dear Janet...
you said: "What does a worldview have to do with what I am or am not doing in my larger community?"...
The correlation is in preparedness.
In matthew 24:25 Jesus said "see, I have told you beforehand." (prepare); in matthew 24:15 He says "when you see" (look); and matthew 24:16 He says flee (take action)...He also says He is coming in an instant in matthew 24:27 whether we are prepared or not.
This brings us to the parable of the ten virgins, matthew 25:3-6...some were prepared with oil and some were not.
Also speaking of remaining prepared to give light to the world:
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." matthew 5:13-16
Ephesians 5:13-17...the christian is instructed to wisely redeem the time left...
"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."
your statement was: "That whole armageddon thing has people looking for evidence everywhere. Can it be good to live every day as if this beautiful world is in steady decline?"...
So, if your "worldview" is one in which YOU can't see armageddon coming because you're not looking then YOU wont be prepared and YOU wont appreciate the need to help others prepare...it is like normalcy bias: "It causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects. This often results in situations where people fail to adequately prepare for a disaster, and on a larger scale, the failure of governments to include the populace in its disaster preparations. The assumption that is made in the case of the normalcy bias is that since a disaster never has occurred then it never will occur. It also results in the inability of people to cope with a disaster once it occurs. People with a normalcy bias have difficulties reacting to something they have not experienced before. People also tend to interpret warnings in the most optimistic way possible, seizing on any ambiguities to infer a less serious situation."...
Normalcy bias is quite a problem for someone who is a witness to Jesus Christ...because He also told us about the troubles that would befall mankind in the end...just before He returns.
My advice is: put some oil in your lamp.
love michelle
p.s. you also said this in your OP: "The apologists defence is that humankind has been given all the tools for health and prosperity, and has failed in their duty. The resultant victims will receive their reward in the afterlife. I consider this inadequate, but there you go"...I see eternal justice...
