What is your World View? By Bruce W. Robida

 

Why should we care about a Christian world view as opposed to a secular world view?

There are two words that we can use to identify the practice of judging other faiths and the doctrines of our own faith.  There are some people within the Christian community who oppose either of these practices even though we have been charged with contending for the faith that has been entrusted to us.  The first word, apologetics, is not really a judgment, but rather it is an argument in defense of our faith,  for those who are outside of the Church.

Apologetics - the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.  Arguing for the Christian faith based on reason and evidence.

The apostle Paul tells us that he did that very thing, even going into the Synagogues, trying to reason with the Jews by using the Scriptures.

When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, " he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. Acts 17:1-4

Although the Jewish people were God’s chosen, they were still in need of a Savior. 

The apostle Paul resolves the issue for us that it is right to defend the faith.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. Philippians 1:7

And the apostle Paul also charges us with the responsibility to do the same.

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 1:3

Here are some modern examples of apologetics:

We must defend and confirm the Gospel against the influences of the outside world.  Remember Peter Jennings’s The Search for Jesus TV Program? This program left people questioning the authenticity of  Jesus and the authority of the Bible. What was presented was not the Jesus of the Bible and also a Bible that was full of myths and errors.

Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute offers point by point arguments against the so-called journalism of Peter Jennings, concerning The Search for Jesus. You can read it on his web site @ www.equip.org.

Also,  Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell gives physical, scientific, archaeological and empirical [capable of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment] evidences in arguing for the existence of God and the validity that the Bible is in fact His Word.

Apologetics is not meant to be hateful or intolerant, but it is only meant to cause people to learn and accept the truth about God and what He really expects from humanity.

The next word, and the most controversial, is the word polemics.  There are many Christians in the Church today who believe that we are not to judge their teachings or doctrine.  They call those who practice such things, heresy hunters.  But what are they afraid of ?  I have heard it said that the only reason criminals are afraid of the police is because either they are guilty of committing a crime, or they are about to.  Christian leaders have nothing to fear if they are true to God’s Word.  Any preacher that opposes close scrutiny of his doctrine should be considered suspicious.  Even the apostle Paul considered the Bereans of having more noble character than the Thessalonians because they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what he said was true.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

Polemics - a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. - a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.  Christians questioning the doctrine and theology of other Christians.

Some Christians seem to forget that it is the message of Christ and the apostles that we must hold firmly to.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Titus 1:9

Preachers and teachers have been instructed to correct those who are in opposition to the truth.

And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Christians who question other Christians are sometimes accused of causing division in the Body of Christ.  But it is the one who does not agree with sound doctrine that actually causes the divisions, controversies, and arguments.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Small, non-essential differences should be overlooked, but there are certain issues that can have the affect of leading someone to hell.  Should we ignore these issues and allow others to be influenced by such errors?

Here are some modern examples of Polemics:

The Roman Catholic doctrine of praying to Mary has always been an issue for Protestants. 

"The term Mediatrix in itself could refer to either the objective redemption (the once-for-all earning a title to grace for all men), to the subjective redemption (the distribution of this grace to individual men), or to both. It is most usual to use it to refer only to subjective redemption, i.e. , the process of giving out the fruits of the objective redemption, throughout all centuries. We must consider whether or not the term Mediatrix applies to all graces or only to some. We will ask also about the nature of the mediation: is it only by way of intercession, that is, does Mary simply pray to her Son that he may give us grace, or does God also use her as an instrument in distributing grace. To begin we can say without doubt that the title "Mediatrix" is justified, and applies to all graces for certain, by her cooperation in acquiring all graces on Calvary." Father William G. Most http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya4.htm. (all emphasis is mine)

But what does the Bible tell us? 

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 1 Timothy 2:1-7

The apostle Paul tells us that prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving should be made for everyone.  If Mary was the true Mediatrix as the Roman Catholics teach, why did Paul say "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..."?  Was he mistaken?  Is the Bible wrong?

The Health, Wealth and Prosperity gospel is preached and taught in many evangelical Churches today.  This is taught primarily in Protestant, charismatic denominations.  The prosperity gospel simply stated is that it is God’s will that we should be healthy and rich, and if you are not, you might want to take a closer look at your life, for example, is there unforgiven sin in your life, or maybe you just don’t have enough faith.

God promises to supply all of our needs, but He has never promised to supply all that we want.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

So what’s the problem?  Why are Christians caught up in things that are contrary to the Word of God?  What can anyone do about it?

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Obviously, non-Christians don’t love the truth because if they did they would love Jesus since He is the truth.  But what is especially disturbing is when Christians embrace false doctrine.  Those people are Christian in name only since their failure to love the truth will cause them to perish.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 1 Timothy 4:1-4

This is exactly what is happening in Churches around the world.  Professing Christians, preaching, teaching, and accepting heresies that will lead them to perish.  The charge from the apostle Paul to Timothy was not just for Timothy.  It is for those of us who have been entrusted with the Gospel. 

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Jude 1:3

So, what can anyone do about it?  Christians ought to love the truth so much that they would be willing to defend it, even at the risk of causing division or being labeled intolerant.  And for those who are lost because they fail to love the truth, their only hope is to hear the true Gospel so that they can begin to love the truth.

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