While I’ve never been able to figure out the use of it, I still remember the math class in high school where the teacher tried to explain the difference between the base-ten numbering that we use every day and other systems that use a different base. For instance, a base-seven numbering system only uses numbers 0-6, which means the number 225 in base-ten is 441 in base-seven.
Confused?
A search online for information comes back with “No practical reason for it.” But still, there must be some purpose to all this, or we wouldn’t have been taught it in high school. However, I never found a use for trigonometry either.
I am sure someone in the comment section today will inform me of what the purpose is of alternate base mathematics. Amaze your friends with this website.
Simply, the perspective you come from is important.
I remember the first time I traveled overseas and mentioned how where I lived was kind of chilly that time of year with temperatures in the 40s every day. Because of a little thing called Fahrenheit and Centigrade, they thought I was crazy. What kind of person would find 45 degrees (115 Fahrenheit) chilly?
Have you ever watched a debate or argument and realized the parties involved would never reconcile their positions with the other, since their starting points were completely different?
Christians run into this all the time.
If your general thought framework is based around a creator God, the fallen nature of humans, the sin-corruption of all creation, the necessity of a perfect sacrifice to a holy God to atone for sin, and the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ as that perfect sacrifice, you are not even close to being able to talk reasonably with someone who believes none of these things.
Forget all the other core theologies and teachings of Scripture. If we can’t agree at all on the first three verses of Exodus 20, then just forget it and write about the benefits and/or pitfalls of the designated hitter in major league baseball. Save yourself some anxiety.
Perspective is everything. Whether you are writing fiction, nonfiction, books for kids, or Bible studies for teenagers, don’t assume everyone knows what perspective you are writing from.
The art and inspiration in all types of Christian writing are centered around communicating a biblical perspective without saying it. There may be some types of writing (academic, scientific, theological) where you need to explain your perspective in detail. But for the most part, the admonition to “show, don’t tell,” which is a common feature of great writing, is something to study and implement in your writing.
Perspective is everything, especially today. The responsibility of the Christian writer is to set the agenda, lay the foundation, carry the banner, and communicate truth to a spiritually dead world.
It’s an impossible task if you try to do it on your own but find it a great adventure when you realize the agenda you set, the foundation you lay, the banner you carry, and the truth you write about all come from your Father, who won’t allow you to fall prey to the enemy’s snares.
