Two Worldviews
How do you view your world? Does it make a difference?
What is a Worldview?
We all have a worldview. It is how we see and interpret our world. One definition of worldview is: "The totality of one's beliefs about reality. There are only four truly importan questions in life: Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going when I die? How you view your world will determine how you answer those four questions.
I. The Two Major Worldviews
Theism - The Biblical Worldview - Creation (Somebody made the world)
Naturalism - The Naturalistic Worldview - Evolution (Nobody made the world, it made itself)
II. The Implications of Your Worldview
If Somebody made it, that Somebody is the Boss, and He gets to set the rules.
If nobody made it, then nobody is the boss, and we can all set our own rules.
For the Christian, Acts 17:24 settles that question. "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, ..."
There is a group that tries to combine the two worldviews: Theistic Evolution. (Somebody made it, but He used natural processes to do it.) This is still basically Naturalism, for all practical purposes, it still falls under the same category. When people try to combine these two they almost always deny a literal interpretation of scripture, and try to find some way of getting long ages of time into the Bible.
III. Let's look at our Biblical Foundation:
Isaiah 45:18 says: "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."
The Biblical Worldview says: The world was deliberately planned as a habitation of man.
The Naturalistic Worldview says: Man is only an accidental by-product of an entirely purposeless process.
Evolutionist George Gaylord Simpson said: "Man is the result of a purposeless and materialistic process that did not have him in mind.
On we here on purpose, or by accident?
2 Corinthians 4:18 says: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
The Naturalistic Worldview says: The natural world is all there is.
The Biblical Worldview says: The natural world is only temporary.
Psalm 146:5-6 says: "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:"
The Naturalistic Worldview says: All truth is relative. Truth is observed.
The Biblical Worldview says: Biblical truth is absolute. Truth is revealed.
Naturalism has no ground upon which absolute morals can be based.
IV. Logical conclusions
Naturalism: God is a creation of man. Man determines right and wrong. Civil laws are written by the group with the most (political power).
Biblical: God is the all-powerful Creator. God determines right and wrong. Civil laws are based on God's laws.
Let's look at our four questions:
Who am I? Naturalism: A random chance accident for no purpose; and a higher evolved life form. Creation: A totally unique individual, made in the likeness and image of God. (Genesis 1:27)
Where did I come from? Naturalism: From hydrogen via monkeys. Creation: By an act of creation by an intelligent living being. (Genesis 2:7)
Why am here? Naturalism: A chance accident for no reason. I must determine meaning for myself. Creation: Because of God's love; to love and serve Him and my fellow man. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Titus 3:3-5)
Where am I going when I die? Naturalism: We go back to dust, and that is the end of life. Creation: It depends on my relationship with Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9; John 3:3, 14:16)
V. The Impact on Our World
If evolution is true, then the following must also be true:
- Man has no hope for his own future.
- One of the races of humans must be more superior than the rest.
- Man is just an animal.
- Inferiors should be eliminated for the good of the species.
- Protection of the world and environment is the ultimate duty of man as the highest evolved animal.
- Might makes right.
VI. What is at stake
This issue concerns the very foundations of the Christian faith:
- Man in God's image
- Accountability to God
- Standards of right and wrong
- The institution of Marriage
- The fall and sin of man
- The cross and the reason it was necessary
- The meaning of life
VII. Why do most believe in evolution?
- It is taught as scientific fact.
- Many theologians have bent their interpretations to fit evolution.
- Universities, publishing houses and periodicals are controlled by evolutionists.
- People have not heard that evolution is contrary to scientific laws.
- Museums and the media present the evolutionary viewpoint.