21st Century Theology: Week 1

Over the next four weeks we will be covering a variety of topics, such as moral theism, individualism, worldview, and human value. Perhaps you do not know what some of those things are…that is OK, I promise you will know what they are when this series is complete. We will be looking at the Christian perspective of these things, but we will also be looking at the secular or worldly perspective of these things. We are doing this because, the more we understand what makes people tick and how they think, the more effective we become at being the hands and feet of Christ.

This week and next we are going to be looking at the subject of worldviews. Then, the following weeks we will study individualism and Axiology, or, human value. Let’s go ahead and pray, then we will get started

PRAY

The subject of worldview is an interesting concept, as we all have a certain way that we look at the world; yet, most fail to realize just how much their worldview shapes everything about them. My goal this week is to give you a general overview of what a worldview is and highlight the differences between them. Next week we are going to look at a couple of the most popular and growing worldviews in detail.

Worldview is defined as a persons philosophy of life. Our worldviews shape (literally) everything about us, from our faith, to how we raise our kids, what kind of books we read…just about everything we do comes from our worldview. In just a bit we are going to get into some scripture, but before we do that, I would like to explain some of the most popular worldviews that we see in America today.

Worldviews:

Theism:

Christianity; Judaism; Islam

An infinite, personal God exists. He created a finite, material world. Reality is both material and spiritual. The universe as we know it had a beginning and will have an end. Humankind is the unique creation of God. People were created "in the image of God," which means that we are personal, eternal, spiritual and biological. Truth about God is known through revelation. Truth about the material world is gained via revelation and the five senses in conjunction with rational thought. Moral values are the objective expression of a supernatural and absolute moral being and therefore remain constant over time.

2. Pantheism

The doctrine that the universe conceived of as a whole is God and, conversely, that there is no God but the combined substance, forces, and laws that are manifested in the existing universe.

Buddhism Hinduism Taoism New Age Consciousness

3. Polytheism

Thousands of Religions

The world is populated by spirit beings who govern what goes on. Gods and demons are the real reason behind "natural" events. Material things are real but have spirits associated with them and, therefore, can be interpreted spiritually. Humankind is a creation of the gods like the rest of the creatures on earth. Tribes or races often have a special relationship with some gods who protect them and can punish them. Truth about the natural world is discovered through the shaman figure who has visions telling him what the gods and demons are doing and how they feel. Moral values take the form of taboos, which are things that irritate or anger various spirits. Taboos are different from the idea of "good and evil" because it is just as important to avoid irritating evil spirits as it is good ones.

4. Naturalism

Atheism Agnosticism Existentialism

The material universe is all that exists. Reality is "one- dimensional." There is no such thing as a soul or a spirit. Everything can be explained on the basis of natural law. Humankind is the chance product of a biological process of evolution. Man is entirely material. The human species will one day pass out of existence. Truth is usually understood as scientific proof. Only that which can be observed with the five senses is accepted as real or true. No objective values or morals exist. Morals are individual preferences or socially useful behaviors. Even social morals are subject to evolution and change.

5. Humanism

Marxism

Emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and relies on rationalism and evidence over the transcendent or supernatural. Humankind is part of nature and has emerged as the result of a continuous evolutionary process. His total personality bears the imprint of the social and cultural society surrounding him. Truth may be found through science (critical thinking and empiricism) and philosophy. Values are derived and steadily improved from a philosophy of utilitarianism, ethical naturalism or evolutionary ethics.

6. Postmodernism

Reality must be interpreted through our language and cultural "paradigm." Therefore, reality is "socially constructed." Humans are nodes in a cultural reality—they are a product of their social setting. The idea that people are autonomous and free is a myth. Truths are mental constructs meaningful to individuals within a particular cultural paradigm. They do not apply to other paradigms. Truth is relative to one's culture. Values are part of our social paradigms as well. Tolerance, freedom of expression, inclusion and refusal to claim to have the answers are the only universal values

Those are 6 of the major worldviews throughout the world. There are more, but they tend to fall into one of these 6 categories more or less. Today, in our western society, the 4 that are most prevalent are Theism, Naturalism, Humanism and Postmodernism. Elsewhere in the world the other 2 are more popular (Pantheism and Polytheism, although China and other communist countries are very humanistic in their worldview).

So, why does any of that stuff matter? Why should be be at all concerned how other people view the world? Why is it important for us to understand how we, as believers should view the world? Well, there are a number of reasons, but one of the most important is because scripture lets us know it’s important.

1 Cor. 9: 19-23

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

How we relate to the world matters. Additionally, how we think of the world matters. Consider the Apostle Paul as our example: depending on the situation, Paul would relate to those who are Jewish by emphasizing his Jewish background and culture.

Phil. 3: 4-6

“although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”

Paul was able to minister to certain individuals, as he had the proper “credentials” to do so. Paul was knowledgeable about Jewish customs and the Law. Except, Paul was also familiar with the Greek and Roman culture that surrounded him. On a particular occasion in the book of Acts, Paul was traveling through the city of Athens…the seat of Greek Philosophy at the time. As he was traveling through the city, he was disturbed by the idolatry. People would carve the gods out of wood or stone and people would worship these idols. So, Paul sets himself up in the Jewish temple and begins to preach Christ to both Jews and (the Bible says) God fearing Greeks. Paul was eventually confronted by some Greek philosophers that wanted to know more about what Paul was teaching. This speech is recorded in

Acts 17: 22-23

“So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

This speech continues all the way through vs. 31. I don’t have time to read it all, but I do want to highlight a couple of areas so we can get the jest of what Paul is communicating to the Greek people.

Acts 17: 26-28

“and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”

Paul was relating to the Greek people by talking about the “Unknown God.” Paul is telling these people that Christ is that unknown God, and that if they seek Him, He can be found. He even quotes a famous Greek poem.

This is Paul being all things to all people, that some might find Christ!

As we must do with all scripture, we must take the principles presented and apply them to our modern life. What makes the Bible so unique and spectacular is that the principles presented so long ago are not just relevant for today, but they are the only source of life giving Truth for mankind! Many things make Christianity unique, but there are 2 things that are THE main difference: The resurrection of Christ and Salvation by Grace! The fact that Christ defeated the curse of death, plus the fact that we do not have to be good enough, in fact, we can’t be good enough are the 2 things that are unique to Christianity. Many religions claim to have an ultimate prophet or savior, all of them eventually died. Pretty much all of them have their sacred scriptures…but only Christ defeated death, and it’s only through Christ that we can have reconciliation with God. That is the message that frees the captive! That is the message that can change a persons worldview from self-centered to Christ centered.

In 2nd Timothy Ch. 2 Paul writes his young apprentice, who is pastoring a church in Ephesus. Paul is speaking directly to Timothy here, giving him some things to look out for and be weary of.

2 Timothy 2: 14-19

“Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.””

It turns out that a couple of people, who appeared to once be faithful, have led people astray with some false views. These 2 men were telling the people that the resurrection of the dead has already happened. We know that this false teaching had nothing to do with Christ’s resurrection…most think it has something to do with the teaching Paul gave to the church in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

It could be a false teaching in relation to that, or something else. Either way, these men were corrupting the firm foundation that Timothy was trying to build. These men were luring people away from sound teaching. In other words, Paul and Timothy were trying to teach a certain worldview, and whatever these men were teaching ran counter to that worldview.

As I mentioned before, there are a variety of worldviews, but most of them fit within the top six. There is one, however, that comes closest to fitting in Theism, but is still much different than most Theists. In fact, a 2023 poll from Barna found that only 4% of the US population fit this worldview that I’m talking about. This same poll found that the largest growing worldview, especially among the 3 youngest generations is, by far, postmodernism. Can anyone take a guess what the worldview is called, that only 4% of Americans claim to belong to? That would be a

Biblical Worldview:

Believing that absolute moral truths exist and that such truth is defined by the Bible;

Jesus Christ lived a sinless life;

God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He stills rules it today;

Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned;

Satan is real;

A Christian has a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people;

The Bible is accurate in all of its teachings.

The poll found that only 4% of American people hold this view. The percentage of people in the different denominations that hold to a Biblical Worldview is quite staggering:

Mainline Protestant churches (2%) and Catholics (less than one-half of 1%). The denominations that produced the highest proportions of adults with a biblical worldview were non-denominational Protestant churches (13%), Pentecostal churches (10%) and Baptist churches (8%).

Now, I just threw a bunch of statistics at you that seem pretty bleak, right? At least, I think they are pretty bleak. So, what do we do about that? It is for sure that those of us who hold a Biblical Worldview are in the vast minority, even among those who go to church on a regular basis. We can look at that and bemoan the hopelessness of the situation, or, we can educate ourselves and pray for wisdom, so we can be equipped to meet people where they are!

There is something important that we must understand as a church, if we want to make an impact in the town of Ottawa: the traditional method of having church no longer is effective in reaching the younger generations! Mind, you didn’t hear me that that the gospel message is no longer effective. The gospel message is and always will be effective, if it is presented correctly. One of the big mistakes that Christians make is trying to change a persons worldview, rather than leading them to Christ, so He can change their worldview. You and I are not called to change people…we are to lead them to the one who changes them.

Col 2: 8-14

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

I know for myself, that is the mistake I often make when I am discipling a new Christian, or even when I am talking to someone about the Lord. I am often more interested in getting them to change how they think on things, rather than simply showing them the Truth of God’s word and allowing God to do the work. Don’t get me wrong, part of the discipling process is addressing ungodly behavior…I’m not discounting that at all. I’m simply pointing out that it is the Holy Spirit that brings conviction, not us.

Let’s wrap up this week:

A worldview is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world. “[It’s] any ideology, philosophy, theology, movement or religion that provides an overarching approach to understanding God, the world and man’s relations to God and the world,”

For example, a 2-year-old believes he’s the center of his world, a secular humanist believes that the material world is all that exists, and a Buddhist believes he can be liberated from suffering by self-purification.

Someone with a biblical worldview believes his primary reason for existence is to love and serve God.

Whether conscious or subconscious, every person has some type of worldview. A personal worldview is a combination of all you believe to be true, and what you believe becomes the driving force behind every emotion, decision and action. Therefore, it affects your response to every area of life: from philosophy to science, theology and economics, law, politics, art and social order — everything.

Romans 12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Those of us who have experienced true freedom in Christ understand the value of a biblical worldview. We understand why Jesus tells us to go out and make disciples. The question for us then is, how do we do that most effectively in today’s society? How does someone with a Biblical worldview, who believes that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth and freedom present that to a person who believes that all supposed truth is simply a means to oppress people? or that there is no such thing as truth? How do we even begin to approach that?

Next week we will answer some of those questions as we wade into some of the details of a couple of the most popular worldviews in society today (in America that is). I can tell you this though, one thing we don’t want to do, in trying to walk the balance between being “in” the world, but not “of” the world, we do not want to compromise the core truths taught, but we also do not want to appear hostile and dismissive to those we are trying to reach. Christ is our example in this, as he was surrounded by an unbelieving society, yet made a history changing impact..

PRAY!