The Tinted Window…

We all see things through a glass darkly. Unfortunately, we all see things through our own tinted window.

Everything we have ever gone through in our lives, our entire upbringing, our families, our education, our work, our friends, our acquaintances, our mates, our children, our churches, our faith—all give us a window through which we view the world differently from the person standing right next to us.

We try to keep to our particular worldview—the one we choose—the one we want to have. I actually want to have a biblical worldview. Yet I do things each and every day that keep me from having that worldview, and it frustrates me. Every time I don’t thoroughly examine my own actions through the lens of Scripture I’m in danger. Let me give an example.

I love spy novels. I became especially enamored with Vince Flynn’s series of books about Mitch Rapp, the CIA operative/assassin who hunts down high-ranking terrorists for elimination (or information, which usually involves torture). Okay, let’s reconcile that with Scripture…hmmmm…I’m searching for a verse…know what? Through my tinted window, I may be able to come up with something that will justify my thirst for the elimination of a terrorist, and my agreement with Flynn that the terrorist eliminated was totally unredeemable. I wonder if really want to confer with the Lord about that, though…

Another example might be that I watch movies or television shows that are culturally relevant to today. What do I mean by that? Colorful language is prevalent, innuendo abounds, all of it is wrapped around humor so funny I’m just about rolling on the floor…my stress is being relieved…ahh…here we go! I found Proverbs 17:22a: "A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing." [Amplified Bible]. Oops…lets look at verse 22b: "but a broken spirit dries up the bones." Well! King Solomon just had to impart that bit of inspired wisdom! And in Proverbs 14:13 he said, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief." [AB]. Gets me to thinking about what I find so funny…

All this to say, as I am learning more about the worldview I chose, I am learning more about true joy. Most of it comes in the morning for me. That’s when my worldview is closest to being worked out. It is only as my day progresses that it wanders from its true home. I’m learning to make those choices that more closely align me with the worldview I love, and to analyze fully the choices that steer me from the path of slavery to true freedom. It’s a wild and fascinating ride!