The problematic issue is that all religions and worldviews have an element of truth and just enough to make one immune to the real thing and inoculated, as it were. NB: The Christian worldview stands or falls on the veracity of the Word of God. The Christians' citizenship is in heaven as Jesus said in John 15:19, "You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world." Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold it says in Romans 12:2 in one translation. My premise is that God is the moral center of the universe and is our Judge, we are not His judge (we are by definition held accountable to our Creator).
There are basically ten academic subjects that are directly affected by the worldview (which are as follows: Theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, and history economics makes up Western Civilization or Christendom) and disciplines of a student of the truth. There are several worldviews including Secular Humanist (the predominant one in America), Communist or Marxist, Postmodern (which holds all truth as relative, except its own truths and especially those of Christianity) New Age, and Muslim. They all have this in common: They all agree to oppose Christianity.
Christianity is the only one that gives dignity to man and meaning to his life and purpose or teleology to his life's origin and destiny. Humanists, et al., describe Christians as out of touch with reality (Ted Turner, for instance, has labeled Christians as weak and Christianity a religion for losers), Freud described Christians as neurotic, if not psychotic. The problem is that Marx described religion as the opiate of the people--actually, young people are ill-prepared and don't know what they believe when encountered with worldviews, and should have their minds kept open.
What has happened is that man has forgotten God according to Alexander Solzhenitsyn. The historian, Will Durant asks if a man can live without God? Ironically, on the other hand, Bertrand Russell says what the world needs is more Christian love. Nietzsche proclaimed God as dead (not relevant anymore) and that "we killed Him." Russell (the most famous atheist philosopher of the twentieth century), also said that "unless you assume a God, the question of life's meaning is useless." God is indeed relative to all dimensions of life and every major academic discipline.
Ethics is in debate and is the chief problematic area because what you believe affects how you behave (orthodoxy or right belief is necessary for orthopraxy or right behavior)--Humanists say ethics are relative to one's culture. We believe that the faith you have is the faith you show, but Christianity is not a system of ethics, but a relationship with the living God. We have an inner sense of "ought." We will be held accountable to our Creator at the judgment. The summation of Christian ethics is to follow the Lord in discipleship.
Look at the gamut of value systems:
In Islam, Muhammad is seen as the exemplary hero held in superlative status, though he had many flaws in his character, while Jesus was sinless--what Jesus did, no man can do, what Muhammad did, any militant man can do. We believe in absolute right and wrong--certain things are always wrong in all situations at all times.
There are basically ten academic subjects that are directly affected by the worldview (which are as follows: Theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, and history economics makes up Western Civilization or Christendom) and disciplines of a student of the truth. There are several worldviews including Secular Humanist (the predominant one in America), Communist or Marxist, Postmodern (which holds all truth as relative, except its own truths and especially those of Christianity) New Age, and Muslim. They all have this in common: They all agree to oppose Christianity.
Christianity is the only one that gives dignity to man and meaning to his life and purpose or teleology to his life's origin and destiny. Humanists, et al., describe Christians as out of touch with reality (Ted Turner, for instance, has labeled Christians as weak and Christianity a religion for losers), Freud described Christians as neurotic, if not psychotic. The problem is that Marx described religion as the opiate of the people--actually, young people are ill-prepared and don't know what they believe when encountered with worldviews, and should have their minds kept open.
What has happened is that man has forgotten God according to Alexander Solzhenitsyn. The historian, Will Durant asks if a man can live without God? Ironically, on the other hand, Bertrand Russell says what the world needs is more Christian love. Nietzsche proclaimed God as dead (not relevant anymore) and that "we killed Him." Russell (the most famous atheist philosopher of the twentieth century), also said that "unless you assume a God, the question of life's meaning is useless." God is indeed relative to all dimensions of life and every major academic discipline.
Ethics is in debate and is the chief problematic area because what you believe affects how you behave (orthodoxy or right belief is necessary for orthopraxy or right behavior)--Humanists say ethics are relative to one's culture. We believe that the faith you have is the faith you show, but Christianity is not a system of ethics, but a relationship with the living God. We have an inner sense of "ought." We will be held accountable to our Creator at the judgment. The summation of Christian ethics is to follow the Lord in discipleship.
Look at the gamut of value systems:
In Islam, Muhammad is seen as the exemplary hero held in superlative status, though he had many flaws in his character, while Jesus was sinless--what Jesus did, no man can do, what Muhammad did, any militant man can do. We believe in absolute right and wrong--certain things are always wrong in all situations at all times.
Postmodernists, with more of a mood than dogma, say that they believe in no absolutes but moral relativism. If it feels right, then it is--make your own credo (essence of New Age)! "Truth is a short-term contract." Imagine the consequences of believing that! They essentially believe you should live as you please (see how your worldview affects your behavior--it has consequences!).
Secular Humanists claim we are an evolving animal and it is no wonder they behave like animals! They believe in the science of ethics and reject absolute standards--nothing is conceived as good or bad--they believe in "no truth." Remember, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Therefore, truth can be known and does exist.
Marxists claim man is the highest form of man. Christians are immoral and the enemy and Marxists feed on class hatred and envy--ultimately the end justifies the means. The question is whether we are headed toward perfection and a higher being someday.
The Postmodernists refuse a Big Story (worldview), or metanarrative, or grand narrative, as they call it, and want to get in touch with the god within and that tolerance is the ultimate virtue--you might say they endorse neither atheism nor theism--their faith is highly eclectic and highly individualized.
New Agers believe in the reciprocity rule of ethics (what Confucius taught-- don't treat others the way you don't want to be treated--don't even the score!), inner truth and enlightenment, karma, and being non-judgmental or tolerant. They believe we should design our own ethics--if it feels good, it's right for you! What modern-day schools teach is that your ethics or mores are okay as long as you can justify them or have sound reasoning behind them.
The big issue in psychology is whether we have souls, as others deny (except Islam). Is there a supernatural (the secular humanist vehemently denies any supernatural)? Does the mind supersede matter or vice versa? Which came first mind or matter? "In the beginning, God" not "In the beginning matter (no God)." The problem is that only Christianity deals with the problem of sin, death, and guilt in an acceptable way. Christianity is a competing therapy to psychology and is regarded as an enemy, not an ally.
There are parameters to a Christian worldview: mind over matter, God before people, plan, and design before creation, life from life, and enlightenment from Light. All things have their origin or genesis in God: "In the beginning God...." The problem most people have is that they know enough truth to be dangerous as Sir Francis Bacon (the father of modern empiricism, along with John Locke, and author of the scientific method), said, "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion."
Let's show the ways Christianity outweighs the other worldviews:
In theology, there is more evidence for God than against and you cannot disprove God or the fact of a designed universe (argument from design)--Christian theology is Christ-centered and its validity is based on the veracity of the Scriptures; In philosophy the mind or logos precedes or is over and has power over matter and the Higher Mind and loving God is superior to moral relativism in concept--having a First-Cause or Unmoved-Mover fits the facts better than pure chance and accident of history in the making--the vast majority of great thinkers according to renowned scholar Mortimer J. Adler were believers in God--supernaturalism and faith are vital to reason (the main purpose of reason is to show that some things are beyond reason;
In biology creating life coincides with the evidence better and you cannot demonstrate or prove spontaneous generation--life only comes from life (biogenesis)--no evolutionist can demonstrate how life began (life could not have arisen by chance according to Sir Fred Hoyle in The Intelligent Universe); as creatures of God we have dignity being in the image of God--creationism should be given equal time to evolution as both are faiths and can't be proved (who was there?);
In psychology, the need for a Savior and the solution to the guilt problem outweigh the evolution concept, and mind supersedes matter or what is called dualism is superior--man has a soul and a mind as well as a brain (actually Christianity is better psychology than psychology)--man's problem is sin and guilt and how to overcome it, not deny it, because we are fallen creatures--Christianity is the only view that treats this issue;
In sociology, the biblical standards of society and family are superior to free love, open sex, or any social experiment (we believe in the inherent worth of the individual and primacy of the family unit as fundamental to society;
In government, there shouldn't be any more interventionist than absolutely necessary and lean toward laissez-faire and open and free markets. In law, God hates the perversion of justice and provides a firm foundation--all just law is God-oriented and founded on the absolutes of right and wrong (known also as transcendent law and natural law), We uphold the rule of law and that the basis for Common Law is the Bible, relying on its veracity and relevance; Christians are obliged to obey the law (however; God's law trumps man's), and believers should pose no threat to other types of government as revolutionaries or anarchists, but should be model citizens whose real citizenship is in heaven;
In politics, rights are derived directly from God and the responsibility of governments to secure them (by the way government is not a necessary evil, but necessary because of evil according to St. Augustine)--involvement in the political process is encouraged and apathy and ignorance are wrong--justice and freedom for all is a right from God;
In economics, the concept of private property, work ethic, and individual responsibility is far more motivating than a welfare state based on redistribution of wealth and class envy--everything is given from God and we are merely stewards of His provision and bounty;
In history, utopia will be ushered in by Christ and is far more than a pipe dream, not just pie in the sky--history is linear nor repetitious and is headed for a culmination of judgment and a millennial kingdom ushered in by Christ, not us, the climax of history is when Christ comes to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Secular views hold uniformitarianism or that things have always been as they are without catastrophe or intervention by God, such as the deluge. The story of history is "his story" and goes from creation, to fall, to redemption, resurrection, judgment, and eternity.
The role of government is to protect private property, ensure justice, preserve personhood from danger, and keep evil at bay, thus securing human rights and making the opportunity, as well as seeing the marketplace is fair and moral, as well as ethical-- the law is made for the evildoer who needs the motivation to be good.
Secular Humanism and Atheism have been declared religions by high federal courts in America, but children's minds are not kept open because there are violations of First Amendment rights in the classroom. After all, evolution is taught as absolute truth and not just theory, and creationism is not allowed equal time, though over half of Americans don't accept it as gospel truth.
In conclusion: It is time for Christians to stand up and boldly proclaim the truth, and to let their Christian colors show; that means taking a stand and not being ashamed of their faith or of Jesus, looking for opportunities to make Him known. It might be as simple as writing your congressman, or the editor of your paper, even lighting a candle, showing your Christian colors, and having a prayer meeting, chain, or vigil can be beneficial. We need believers who dare to be "Daniels" and will not just stand by the sidelines, so to speak, but stand up and be counted: "But the people who do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32b). Soli Deo Gloria!
The role of government is to protect private property, ensure justice, preserve personhood from danger, and keep evil at bay, thus securing human rights and making the opportunity, as well as seeing the marketplace is fair and moral, as well as ethical-- the law is made for the evildoer who needs the motivation to be good.
Secular Humanism and Atheism have been declared religions by high federal courts in America, but children's minds are not kept open because there are violations of First Amendment rights in the classroom. After all, evolution is taught as absolute truth and not just theory, and creationism is not allowed equal time, though over half of Americans don't accept it as gospel truth.
In conclusion: It is time for Christians to stand up and boldly proclaim the truth, and to let their Christian colors show; that means taking a stand and not being ashamed of their faith or of Jesus, looking for opportunities to make Him known. It might be as simple as writing your congressman, or the editor of your paper, even lighting a candle, showing your Christian colors, and having a prayer meeting, chain, or vigil can be beneficial. We need believers who dare to be "Daniels" and will not just stand by the sidelines, so to speak, but stand up and be counted: "But the people who do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32b). Soli Deo Gloria!
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