One unfortunate truth that I have noticed is that many Christians view reality through a naturalistic lens, and not a supernatural lens. What is naturalism? Naturalism is a philosophical viewpoint according to which everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted. Most Westerners have this philosophical viewpoint deeply embedded within their thinking. As a result, most western Christians interpret the Scriptures through that lens. For instance, the majority of Christians will reject or discount the practical reality of curses (spoken or generational), the influence of evil spirits, and the essential need for deliverance. Hence, Christians do not reject these truths because of a lack of biblical evidence. They reject these truths because they filter reality through a naturalistic lens. In addition, it does not help when leading Bible teachers espouse this view subtly. When these factors are taken into account, the impact it has on one’s understanding of the Bible and reality is massive.
