2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
The numbers of the latest Cultural Research Center survey on the state of the American culture and prevailing worldviews continue to show an on-going decline of a biblical worldview. The American Family Association’s Jordan Chamblee wrote an article stating that in recent years, a rising trend of churchgoing youth and young adults being in the process of re-evaluating their faith, deconstructing their beliefs leading to a change in their religious affiliation; often the path to walk away from their Christian faith entirely.
CRC director Dr. George Barna outlined seven particular beliefs, seven fundamental cornerstones of a biblical worldview used in the national survey. Of those ages 18-25, only 1% of those surveyed agreed with all seven principles. Only 10% believed in some, but not all. Taken all together, the 2023 number indicated a 33% drop in US adults’ beliefs in a biblical worldview since 2020. And, the research showed that fewer Americans today (25%) believe in absolute truth, down from 32% in 2020. Barna explain, “People do what they believe, behavior is the tangible outcome of belief. If you believe what the Bible teaches, you will behave in harmony with those beliefs. The goal is to actually live in concert with those seven fundamental cornerstone principles if a biblical worldview.
Genesis 3:1-5 tells us, “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman [Eve], “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” This is known as “the Temptation”, the deceiving lie of the devil that cause Eve to doubt God and led to the “Fall of Man”. Doubt of God was the original Sin and doubts can open the door to apostasy [the abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion].
A major cause in the decline of a biblical worldview in America is the Christian church [the body of Believers] not fulfilling the Great Commission commandment by their Lord in Matthew 28:18-20, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
The biggest positive trend in the 2023 CRC survey was how Americans define meaning and purpose, with 7% more embracing a biblical worldview of purpose over 2020 in the principle that the ultimate purpose of human life is to know, love, and serve God with all one’s heart, mind and strength. Belief in the Bible being the Word of God and a recognition of the sin nature of humans both shared a 5% increase above the 2020 results. Barna suggests that Christians seize the opportunity presented in the current culture to lead others through the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto repentance, forgiveness, salvation through transformational faith that embraces biblical principles.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Author Jinger Vuolo suggests speaking the truth in love, by influencing unbelievers and those struggling with their faith to reexamine their beliefs and discover that certain aspects of their faith are based upon manmade rules rather than God’s Word. Personal conviction of sinning against our just and holy Creator God in questioning and doubting one’s faith can lead to “spiritual disentanglement” towards further spiritual growth rather than falling away. Disentanglement involves studying gospel-centered teachings and taking ownership of one’s own beliefs, realigning their faith with the nonnegotiable truths of the gospel in “spiritual reconstruction”.
Ephesians 4:22-25 instructs us “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Churches play a role in gospel outreach within their communities and aiding this kind of spiritual growth in their congregations. They are to bring the Light of Christ into the darkness of doubt and unbelief with conversations and encouragement occurring within the context of a personal, trust-based relationship, developing a resilient and authentic relationship with God. Equip the saints, then seek and save the lost. Our eternity depends on the Truth.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment