A teaching presentation on the biblical worldview in the evangelical tradition

1. Biblical The Worldview a project of RBC Ministries [Revised: August 11, 2010]

2. Meaning of the Triangle Logo: The upward facing red triangle represents the Christ-centered (trinitarian) worldview and coming world-reality based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. The downward facing black triangle represents the alternative world reality offered by Satan, the Prince of Darkness. The central outline triangle represents the worldview of people—indicating that we can choose either of the two worldviews. Its downward direction, however, shows that original sin (the Fall) has people bent toward the darkness, and that people have to “choose life” by accepting the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and adopting the Christ-centered worldview.

4. the way of truth & life God in Lordship over all God People Earth stewardship fellowship ownership Paradise: the “ peaceable kingdom” (shalom)

6. God People Earth stewardship fellowship ownership The “ peaceable kingdom” The attributes of God: righteous (right in behavior and true in nature), gracious, loving, just, good, and immortal The attributes of people: (imaging their Creator) right in behavior, true in nature, obedient to God, gracious, loving, just, good, creative, and—having access to the tree of life —immortal The attributes of the earth: perfect provider, subservient (to God and people), whole, and fully alive covenant covenant Symbol: Tree of Life

8. God People Earth The response of people to the earth: (covenant of care, compassion and priesthood) management development creative use compassionate use wise use The response of the earth to people : provision (“always enough”) obedience The response of people to God: obedience humility worship praise The response of the earth to God: obedience praise

10. Satan usurped lordship over the earth and turned everything upside down Satan People Earth stewardship fellowship ownership Relationships broken. Shalom shattered. Paradise lost. Satan: opposed to God, profane, unrighteous, deceptive, unmerciful, unloving, unjust, evil, doomed to everlasting bondage in the lake of fire. Earth: imperfect provider, resistant to people, fragmented, and blighted by death (“never enough”) People: self-centered, deceptive and deceived, profane, unmerciful, unloving, unjust, evil, violent, and, being denied access to the tree of life, condemned to die Symbols: Tree of Death (Knowledge of Evil) Tree of thorns

14. God’s lordship and the peaceful, harmonious relationships (shalom) ultimately restored by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Satan’s defeat was assured. God People Earth stewardship fellowship ownership Paradise regained. Shalom restored. Symbols: Tree of Calvary Crown of Thorns

18. eternal way of truth & life Jesus Christ in Lordship over all God People Earth stewardship fellowship ownership Everlasting shalom Symbol of future shalom: Tree of Life

21. economics and the Two Ways Appendix 3: When economists speak of the “bottom line,” they usually refer to profit—the money that’s left over when all the costs have been factored in. But thinking of money as the bottom line is wrong, and it is the cause of many of the world’s social and environmental crises. The true bottom line is the same as the bottom line of the relationship triangle used to illustrate the Two Ways worldview: how well people are carrying out their stewardship responsibilities toward the earth . Until recently, economists have not added in the costs of a degraded environment nor have they assessed carefully the circumstances of the millions of disenfranchised people of the earth. In short, they discount all the interrelated elements of the relationship triangle. Hence, most economies end up operating by the principles of the way of deception and death .