George Barna - Think Like Jesus: Make the Right Decision Every Time

Think Like
Jesus

Think Like
Jesus

BY GEORGE BARNA

THINK LIKE JESUS

Copyright 2003 by George Barna.

Published by Integrity Publishers, a division of Integrity Media, Inc., 5250 Virginia Way, Suite 110, Brentwood, TN 37027.

HELPING PEOPLE WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE the MANIFEST PRESENCE of GOD.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Literary Agents, Orange, California.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations indicated KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Cover Design: David Uttley
UDG | Designworks
www.udgdesignworks.com

Interior: Inside Out Design & Typesetting

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Barna, George
Think like Jesus: make the right decision every time / by George Barna.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-59145-019-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 1-59145-123-X (international paperback)

1. Christian Life. 2. Decision makingReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.
BV4509.5.B373 2003
248.4dc21

2003008207

Printed in the United States of America
03 04 05 06 07 RRD 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

PART 1 :
PERSPECTIVES ON THE STATE OF WORLDVIEWS

PART 2 :
DEVELOPING A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

PART 3 :
PRACTICING A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

L IFE IS OFTEN A STUDY IN OPPOSITES. This book is an example. On the one hand, this has been one of the most enjoyable and challenging books Ive written, allowing me to spend numerous hours examining the Bible and reflecting on its truths and principles and how they fit together into a comprehensive and coherent perspective. On the other hand, this has been the most difficult book I have ever written, pushing me way outside my comfort zone to fulfill a calling I keenly feel but which scares me nevertheless.

Given the challenges, pressures, tensions, and fears related to this project, the resulting book could not have been completed without the active and invaluable participation of a diverse group of supporters.

A variety of friends and colleagues provided assistance ranging from theological perspectives and manuscript reflections to spiritual support through prayer and encouragement. Such help came from Henry Blackaby, Chuck Colson, Connie and David DeBord, Gary and Catherine Greig, Chuck and Jeanette Laird, Kevin and Kathy Mannoia, Steve Russo, Danny Sartin, and John and Pam Saucier. Thank you for blessing me so profusely with your wisdom and enthusiasm.

My colleagues at Barna Research helped out in many ways. I am thankful to Irene Castillo, Lynn Gravel, Cameron Hubiak, Pam Jacob, David Kinnaman, Dan Parcon, Celeste Rivera, and Kim Wilson for their gracious support.

My publishing team played a significant role in the development of the final product. Specifically, I am indebted to Anita Palmer of Sam Hill Editorial Services for her flexibility as well as for her encouragement and sensitive editing; to Sealy and Curtis Yates for their representation of my work to the publishing community; and to my friends at Integrity Publishers. In particular, Joey Paul was instrumental in helping to guide this project, and Byron Williamson shared the vision for this material.

My most beloved support group is my family. They paid a big price to allow me to wrestle through this material. My wife, Nancy, deserves all the credit in the world for encouraging me, reading draft after draft, keeping the world at bay in order to protect my writing bubble, and juggling more family and company responsibilities than were reasonable during the writing period. My daughters, Samantha and Corban, cheerfully encouraged me throughout the project and refrained from making me feel guilty for not spending as much time with them as all of us desired. I pray that God will bless them in abundant ways for their selfless support of my attempt to help people know, love, and serve our Lord more significantly.

In the end, I am most grateful to God for giving me the opportunity, the ability, the physical strength and the spiritual protection to complete this book. May its impact advance His ways and His kingdom.

Introduction
DID I MISS SOMETHING?

T HE FORTY-FIVE-MINUTE DRIVE from Ventura to the Santa Barbara Airport is one of my enjoyable escape routes. Flying these days is drudgery, but it seems less torturous when your passage to the airport is so scenic. Most of my drive offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean under cloudless blue skies and a blazing sun that glistens off the rolling waves, reminding me of the Creators beauty. A recent Monday morning sojourn to the airport followed that description to a T.

My post-drive mellow attitude survived the usual airport hassles, and I boarded the small jet that would deliver me to Dallas. I strapped myself in, removed a hardback volume about leadership from my briefcase, and began to lose myself in the book. I couldnt help but notice my seatmate, though: The young man carried on an animated conversation with two casually clad buddies in the row behind us. They behaved like a trio of college fraternity brothers, swapping snide comments about work colleagues and fantasizing about the barhopping they anticipated in Dallas.

THE CONVERSATION

Halfway into the flight, my reading was interrupted by the flight attendants offer of a beverage to complement the skimpy bag of peanuts provided as sustenance. Bored with his peers, my seatmate seized the opportunity to engage me in conversation.

Reading for work? he asked with a knowing smile.

An intense introvert by nature, I dread such small talk with strangers I am likely never to see again. But, knowing that my faith in Jesus Christ is meant to be shared in ways that leave a positive influence on the lives of others, I have made peace with such experiences and recognize that God may have a purpose for the engagement. Nothing happens by accident, so perhaps there was a deeper purpose for this encounter. With some emotional discomfort and spiritual anticipation, I entered the fray.

Yeah.

Okay, I didnt enter it with much gusto, but it was a start.

Whats it about? my inquisitive junior asked.

Its about the spiritual dynamics of leadership development. I work with leaders to try to help them maximize their skills and abilities. Books like this help me know what other developers of leaders are discovering about how to do that more effectively.

The introvert in me was proud of having strung together three coherent sentences on my favorite topic. But, hey, give me a break: at least I had refrained from smothering my seatmate with Christianese before he took the first sip of his five-dollar vodka and tonic.

Huh.What kind of leaders do you work with?

There it was, the question that had killed a thousand conversations before. But, I reasoned, if God is in controland there is no doubt in my mind that He always has been and always will bethen honesty is the best policy.