Renewing the Mind - #6

This is the sixth and final 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 topic of history. 

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Today I intend to conclude the series of messages I have been giving on the subject “Renewing the Mind.” This has been a series intended to remind us of the importance of living with a biblical view of life and the world rather than an atheistic or secular view of life. We refer to that as having a “biblical/Christian worldview.”

I have talked about a number of general topics trying to explain some of the differences between the way a Christian understands the subject and the way it is viewed by someone who doesn’t believe in God or the Bible. Our final topic in the series is the subject of history.

History – (dictionary.com)

1.      the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.

2.      a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account …

3.      the aggregate of past events.

4.      the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.

How important is it to have a biblical worldview in regard to history?

Some of you may remember a story I shared a few weeks ago regarding Attorney David Gibbs (Christian Law Association) and his conversation with Pastor Levi Whisner who was in court fighting for his church’s right to operate a Christian school. (Studied world history in school and completely missed the first man and woman.)

For the remainder of our time this morning I want to speak to you about the topic of history. With God’s help I intend to consider:

I.          Foundational Principle for Recording History

II.        Secular Assumptions about Understanding History

III.       Thoughts about Bible History

I.          Foundational Principle for Recording History

Truth

At the beginning of this series, I preached a sermon in which I tried to emphasize the importance of truth. In that message I started out sharing some thoughts from various authors regarding the definition of truth. We also tried to explain the difference between “subjective truth” and “objective truth.”

Subjective truth is based on personal experience/opinion, changes – e.g. “It is hot!” “church is boring.”

Objective truth is based on an objective standard of reality, doesn’t change – e.g. “It is 95 degrees Fahrenheit.” “church is the body of Christ.”

Finally, we discussed truths from the Bible: God is a God of truth. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the Life. God’s Word is truth.

What does all this have to do with history? It ought to be universally accepted that recorded history must be based upon and grounded in truth, or it is simply meaningless. We probably already know that some historians do not always stick to the truth when recording events. When we discover a historian, who does not adhere to the truth, we generally lose interest in what he/she has to say or has written.

When we read about history by any author, we expect the author to portray the facts accurately – not worse than they are; not better than they are. (Just like the Bible; “bad” with the “good.”) It seems logical to assume that all people would cherish the truth in regard to history whether they are secular or Christian. But, sadly, that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Regardless of what non-Christians may think, a Christian worldview of history certainly must include the principle of truth as one of the most crucial characteristics. 

Many people are extremely disturbed, and rightly so, over the ways that our nation’s history has been revised to fit a politically correct framework of thought. Historical record that is based in truth does not need to be revised in order to conform to any particular framework. If you have been paying attention to current events over the last few decades, you know that certain elements of our society are trying to completely erase all historical reference to the kinds of spiritual and religious values many Americans hold dear.

Why does it disturb us? There are many reasons, no doubt, but one reason is because it simply is not based in truth.

II.        Secular Assumptions for Understanding History

When I worked at New Destiny Treatment Center, I taught a class we called “Spiritual Formation.” One of the topics I presented every year was called, “Evidence for Faith,” and was based on a video series with the same title recorded by Josh McDowell. In that video series McDowell addresses five misconceptions held by some people about Christianity. One of those misconceptions included this allegation: “The Christian’s faith has no historical basis.”

As Josh tries to defend the historical basis of the Christian faith, he takes time to describe the assumptions that atheists and other non-Christians make regarding history. (These are assumptions used to interpret or understand history.)

A. There is no God.

For secular historians, all references to God are “categorized” as religious opinions that are not verifiable, so they do not belong in any discussion of history. “History only deals with humanly verifiable facts.” It almost seems as though they think, “Since God’s existence cannot be proven, we’ll just assume He’s not real.”

B. We live in a closed, self-caused system.

Since “there is no God,” then it can be assumed that we live in a world/universe which is not impacted in any way by anything outside the universe.

C. There is nothing supernatural.

If we live in a system (universe/world) that is closed off from any type of outside intervention, then everything exists due to natural causes, and all events are to be understood as naturally generated (by/within this closed world system).

D. There are no miracles.

If every event is generated by natural causes rather than supernatural causes, then there can be no “miracles.”

There may be other assumptions that secularists hold, or there may be other ways of expressing them, but these four are the ones I discovered as presented by Josh McDowell. I think we can all understand how secular assumptions like these would totally affect one’s view of history and interpretation of historical data. Assumptions, such as these four I’ve mentioned, provide the basis for non-Christian historians to claim large portions of the Bible are fiction or mythological.

III.       Thoughts about Bible History

The third point I want to explore today relates to Bible history.

A. The Bible is not a history textbook.

There are many details regarding the history of the world that are not included in the Bible. However, whatever the Bible records about historical events is reliable.

John Oswalt – The Bible doesn’t exist to give us a history of Israel. It gives us enough data about [such events as] the Exodus that we can say it really occurred, but it has no interest in giving us all the data so we can reconstruct the event. [The Bible is] not interested in reconstructing an event. It is interested in [helping] us know God, who was revealed in the event.        (YouTube, AdventNext Theological Podcast)

B. The Bible is not filled with myths and fables.

In regard to the OT, Dr. John Oswalt does an excellent job of arguing how the OT is drastically different than other ancient literature and myths. (The Bible Among the Myths)

Speaking about the NT, (especially about the resurrection), Josh McDowell stated, “Even though similar things, such as rising from the dead, are attributed to the mythological characters, the readers (or hearers) knew it was in reference to a mythological character. However, in biblical Christianity, the … events occurred in time and space (or history) in the person of Jesus Christ, an event that was witnessed and verified by hundreds of individuals who were still living when the testimony/record was written. (Evidence for Faith Video Series)

C. The Bible is very clear about the reliability of the written record.

In our Scripture reading earlier in the service, we heard a number of verses that describe various individuals writing down what the Lord instructed them to write and inspired them to write. (For those able to see the screen, here is a list of those references again.)

Notice these additional passages:

John 21:24 (NKJV)  This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

1 John 1:1-3 (NKJV) ¹  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- ²  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ³  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

D. Jesus Christ is the focal point of all human history.

When looking at Christianity and history, Christians view history through the concepts of creation, fall, and redemption… God’s ultimate plan for divine intervention, redemption, and restoration. (Allaboutworldview.com)

Conclusion:

• A Christian worldview of history places a high value on truth. The study and recording of history should be solidly based on the truth.
• A Christian worldview of history places a high value on the biblical record. Historical data in the Bible needs to be interwoven in the history of the world.
• A Christian worldview accepts supernatural intervention as a normal phenomenon in this world.
• A Christian worldview looks at Jesus Christ as the central figure of all history. When time is no more and history is complete, Jesus Christ will stand as the central figure receiving worship from all creation and every creature. Hallelujah!

If all of this is true, then Christians need to be serious about telling the story. People in this world will not get the whole story from the secularists. If they get it, they’ll get it first from a believer.

Closing Song:

Tell the Blessed Story