In Sunday School we are reading “Disordered – Lies about Human Nature and the Truth That Sets Us Free.” This book is authored by Rev. Christopher S. Esget, an LCMS pastor in the US. Pastor Esget begins by teaching us what he means by the title “Disordered.” By taking us through scripture and real-life application, Rev. Esget shows us that we cannot always trust our desires in this life nor our natural inclinations. Because of sin and the effects of sin we cannot trust ourselves in every situation to reflexively know what the faithful course of action should be in our lives as Christians.
Beginning with the scriptures and in particular Romans 7:19-20 “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” We see how there is in us a disordered desire. Even St. Paul himself speaks to the fact that we can all relate. That our sinful flesh still has a pull on us. The Christian’s goal in this life is not to arrest or gain control of our sinful flesh but to recognize it, confess it and wrestle with it. Esget says that our world right now refuses to do that.
The worldview that we face and see every day around us, is a worldview that says, “There is no right nor wrong. Each person decides for themself what is true and good.”
If you’re like me you were nodding in agreement with the author. To further help us in navigating this worldview and to watch ourselves, we are taught two words that are helpful.
Mimetic worldview vs. Poietic worldview
A mimetic worldview is founded on the idea that there is a creator and created order. Humans are to discover the meaning of the world in nature and act accordingly to what is good and true. We mimic nature and order in our lives that we see played out and learned through study of God’s word.
A poietic worldview believes that man creates his own meaning but has no purpose in particular. Instead of replicating what is good and beautiful in our various callings, we make up or create what our reality is.
In a mimetic worldview “responsibility, duty and the objective law (for Christians, this includes the Ten Commandments) will be foremost in framing his actions. Thus, a man with a wife is a husband, and he lives out his life doing what husbands do…He does not seek for himself different identities or create for himself his own meaning.” Pg. 61
In a poietic worldview a person decides what is true for themselves. This explains why people believe they can even change their sex from male to female or whatever they desire. The poietic worldview exposes that humanity in its fallen condition will desire the wrong things. Our sinful flesh desires things even contrary to God’s law.
These two words also help us in examining our own hearts. Are we following desires and inclinations that are according to God’s order according to his will? Or are we looking to be our own gods and establishing what we desire as the ultimate good?
I found these terms to be useful for forming my own worldview. What is it that I desire that is contrary to God’s will for my vocation as pastor, husband and father? What does God’s word teach me? What do I learn from input from other fathers, other pastors?
St. Paul also mentions that a mimetic worldview is important to our lives as Christians when he says in 1 Cor. 11, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor. 11 23-26)
St Paul says we are to mimic or have a mimetic worldview of the sacrament of the altar. We are to take what we’ve been given and be faithful with Christ’s institution. We can’t just make up what we want. Would it be easier to just let anyone come to communion? Yes, it certainly would but the question we should ask is, “Is that a disordered desire?” Is that looking at God’s word from a mimetic or a poietic worldview?
Indeed, it would be poietic if we were to use the Lord’s Supper according to what we think it should be in opposition to God’s word and institution.
Disordered desire is what we should fight against each day when we remember we are baptized and have been given a new life with new desires. Our desire is 2 Cor. 5:9 “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him…” Phillippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
So, for ordered desires we live by faith in the word of God who teaches us and by the Holy Spirit guides us.
In Christ,
Pastor Ottmers