Opening Our Eyes to the Clash of Worldviews
George Stiekes
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).
Ken Ham wrote: “Statistical research shows that approximately two-thirds of young people in America are leaving the church by the time they reach college age – with very few returning.” Once they get into the secular colleges, their minds are being filled with deceptions they are not prepared to handle, particularly in areas like evolution, political correctness over against truth, immorality and so many other areas that conflict with the Word of God. Are our young people and adults being properly discipled through the ministry of the local church? How much apologetical teaching is taking place in our churches today? Do we understand why we believe what we do?
Ken Ham states some of the reasons as to why they are leaving the church.
- 65% say that if you’re a good person you’ll go to heaven.
- 40% totally agree with gay “marriage.”
- 40% say they are not born again.
- 50% would not speak against gay “marriage.”
God’s Word specifically tells us that we should not be conformed to our world. 1 John 2:15-17 reveals that we ought not to love the world or the things of the world and reveals the disaster that will come to us if we do. Notice the differences between what our society teaches today as compared to what God’s word clearly reveals:
Christian Worldview = C
Deceptive Worldview = D
C – We have a holy, sovereign Creator Who is the blessed controller of all things. Man is created by God in His image.
D – The greatness of men’s minds will rule the universe and is the product of evolution.
C. John 3:16 – God so loved the world and gave His Son to pay the price for our sin.
D. Man is innately good and is getting better all the time.
C – There is room at the cross for any and all who will come to Christ and will find hope in God through Him.
D – God does not exist and our values and sound thinking is the basis forming our beliefs.
C – Christian Education is God centered (theistic)
D – Secular – Man centered – humanistic
C – Marriage is between one man and one woman.
D – Marriage is whatever man wants it to be and is not even necessary.
C – Homosexuality is sin.
D – Homosexuality is a preference based on genuine love.
C – God made human beings both male and female. Gender confusion and alteration of God’s creation is sin.
D – Gender identity is a human choice that all are to embrace.
C – God is the source of wisdom. Man is unwise apart from God.
D – Education is the source of wisdom and you ought to obtain all the earthly wisdom possible.
C – God’s Word is absolute truth.
D – Absolute truth is relative.
C – All people have been born with an Adamic sin nature.
D – Man is born good human nature.
C – The Bible is the source of all truth.
D – Man lives out and experiences truth as he is further enlightened.
C – God is the sovereign ruler of history. History is His story.
D – There is no supernatural process in history. It is the study of man apart from God.
These comparisons come from a number of articles from the internet.
You should recognize two important keys and make decisions based on them:
- We need to pray for our young people and as adults, we must know and understand God’s Holy Word so that we can be the kind of parents and grandparents we ought to be in giving our young people guidance along these lines. We also need to pray that God will give our pastors and Christian college professors the knowledge and the courage to be able to clearly teach our young people the truth regarding these and many more areas that should be clearly recognized as Satanic Deception.
- Secondly, when the term “worldview” is used, it means just that. This is not just an American phenomenon and as such, it should make us aware of the truth that our Lord’s return cannot be that much further away. There will be a point in time when God will say – “That’s enough,” and the Rapture and the Tribulation Period will take place.
What does all this mean to you? It should affect how we pray for one another in the body of Christ and again – especially for our young people. Secondly, we should be preparing our own lives to be ready for Christ’s soon coming and thirdly, we ought to be sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible in these crisis times.
Ken Ham states: “We need to do something before we lose another generation. By taking a strong stand on biblical authority, rooting our compromise and teaching apologetics, we can reclaim lost and coming generations for Christ.”
We do have a major problem in our culture when it comes to worldview, but that is complicated when we are ignorant of the problem or slothful in doing anything about it. In our country and even more so in Europe and other countries, churches are being turned into mosques, antique stores and shopping centers.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety: then sudden destruction will come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness. THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP, as do others; but LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER (I Thessalonians 5:1-6).
Actually, these are exciting times to be a Christian and the Christian life is one thrilling journey. Seeing the difference between a biblical worldview and a secular worldview ought to open our eyes to the opportunities that are before us. The book of Daniel would be a great Old Testament book to study here because as God’s people were taken into this kind of society. Note the effective ministry of Daniel and his three friends and notice how important prayer was in accomplishing God’s goals in that land.
Do you have a Biblical worldview?
George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.
Intersting comparison of light and darkness here.
As far as the gay issue is concerned, I’m not sure the church has always done a good job in separating out condemnation of the sin with keeping themselves open to the sinner. The image of the church is one of pharasiaical opposition. Whilst this might be unfair in the case of many churches, it is what young people perceive to be the case.
It’s also true that division amongst evangelicals over this mean the church appears divided on it. Europe has no first amendment to protect religious liberty, and as far as the UK goes I think it likely that churches will be compelled to officiate at gay ‘weddings’ in the future as they are not speaking with a united voice on this issue.
It’s also true the church is compromised on its definition of marriage as being lifelong if too many of its members marry, divorce and re-marry where no possible interpretation of the ‘exception’ clauses could apply.
Thanks for your comment, Ken.
On the homosexual issue, I would say that the problem is the young people, not the church. The Bible is quite clear that 1) Homosexuality is an abomination and 2) Those who practice such can be redeemed. I am afraid the young people who object to the Bible on this are much too much affected by the culture rather than by the Bible.
Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3