Which “ism” isn’t true?
The absolute importance of a Christian worldview
By Norm Miller
Pathway Correspondent
November 23, 2004
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WORLD VIEW |
SECULAR HUMANISM |
BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY |
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Source |
Humanist Manifesto I & II |
Bible |
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Theology |
Atheism |
Theism |
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Philosophy |
Naturalism |
Supernaturalism |
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Ethics |
Ethical Relativism |
Ethical Absolutes |
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Biology |
Darwinian Evolution |
Special Creation |
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Psychology |
Monistic Self-actualization |
Dualism |
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Sociology |
Non-traditional |
Home |
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Law |
World Government |
Justice |
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Economics |
Socialism |
Stewardship of Property |
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History |
Historical Evolution |
Historical Resurrection |
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Taken from Understanding the Times 1994 by David A. Noebel, published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Ore., used by permission. |
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JEFFERSON CITY – The world is full of “isms”: nihilism, existentialism, postmodernism, naturalism, pantheism, socialism, materialism, spiritism and polytheism to name a few. These belief and thought systems reveal how people view the world differently. Everyone has a worldview, whether intentional or otherwise, that determines their values. It separates what is important from what is not.
Credited to the philosopher Immanuel Kant, the concept of worldview has been around longer than that. The notion of a Christian worldview was popularized by James Orr’s 1893 book, The Christian View of God and the World. The mandate to develop a Christian worldview is even older: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (NLT) Phil. 2.5.
James Sire, author of The Universe Next Door, says that a worldview is a set of presuppositions which we hold about the basic makeup of our world. Ronald Nash, noted author and philosopher, says it’s a conceptual scheme by which people consciously or unconsciously judge or interpret reality. Simply put, a worldview offers a model of the world that directs its adherents in the world.
But not all worldviews are accurate or true. Some may be close to true. However, as in arithmetic, where two plus two equals four and not five or three, both of which are close to four but each is not four, being close to a correct worldview still misses a mark of eternal importance. Further, the laws of logic require that two opposing worldviews cannot both be right. For Christians, there is but one worldview.
Alan Branch, professor of theology and ethics and vice president for student development at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, says, “A Christian worldview begins with the reality of God as creator and affirms the universe is a creation of God and not God himself or an extension of God. It affirms the authority of Scripture and builds its conceptual scheme on the truth of Scripture and upon the incarnation of Jesus Christ.”
Developing a Christian worldview is important for Christians because it assesses and informs interaction with the modern milieu — a sinful world. It examines how contemporary events and issues relate to creation, how sin corrupts the world, and how God’s plan of redemption and restoration can remedy the results of false worldviews. A Christian worldview, therefore, is vital because from it Christians develop a true and correct understanding of ethics and lifestyle, Branch said.
People struggling with worldview questions are sometimes in despair and even suicidal. “False worldviews lead to false moralities and are dangerous,” Branch added, reflecting on the worldviews of those who perpetrated the horrific tragedy of the Denver-area Columbine High School shootings in 1999.
With some definitions in mind, and having noted how important a Christian worldview is, the question presents itself: How many Christians are intentional about a Christian worldview? And that begs the question: Why be concerned about it?
Josh McDowell, an atheist-turned-Christian apologist and author, notes in his conferences and published materials how devastating faulty worldviews can be. Many young people — whose worldviews are a muddle of secularism and tolerance-based teaching, and whose parents are ignorant of such matters or are ill-equipped to handle them — will come to reject absolute truth. McDowell cites a 1994 national study among churched youth (did you get that? – CHURCHED youth) and discovered the following among teens who reject an objective standard of truth. They are 36 percent more likely to lie to you as a parent; 48 percent more likely to cheat on an exam; twice as likely to physically hurt someone; twice as likely to watch a pornographic film; three times more likely to use illegal drugs; and six times more likely to attempt suicide.
The secular worldview that predominates our culture and educational system does not value every human life. If all children are taught is that they are all evolutionary accidents, should parents be surprised at so many abortions, murders and suicides?
Is it any wonder so many kids are in trouble today, especially when they see a caricature on vehicles of a boy urinating on the logo of some car manufacturer or the car number of a NASCAR driver? That decal expresses a worldview. And Christians have a responsibility to stand against such worldviews.
The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, told the believers at Corinth he, essentially, didn’t want to find them living by worldy standards (or worldviews). “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Cor. 10:3-5 (NLT).
Whereas there are many believers who have matured to the point of taking every thought captive, many more are still captivated by the thoughts of this world. Woe to us. Like Isaiah, our lips are unclean, and we dwell among similar people. We are undone and in need of cleansing. After the cleansing, Christians are enjoined by God to develop His worldview. It’s not enough to don the uniform and leave the armament at home. Christians must be able to demolish anti-Christian worldviews and take every thought captive in the war for hearts and minds in our country’s culture.
Neutrality is not an option. Leaving a car in neutral means it will roll downhill. A Christian whose mind is in neutral about worldviews is destined to coast with everyone else in a world that is slanted toward hell. To drive uphill in a culture of competing worldviews means a believer’s heart and mind must be fully engaged.
Rodney Reeves, dean of the Courts Redford College of Theology and Church Vocations at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, said, “A worldview is best expressed by Paul in Philippians chapter two: ‘Have this attitude in you which was in Christ Jesus.’”
Reflecting on that early church hymn, Reeves said a Christian’s worldview should be like that of Jesus, who abandonded his status to become a servant.
“It’s seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus,” he said, “and being conformed to His image.”
When Christians settle for anything less than this, it’s not fully a Christian worldview. In some cases, not at all.