This is the second sermon in a series of messages focusing on the importance of having a Christian/biblical worldview of life. We are bombarded every day with the philosophies and values of the secular, godless world in which we live. Far too often, Christians have accepted the views and assumptions of the secular world rather than applying biblical truth to every area of life. This sermon addresses the topics of theology, philosophy and ethics. You may view a video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was delivered by clicking here.
Written Excerpts:
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) "For My thoughts are not
your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways
higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Introduction:
Many years ago, Attorney David Gibbs, founder of the Christian Law Association, spoke for a special service at the Wesleyan Methodist Camp in Stoneboro. In that service he spoke about the legal battles that parents and Christian schools were facing back in the 1970’s. He particularly spoke about Rev. Levi Whisner who was battling for the right to run a Christian school in Ohio. When he met with Rev. Whisner, he asked him several hypothetical questions: If we put chapel services in the public school will you send your kids there? Prayer? Bible? Finally, he asked, “What makes a Christian school a Christian school?” As he got ready to write Rev. Whisner’s answer, he instructed him to describe it slowly so he could get it all down.
Rev. Whisner replied with one word, “Philosophy.”
Attorney Gibbs was incredulous. “You mean you want your school to teach
philosophy?”
Rev. Whisner explained that every subject in the curriculum is taught with an underlying philosophy. In the state-run schools, the underlying philosophy is secularism and contrary to Scripture. So, the real problem is not just that prayer was removed from the school, but any references to knowledge as revealed in Scripture must also be scrubbed if it conflicts with the state approved curriculum. In any subject, when the state-approved curriculum conflicts with Scripture, the curriculum wins. It will be taught as the truth even though it conflicts with the Bible.
Rev. Whisner: “When you studied world history in school, did you learn
about Adam and Eve?”
Attorney Gibbs then said to the audience at Stoneboro Camp, “Imagine,
studying the history of the whole world and missing the very first man and
woman!”
He had just received a short lesson regarding the necessity of having a biblical worldview and understanding all subjects through the lens of God’s truth. This is the reason many Christian parents choose to either home-school their children or enroll them in Christian schools – so they will learn about our world and all about life from a Christian philosophy or worldview. Secular educators claim that Scripture knowledge should only be taught at church/Sunday school, not in institutions of education. This view presents a dualistic worldview – life is divided into two camps, religious and secular. And, ne’er the two shall meet!
Last Sunday I spoke to you on the topic of truth and I tried to lay a foundation for believing that God is the source of truth and He has revealed truth to humanity through His world, through His Word and through His Son. Today I want to begin by playing two short videos that help us understand what a worldview is. These videos are borrowed from a ministry called, “Impact 360 Institute.”
Two general definitions of “worldview” presented in the videos were:
1.
A
worldview is a web of habit-forming beliefs about the biggest questions of life
that helps you make sense of all your experiences.
2.
A
worldview is a set of lenses through which you see the world around you. It
affects how you think, how you feel, and how you live.
So, what would be a Christian/biblical worldview?
Here are definitions from two other sources I consulted.
A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW - A Christian worldview is a comprehensive view of the world from a biblical standpoint. ("Christian Worldview" All About GOD Ministries, Inc, n.d. Web. Accessed 11/14/29.)
A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW - A worldview based on the infallible Word of God
and is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the
world. (Del
Tackett; https://www.focusonthefamily.com/faith/whats-a-christian-worldview/)
This series of messages is called, “Renewing the Mind,” and is based on Rom. 12:2 “Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Having a renewed mind includes developing a Christian or biblical worldview, which will enable us to look at all aspects of life differently than individuals who possess a secular or godless worldview.
What impact or effect does one’s worldview have on life? Here is a
chart I saw online offered by a church called Watermark Church.
Beliefs = What is true
Values = What is good
Behavior = What we do
So we see that our worldview, or the lens through which we view life,
determines our beliefs, which will determine our values, which will ultimately
determine our behavior.
Why does a biblical
worldview matter?
If we don’t really believe
the truth of God and live it, then our witness will be confusing and
misleading. Most of us go through life not recognizing that our personal
worldviews have been deeply affected by the world. Through the media and other
influences, the secularized American view of history, law, politics, science,
God and man affects our thinking more than we realize….
If we capture and embrace
more of God’s worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then we begin to
make the right decisions and form the appropriate responses to questions on
abortion, same- sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media
choices. Because, in the end, it is our decisions and actions that reveal what
we really believe. (Del Tackett; www.focusonthefamily.com/
faith/whats-a-christian-worldview/)
I found a source online called, “All About God Ministries,” that provides a list of disciplines or fields of study and how each one may be understood through the lens of a Christian worldview. For the remainder of our series I want to borrow their list to help us organize our discussion.
I. Theology
Theology is the study of God.
In my first message last Sunday I already addressed the matter of a belief in God as part of the foundation for a biblical worldview. I also mentioned last week that the subject of Apologetics (defense of the faith) includes the various arguments for the existence of God. Apologetics is sometimes viewed as a sub-topic under the general study of philosophy. Theology examines the nature of God and the attributes of God.
The Bible really doesn’t provide any arguments for the existence of
God, it presupposes the existence of God. Genesis 1:1 simply states, “In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
There have always been those who rejected the truth about God.
Romans 1:21 (NKJV) because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
A Christian worldview not only accepts the existence of God (Theism), but accepts the true nature of God as revealed in His Word. It really does matter what we believe about the nature or character of God.
About 10 years ago, I did a series of messages on the attributes of God
& having a proper concept of God. A number of you weren’t attending here
when I did that, but it is well worth your time and effort to dig into the Word
and learn about who God is.
A.W. Tozer said, “No people has ever risen above its religion and no
religion rises higher than its concept of God.”
Our views of God will determine our values and our values will
determine our behavior.
II. Philosophy
Philosophy may be described as the pursuit of knowledge through
reason.
The study of philosophy includes many sub-topics. Some of those sub-topics include: Is there a God? What is truth? Who am I? Where did I come from? What is my purpose? Where am I headed? Are miracles possible? What is the nature of faith? Secular philosophy proposes answers to these important questions without considering the Bible as the authority for answers. But a Christian worldview certainly considers the Bible to the source of truth for all of those questions.
The Bible encourages reason and the pursuit of knowledge. The book of
Proverbs is filled with admonitions to seek wisdom.
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) "Come now, and let us reason
together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They
shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as
wool.
It is important to understand that every philosophy is ultimately based
on faith.
One writer states it like this: All knowing requires faith. Faith precedes reason… In other words,
every worldview begins with a basic assumption about the nature of reality that
cannot be proven by using the scientific method or logical deduction. This
becomes the starting point from which to build a total view of life. ("Christian Philosophy"
All About GOD Ministries, Inc, n.d. Web. Accessed 11/14/29.)
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) By faith we understand that the worlds
were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made
of things which are visible.
But there are warnings about the wrong kind of philosophy.
Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) Beware lest anyone cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to
the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
If we consider the context of verse 8 we understand that Paul is saying the Colossian believers need to orient their lives completely according to their faith in Christ and not in the wise-sounding words of either pagans or Jews who only emphasized a system of outward conformity to rules and rituals. We need to be alert and make sure our basis for reasoning through the big questions in life is grounded in our faith in God’s Word.
III. Ethics
The study of ethics involves questions of right vs. wrong or standards of morality. It brings up the question of “ought.” That is, it addresses human conduct and behavior not a matter of what a person can do, but what he/she ought to do.
A non-Christian worldview considers other sources to be the standard for moral conduct and right behavior, such as: whatever is accepted by society or whatever is good according to the situation. A Christian worldview considers morality to be subject to the absolute standards of right and wrong as defined in God’s written revelation. From the very beginning of time God gave moral and ethical directives to humans and incorporated consequences for failure to obey His commands.
The Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt…” “Thou shalt not…”
Every reference in the Bible regarding “righteousness” and “holiness”
is really about living with holy motives and morally pure conduct as defined by
God, who is the source of holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) 15 but as He who called you is
holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because
it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
The secular world tells us that biblical standards of morality have no place in public society. We do whatever we feel is right according to our own values or according to the values of society. Christians are expected to adjust their values to conform to the standards of the world, and sadly, many professing Christians have adopted that same worldview.
Conclusion:
If you wonder how our society has gotten in the mess we’re in now, it is because too many believers thought that being a Christian was only about trusting in Christ to forgive their sins and getting them to heaven. They failed to have their minds renewed to a different pattern of thinking and have become conformed to the world’s pattern of thinking and behavior. We need God’s help today just as He has miraculously intervened in world situations in the past.
Our closing hymn is: O
God, Our Help in Ages Past
A hymn written by Isaac Watts. It was played over the airwaves by the BBC as soon as World War II was declared. It was also sung later at the funeral of Winston Churchill. (Then Sings My Soul, Robert J. Morgan)
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