[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_wp_text text=”For many Christians, it has become popular to dismiss “the world” as something evil or degenerate. Religious folks seem to take pleasure in decrying the worldly ways of the wicked, and bolstering some kind of Christian seclusion which, sadly, often deteriorates into a mixture of Evangelical Ghettos and Neo-Orthodox tribes powered by Christian music, living only for their own spiritual satisfaction.
But I understand where the hatred for the world comes from; after all, scripture seems to have plenty to say about the evils of this world (for example, “friendship with the world is enmity with God”, James 4.4.) Yet, the Bible also is chock full of references pleading with Christ-followers to love the world.
I have come to understand that there are really two ways to conceptualize the world. We can understand the world as God created it to be, a reflection of His authority and expression bearing His divine imprint and His seal of perfection; or, we can understand the world as it’s been corrupted by dominant forces of power and control.
In other words, we can look at the world either as God intended it to be; or, we can look at the way we ruined it.
This book is an exploration of our mandate to shadow God and heal the world, with an emphasis on remembering the goodness of the world God made.”][/vc_column][/vc_row]