At this stage of my life I figure that I have lived about half of it influenced primarily by the anti-God Secular worldview. This was due to being educated in public schools and increasingly indoctrinated in college by the Secular philosophy. The last half of my life I opened myself up to being influenced by the pro-God Biblical Christian worldview. (I did not accept Christ as my Lord and Savior and become born again until I was forty years of age.)
I wish that I could say that I am totally living the Biblical Christian way of life. There are daily hints of how I fall short. Nevertheless, I do not have any doubts as to which worldview is the one and only true path. I do also appreciate the advantage given me by my old-life experiences. I am certainly not one susceptible to the rejoinder that “I need to look at the other way of thinking” before I come to a conclusion on the matter.
If and when I do stray from the pro-God worldview in my actions it is not due to ignorance, but just my old sinful nature. Satan is skilled at using the temptations of the world to pull us away from what is God’s will for our lives. For this reason I think it is valuable to regularly compare the extreme foundational differences between the thinking of the two worldviews. Just as I am flawed in not always adhering totally to the Biblical Christian way, I think it is true that many of those on the other side sometimes insert Christian thoughts into their otherwise worthless thinking. This is because Christianity still has some effect in the culture even for unbelievers. Remember though that for Christians it is not a good thing to compromise God’s Word on any aspect of His doctrine.
All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV.)
So, I have compiled a six table comparison of the two worldviews broken out according to the following categories:
- Regarding People
- Regarding Life
- Regarding Purpose
- Regarding Origins
- Regarding Science
- Regarding Human Behavior
It is my intent in this article to comment concerning those anti-God ideas that are strong in our culture today, and that still seem to have some hold over me after a half-life of my following Jesus. I hope these tables and my self-reflecting comments will be helpful to you readers in some way as well.
TABLE 1 PEOPLE:
I would say that I am foundationally pretty solid on these four “People” paradigm comparisons. However, like most Christians I know that I often have a pretty strong attachment to the temporary life here on earth. In my head I know the truth of eternity, but emotionally I still have things I want to experience and accomplish here before I go. Also, I often struggle with loving others the way Jesus has taught us. How about you?
Then God said, “let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NIV.)
TABLE 2 LIFE:
Life is certainly precious. I admit that when I was younger I did not have much sympathy or even empathy for the weak or downtrodden. I still struggle regarding those who fail to do what they are capable of doing. It is clear to me now that the abomination of abortion is driven more by men with power than it is by weak women in trouble. What a tragedy that over 60 million babies have been murdered since the institution of Roe v. Wade. What do you think?
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3 NIV.)
TABLE 3 PURPOSE:
I wish I was one who could say that I always live in daily fellowship with the Lord. I have had to develop various crutches to help me with my devotions and Bible study. I need to do better on this. How about you?
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and in him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV.)
TABLE 4 ORIGINS:
Of course I don’t understand everything in God’s Word, and I have yet to meet anyone who really does. But, I am constantly dismayed by the detrimental effect that liberals in the Church are having on the promotion of the gospel in these end times. What is not understood today can be understood tomorrow. It seems that America needs to have Christian missionaries from other countries come here to save those many souls in our country that have fallen away. What do you think?
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV.)
TABLE 5 SCIENCE:
Today in America science is being held hostage by the secularists. This is the greatest tragedy of all. When God is rejected outright in the search for knowledge successful education is not possible. It seems to me that God’s judgment may already be pressing down hard against our once great nation. I have personally searched in vain in the Bible for evidence for the existence of America at the end time. All I can see today is the swift demise of the American experiment unless there is another great reformation. What do you think?
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV.)
The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits. Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. (Genesis 7:20-22 NIV.)
TABLE 6 HUMAN BEHAVIOR:
These issues of abominable human sexual behavior are largely driving the demise of the Western culture. I think that the departure of the influence of the Church has greatly assisted in the acceptance of so much perversity in our day-to-day lives. Even ten years ago it would have been extremely difficult to imagine the depths to which many in the Church have fallen in the support of this perversity. What do you think?
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV.)
I hope these tables and comments have been helpful to you readers in your daily experience of the “battle of the worldviews.” God bless.
J.D. Mitchell
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:15 KJV.)
