During Vacation Bible School this past summer, the Adult class studied relationships. We explored our relationships with friends, with family, with spouse, and with God. One of the tools I used to help those attending the class grasp a new understanding of the way we view relationships and how we react to others was a psychological instrument known as “The Four Lenses.” I often use “The Four Lenses” when I work with couples at a marriage enrichment retreat and am contemplating how this instrument might be used in pre-marital and marital counseling. The premise of “The Four Lenses” is that each of us has a predominant view or lens that we use to understand the world and it is from within that view that we make decisions that affect our life and relationships. Additionally, most of us have a secondary view or lens that supports our understanding of the world, and it is in understanding these “primary and secondary lenses” that we receive assistance in making sense out of what we believe; what we do; and how we treat and value other people.

In the seven months that I have been using “The Four Lenses” I have found it very helpful in understanding myself and others with whom I interact. It is always helpful to know why we have a tendency to act and react in certain ways. It is also helpful to understand why others have a tendency to act and react in certain ways. I suppose what “The Four Lenses” has done for me is to help identify the motivating factors that are so important to us even when we seem unable to use what we know to help us make decisions. Sometimes, if we can understand the “why,” it will help us make sense of the “what.”

With all of that said, we can also begin to see and understand how we view our faith and the Church. Depending on the lenses we view the world through determines whether we are more inclined to be traditional or contemporary, conservative or liberal, liturgical or free-form. How we view the importance of theology and doctrine is partially determined by the lenses we use to view the Church. In essence, we begin to understand whether our faith-view or our world-view drives the way we act and react in our daily lives.

Perhaps it might be helpful for each of us to think about the aspects of our faith that are important to us. What is it that defines our Christian faith and the way we live out that faith? Is evangelism and the spreading of the gospel the lens through which we live out our faith? Is worship our lens, or property, or social ministry, or Christian education? Can we broaden our view to see new ways to minister to others and new ministries that engage us? Or do we need to select one or two ministries that define the congregation and become masterful and effective at what we do?

In the days ahead, let’s think about what our views are and how it is that we see and understand our faith and the Church. Let’s talk about those views and share our ideas. It will help us understand each other better as we grow spiritually and faithfully as members of the Body of Christ and St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Butler +