The diagram, and the whole book, came from a revelation regarding the highlighted words.
Click on the links beside the diagram for articles about each of the sections.
EXPLANATION OF FIGURE 1.
The key elements in the diagram are these three words.
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See below for the introductory information about the diagram.
Click on the links beside the diagram for articles about each of the sections.
EXPLANATION OF FIGURE 1.
The key elements in the diagram are these three words.
The diagram, and the whole book, came from a revelation regarding the highlighted words.
| CONSUMERISM PERFORMANCE-ISM PERFECTIONISM |
These concepts came after prayer for revelation about our western world views. The three words came to my mind in a way that is hard to describe - as with a resounding thud, dropping into my mind like the foundation stones of a building. They brought together many ideas that I had been working on over the years, like the last pieces of a jigsaw, which revealed the significance of the whole picture. I had not had anything like this happen before.
These are the ways that the world works to meet our three basic human needs - which are: security, significance, and acceptance - things which God wants to give us all freely, as His created children.
I believe this is an expression of the scripture, 1 John 2:16.
In the garden of Eden, we see the first man and woman failing before these three things; and in the wilderness of Jordon, we see Jesus overcoming each one. Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4:3-10
"And when the tempter came to him (Jesus), he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
They are western cultural behaviors, and unhappily, they fit right in with Satan's scheme of things, as illustrated by Figure 1.
The other groups of three-word concepts illustrate the values, beliefs, and the world view which contribute to the make up of the two
opposing cultures. There is an answer, as always it is the Gospel - but it must be applied! Otherwise It is like knowing how to
play chords on a guitar, but never using them - and so never becoming a guitarist. See how to do this, in a new in-depth way,
here - "The Gospel from Head to Heart"
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
(In Greek the "pride of life" means to boast about one's livelihood.)
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit there, and did eat, and gave it also to her husband with her; and he did eat." Genesis 3:6
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil takes him up into the holy city, and sets him on a pinnacle of the temple, And says to him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall get his angels to look after you: and in their hands they shall bear you up, least at any time you dash your foot against a stone.
Jesus said to him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
Again, the devil takes him up to an exceedingly high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And says to him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me.
Then Jesus says to him, Get out of here, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Matthew 4:3-10