I’m not writing about physical, financial growth, government growth, but spiritual growth in the principles of a kingdom’s worldview and lifestyle.
I am writing growth in the Christian viewpoint.
I am writing a simplistic explanation.
We can and will have growth in the things of God’s Kingdom or the things of the world.
Definitions
B1 Lifestyle:
C1 the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group. (Source)
C2 A standard of how one lives their life. It includes what is right/good, evil, and the practices and habits.
B2 Worldview:
C1 A worldview is a way of looking at and explaining life and the world. It serves as a lens through which the world is interpreted. It is a set of beliefs that influences a person’s perspective, values and actions. A worldview is a type of belief system or ideology. A person’s worldview can influence the way everything in the world is viewed, interpreted and explained. (Source)
C2 There are at least 5 questions to any worldview
D1 How did we get here (origin)?
D2 Why are we here (meaning)?
D3 Where are we going (future and afterlife)?
D4 Who’s in charge (highest authority—supreme being)?
D5 What is true/truth (nature of truth, objective/subjective, and (if objective) what is standard/source of truth)?
D6 What is right and what is wrong?
C3 This also has a standard
Things of the Kingdom of Evil
B1 Worldview
C1 Me first, but “me” is influenced by a higher power
C2 The love of me is primary, but the love of others is present but rarer.
B2 Lifestyle
C1 Whatever is comfortable to “self” and the powers of a society
C2 It is known by its actions. It usually does not adhere to the 10 Commandments. The Bible lists some of these actions. This does mean everyone in this list is done. Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sins, moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
B3 Rules
B1 Desires without restraint.
B2 Expression of opinion as only allowed by the power elite.
B3 Can be flexible depending on the needs and wishy-washy opinions of the elite.
B4 Leadership
C1 satan/lucifer/devil by whatever name a person or society gives.
C2 Self
C3 Controlling
C4 Suppressing
C5 Truth concealed and forbidden unless it is to the advantage of the elite.
Things of God’s Kingdom
B1 Worldview
C1 God first
C2 A person’s first or greatest love is for God and others foremostly, but the love of myself first is a constant temptation that many fall into.
B2 Lifestyle
C1 Let us think about the beauty of the Lord and His lifestyle. This doesn’t refer to the clothes and culture of Jesus’s time on earth. It refers to God’s character, His character traits, and His Kingdom. He is King. His kingdom has a beautiful worldview, lifestyle, laws, decisions, and rules. All these are formed from God’s love, wisdom, and holiness.
C2 An example. Wouldn’t the world be better and wouldn’t each of us be better if we lived this way? Galatians 5:22 But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Those, who are Christ’s, have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also conform to the Spirit. 26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.
B3 Rules
C1 Every kingdom has rules. God’s kingdom has rules. There are over 1,000 rules for the Christian. We must obey them, if we love God (John 14:15, 23-24). Here are a few from Ephesians 5:1-11Therefore, be followers of God like beloved children. 2 Live according to love like Christ also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant odor. 3 However, sexual sins, any moral corruption, and greed should never even once be mentioned among you (as is proper for saints), 4 Nor obscenity, silly talk, or ribald humor, which are not proper, but thanksgiving instead. 5 Surely you know this: that no sexually immoral, impure, or covetous (who is an idolater) person has any type of inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and of God. 6 Do not let anyone deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s hot anger comes on the children of stubborn disobedience. 7 Therefore, don’t be partakers with them. 8 For at one time you were darkness, but now light in the Lord, so live as children of light. 9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Testing things [to see if] they are acceptable to the Lord. 11 Do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, expose them instead.
B4 Leadership
B1 There are two styles of leadership.
B2 Styles of leadership
C1 Hunter—controlling, abusive, and demanding. Truth is suppressed. Expression is held down with any method possible.
C2 Shepherd—firm, liberty, listening, truth only, and expression encouraged. All these according to the principles of God’s kingdom as outlined above.
We grow in our worldview and lifestyle by learning and practice. What we read and see trains our perception. What we practice we get more proficient and increase in what we allow and live. If we practice evil, we will usually do greater evil. If we practice righteousness, we will act accordingly.
There is accountability.
Some quotes:
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“Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” ― Mae West
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“The Devil’s most devilish when respectable.” —Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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“it’s much better to do good in a way that no one knows anything about it.” ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
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“Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.” ― Simone Weil
Some Bible
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John 8:44 GNB You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.
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1 Thessalonians 5:22 GW Keep away from every kind of evil.
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Isaiah 5:20 NIV Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
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Matthew 19:17 NIV “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”