see any influence on the other areas of your worldview? Ultimate authority, humanity, purpose, and ethics?