Christianity, as designed, comes with a set of default values (think of the Ten Commandments). This is normal. America was founded on certain values, our homes place certain values above others, our schools teach certain values, and even local businesses strive to abide by a set of values. These values impact our everyday life and determine our paradigm.
A paradigm is similiar to a lens. When a photographer raises his camera to his eye and looks through the lens he is seeing what is on the other side of the camera by first looking through the lens. If there is a smudge, stain, or crack in the glass his object will also appear to be smudged, stained, or cracked even though it may not be in reality. Seeing the world through this biblical perspective changes how we see things just as it does with the photographer. People will see some activity as moral while others see it as immoral. Some will see a punishment as just while others see it as unjust. Christians are called to live by a unique paradigm. Christians are called to see things in life through the lens of Christ, His impact on the world, and our calling to make disciples of all nations.
An obvious starting point for the convergence of Biblical values and socio-political/economic systems is the value of the individual versus the value of the collective. This perspective, the individual versus the collective, is the…
