Reading Scripture for a Biblical Worldview: Psalm 72:18-19

The Exclusiveness of God's Wondrous Activity

"Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen."

These verses consist of a closing to a prayer from Solomon to the LORD for His grace and blessing upon Solomon's leadership, kingdom, and ministry. Verse eighteen tells us that in contrast to both the humanistic tendencies and the idolatrous notions of the cultures around God's people that God alone "works wonders." In other words God alone works in wondrous action to accomplish His will and purposes in His created universe. This wondrous activity is in contrast to not only the humanistic activity of depraved man but also the inactivity of vain idols.

Great Quotes: A.A. Hodge

"If Christ is really king, exercising original and immediate jurisdiction over the State as really as he does over the church, it follows necessarily that the general denial or neglect of his rightful lordship, any prevalent refusal to obey that Bible which is the open law-book of his kingdom, must be followed by political and social as well as moral and religious ruin."

"The Education of Empty Minds" by Ravi Zacharias

Zacharias writes of recognizing the dominance of the secular worldview and its mindless futility over education but yet the great questions of life and meaning are still left unanswered. Although, the Word of God answers all of these questions leaving the Christian world and life view superior to all other views of life.

"Greater Love Hath No Man..." by Michael Craven

Craven commemorates Memorial Day by looking at the life and sacrifice of a young Marine who was killed in Iraq. He highlights some of the Judeo-Christian virtues exemplified by this young Marine's life and brings home the point that God's people must teach the Judeo-Christian ethic to our children.

Here is a quote from Craven's commentary:
"It is this attitude of self-sacrifice for the greater good or “other-centeredness” that is absolutely essential to the strength and longevity of any society. If we as a nation continue to neglect the cultivation of true virtue among young people and instead immerse them in a culture which only encourages their most sensate and base desires, we will, in time, see such noble men and women disappear. Simply put, there will be none willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of “ideals” for they will not care about such things because they were not taught too."

Reading Scripture for a Biblical Worldview: The Providence of God

Text: Isaiah 64:4 "For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him." (NASB)

Mankind historically has not heard, perceived, nor seen the activity and providence of a god besides the Mighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Degenerate humanity committed to the futility of idolatry has only witnessed the worthless activity, which is no activity at all, of idolatrous notions of man's own minds. The true God that mightily created all things acts on behalf of His own redeemed people who wait and worship Him as the one true God. Not that God's activity and providence is determined by His people but rather in His divine grace He providentially works at certain times to provide sovereign grace and mercy upon His elect.

"Life Is Short- Keep Your Committments" by Chuck Colson

Years ago before my Mom and Dad were divorced they were seeing a so-called "Christian counselor" who told them that my brother and I would be better off if they got a divorce. Twenty years later as I see my children also suffering as a result of my parent's divorce I end up viewing the advice of the Christian counselor in the same way I view the philosophy behind this billboard in Chicago. It is the ranting of a hedonistic culture that is more concerned about personal pleasure and happiness than it is about the God-ordained sanctity of marriage.

"The Culture of Praise" by Michael Craven

Here is a quote from Craven's commentary:

"Christopher Lasch points out in his important book, The Culture of Narcissism, “The contemporary climate is therapeutic not religious. People today hunger not for personal salvation, but for the feeling, the momentary illusion, of personal well-being, health, and psychic security.” Following the eclipse of the Christian worldview that once shaped American life and culture, the “therapeutic” revolution of the sixties emerged to convince us that “personal happiness” was the ultimate goal of human life. This idea has only further encouraged the individual self to elevate his or her needs and interests above everyone else’s. "

"The Major Religious Alternatives" by Marvin Olasky

Olasky briefly explains how he teaches on the world's major religious alternatives in one term on the secular university campus. Olasky is a strong conservative evangelical that provides some effective questions to ask when evaluating the different religious worldviews.

Great Quotes: Robert Webber

Robert Webber, theologian and Church historian, died last week of pancreatic cancer. He leaves with us a legacy of admiration and love for the ancient Church and a desire for the people of God today to diligently remember (and study) the roots of Christ's Church. Here is a selection of some of his great quotes (These are taken from the article "Robert Webber's Ancient-Future Legacy").

"Evangelicals will do well to affirm a Christianity that has a deep kinship with the faith of the early church. … The challenge for us is to return to the Christian tradition."

"Classical Christianity was shaped in a pagan and relativistic society much like our own. Classical Christianity was not an accommodation to paganism but an alternative practice of life. Christians in a postmodern world will succeed, not by watering down the faith, but by being a countercultural community that invites people to be shaped by the story of Israel and Jesus."

"We now live in a transitional time in which the modern worldview of the Enlightenment is crumbling and a new worldview is beginning to take shape. Some leaders will insist on preserving the Christian faith in its modern form; others will run headlong into the sweeping changes that accommodate Christianity to postmodern forms; and a third group will carefully and cautiously seek to interface historic Christian truths in the dawning of a new era. "

"The concern of this writing is to go back to the earliest convictions of Christian spirituality. Why go back? Because the Roman culture in which Christianity first emerged is very similar to the culture of today's world. It was a culture of political unrest, a world of numerous religious options, a time of moral confusion and poverty. The religions of the day made no demands on believing, behaving, or belonging. In this context the Christian message was not presented as one more spirituality among the spiritualities but as Alan Kreider points out, Christians proclaimed, "We believe, we behave, we belong." One would think that the clarity of union with God in the context of the plurality of religions would doom it to failure. But it was that very union with God—lived out in belief, behavior, and belonging—that resulted in the rapid spread of the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire."

"How do you deliver the authentic faith and great wisdom of the past into the new cultural situation of the twenty-first century? The way into the future, I argue, is not an innovative new start for the church; rather, the road to the future runs through the past. These three matters—roots, connection, and authenticity in a changing world—will help us to maintain continuity with historic Christianity as the church moves forward."

"Why Atheism Fails: The Four Big Bangs" by Frank Pastore

Pastore, in his article "Why Atheism Fails: The Four Big Bangs" does three favors for those who have a Christian worldview. One, he provides a great list of questions that atheism fails to answer. Second, he provides what he calls "The Four Big Bangs" that must be true in order for atheism to be true. Third, he highlights the atheistic argument strategy that he used for 27 years as a believer in the atheistic worldview.

"At Home in Mud & Darkness" by Jill Carattini

Carattini uses a popular comic strip episode to illustrate at least three important points: One, people (including Christians) are willing to live a "life of contradiction" in this "age of non-reason." Two, she points out that a worldview that cannot be lived out cannot possibly be true. Third, the Christian Faith (world and life view) makes the most sense of this world and answers all of those "tough" questions of life and meaning.

"Soothing Lies- China & Forced Abortion" by Chuck Colson

Colson comments on the continuous policy of forced abortions in the totalitarian nation of China.

"New Book, Old Lie- The Secret" by Mark Earley

What do you want in life? Do you want cars, fancy homes, a huge salary, or a plastic face? According to Rhonda Byrne the "Secret" is proclaimed and all we have to do is tell "The Universe" what we want. What was wise Solomon's God inspired advice? All of this is futility! "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

Great Quotes: Augustine

"Beg God for the gift to love one another. Love all people, even your enemies, not because they are your brothers and sisters but that they may become such. Love them in order that you may be at all times on fire with love, whether toward those who have become your brothers and sisters or toward your enemies, so that by being beloved they may become your brothers and sisters."

Prayer: "To those who love you, O Lord, according to your command, you show yourself and you are all they seek. Thus they do not fall away from you nor back into themselves."

"The Thought Police" by Chuck Colson

What the Hate Crimes Law Would Do

"Political Passivity- Vice or Christian Virtue?" by Greg Koukl

Greg Koukl, in his article "Political Passivity- Vice or Christian Virture?", provides a good presentation of what I would argue to be the biblical view of politics and political involvment.