“Bluntly, to serve God well we must think straight; and crooked thinking, unintentional or not, always favors evil. And when the crooked thinking gets elevated into group orthodoxy, whether religious or secular, there is always, quite literally, hell to pay.”
–Dr. Dallas Willard, Christian Author and Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California
It seems very common to leave out Biblical principles and instead use the same rules of engagement that seculars use when Christians practice apologetics, especially on social media. We do things like demean our opponent, follow rabbit trails off topic, use secular reasoning, and then forget the ultimate goal of planting a seed for salvation. I believe a lot of this has to do with compartmentalizing our faith, thus blurring the lines of secularism with the Christian walk. I’ve even seen this happen in other religious worldviews, for example:
A Research Scientist from the University of Southern California, and a practicing Mormon, was asked to address a high school science class on the topic of ‘Biogenetics.’ In her presentation she referred several time to evolution as the means for the origin of complex life. Privately after the presentation, the host teacher (a Christian) asked her: “How do you rectify your Mormonism with teaching evolution, doesn’t it conflict with your belief in a God that created?” After taking a moment she said, “I guess I’ve never really thought much about it.”
Her worldview was blurred. On the one hand she believed in a God that created the universe and on the other she taught evolution was responsible for that same creation! Unfortunately this is what a lot of people do, including Christians. When beliefs don’t match up it break the law of non-contradiction (equal and opposite ideas cannot be true at the same time) and a worldview becomes distorted.
Watch this short clip on “Worldview” by Impact 360:
Does truth matter in your worldview?
A person’s worldview (A set of beliefs and presuppositions used to define views on major life issues) should be based on truth that corresponds to reality otherwise we might be setting ourselves up for heartbreak and failure. In developing our worldview we want it to truthfully answer life’s most important questions. A Christian worldview, based on Biblical truths, offers the best answer to these kinds of questions, for example:
1) Where did I come from?
2) What is my purpose?
3) What’s wrong with the world?
4) Is there a solution to the problems of this world?
5) What is my eternal destiny?
The way a person answers these types of questions will form the basis of their worldview and all major life decisions. Everyone has a worldview and it can be seen based on the way we live. We often develop our worldview from family, people we know, our feelings, or the culture we live in. While it is possible a worldview developed that way can be true, it is also possible that it is false.
How can we know that the Christian worldview is the right one?
We can test for objective truth in Christianity. As we have learned (in previous posts), objective truth will always correspond to reality – the way things really are. Objective truth can be known, God has not made it hard for us in fact He has made it quite easy if we just take some time to investigate.
From a Biblical perspective we can find much evidence for truth in God’s worldview:
General Revelation (from nature)
In the book of Romans Paul teaches about God’s truth made clear since the beginning of time:
…since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20
David gives us the same truth in the Old Testament:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4
Special Revelation (from Scripture)
(David also said…) For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Psalm 26:3
Paul teaches Biblical truth to Timothy:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Peter tells us about the truth of Scripture:
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:20-21
God’s truth can be found in the Gospel message: The life example, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
John 8:32
God’s truth can be found through the Holy Spirit’s teaching:
(Jesus said…) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:15-16
(Jesus said…) But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.
John 16:13
…and it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1 John 5:6
God’s truth can be found in our conscious because God has placed a moral code and a sense of eternity in all humans:
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thought either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
Romans 2:14-15
The following is a basic comparison of a secular versus Christian worldview on many important issues of life.
Where does your worldview best fit?
| VIEW ON | SECULAR | CHRISTIAN |
| Origin | Evolutionary processes | God’s Creation/Intelligent Design |
| God’s Existence | No god or can’t know anything for sure about god | As our Creator we can know Him. He is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit |
| Humanity | Evolved from lower life forms | Made in the image of God |
| Purpose | To do whatever helps us survive—just be a “good person” | To pursue God’s plan found in the Bible; Imitate the person of Jesus and follow the “Great Commission” |
| Duty | Self first-others/the planet- the universe or a god | God first-fellow humans-the planet-self last |
| Truth | Relative and culture based | Absolute-based on reality-Biblical |
| Society | Cultural norms-whatever society accepts-changes with time | Biblical—God centered |
| Politics | Culture shapes the vote | Biblical values shape the vote |
| Education | Humanism—man centered | Biblical—God centered |
| The Sciences | What we can test and observe-human discoveries – no god | God created with intelligent design – discovery flows from there |
| The Arts | Representative of a feeling or moment in time | Beauty based on God’s design and purpose |
| Destiny | Dust or some possible afterlife | Heaven—eternity with God through His Son, Jesus |
Is your worldview important to understand? Beliefs and ideas have consequences, both temporal and eternal. Know what you believe and why you believe it, then share the truths of your worldview with others.
Reflection
- In your own words describe what a worldview is.
- Do you have a consistent worldview when it comes to the topics in the chart above? If not, where do you differ?
- How does a Christian form a consistent worldview?
- Prayer focus: If there are areas of inconsistency in your worldview give them to God and ask for wisdom and discernment:
Bible Study
Each week we will do a study in the book of Romans to practice our Bible study skills. This week read (or re-read) Romans chapter 13, then answer the following questions:
- What does Paul teach about governing authorities and how we are to treat them? (13:1-7) Jesus said something similar, what did He say? (Cross-reference by reading Mark 12:13-17—also found in Matthew 22 and Luke 20).
- What fulfills the Law, according to Paul? (13:8-10) Cross-reference by reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13—summarize what it teaches.
- There is a sense of urgency in Paul’s exhortation in 13:11-14. Summarize the point he is making here and how that applies to us today.
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for Christianity”
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
Good…sending this on to my friend who teaches ‘world View ‘ to homeschoolers in Texas