BIBLE INSTITUTE

"...THAT THE MAN OF GOD
MAY BE FULLY EQUIPPED
FOR EVERY
GOOD WORK."
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

biblical worldview

Crisis of Belief - the Loss of a Biblical Worldview

What is a biblical worldview, and why is it a crisis that only 37% of U.S. pastors still have one?  A person has a biblical worldview when they embrace the position that God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit and contains unchangeable Truth.  When God’s Word is embraced as His Truth, Christians recognize the moral authority that it has to govern one’s life. Christians with a biblical worldview pattern their thoughts, lives, and perspectives around the Truth contained in Scripture.

Holding a biblical worldview informs one’s lifestyle, behaviors, relationships, morals, and character.  It also impacts one’s personal view of purpose – the call on every Christian’s life to service. 

A recent Barna survey of U.S. pastors identified only 37% holding a biblical world view. The research identified categories of biblical worldview and results of the survey by denomination. 

The chart illustrates the tremendous loss of biblical integrity in every area of life and faith.  Consider the categories and impact – only 13% of U.S. Catholic priests surveyed held a biblical worldview in regards to the Bible, truth, and morals. Only 27% of Holiness pastors embraced a biblical worldview in regards to sin.  How can this be?  Only 18% of Traditionally Black Protestant church pastors embraced a biblical worldview in regards to family and the value of life.  Each of these categories and percentages identify the alarming loss of biblical truth and righteous behavior.

Barna’s research also confirmed the suspicion that larger churches are less likely to maintain a biblical worldview than smaller ones.  When pastors don’t embrace the authority or miraculous transformative power of God’s Word in all areas of life and faith, Scripture is watered down to a feel good, self-help message that makes it palatable and attractive to larger numbers of people.  Pastors and denominations make decisions to embrace social instead of biblical values.  Can we afford the loss of a biblical worldview for the sake of large crowds?

When there is a breakdown in biblical worldview by those who are  supposed to be teaching it to others, it creates a silent tsunami that destroys the faith of individuals, families, and churches.  The ultimate impact of losing a biblical worldview is national loss of faith, which leads to the acceleration of societal decay.

How is it Possible to Make Such a Sweeping Claim About the Impact Losing a Biblical Worldview Has?

According to Pew Research Center, Christians in the US may become a minority group by 2070 if recent trends continue, according to newly released data.

Jesus addresses the cost of compromise directly:

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”  Matthew 5:13 ESV

In biblical times, people didn’t pop their groceries into the refrigerator. Fish and meat were salted to preserve them. Without the salt, they rotted quickly.
It’s the same with us when we no longer have our hearts, minds, and lives cleansed and changed by applying God’s Word, allowing ourselves to be conformed and transformed by it. If not, our old nature expands, compromise creeps in, and our spiritual lives decay.
 
Jesus wasn’t worried about pleasing the masses, He focused on pleasing His Father. People were saved, healed, delivered, and the known world turned upside down by hearts on fire with the true faith that breathes eternal life into the souls of men. Followers of Jesus, despite being slaves, outcasts, oppressed, despised… they found the true unconditional love of God and were freed in their spirits to finally be truly alive.  The pure Gospel truth is the solution for societal ills – it has been for over 2,000 years.
 

How Can We Prevent Decay When We Are Decaying Ourselves?

 If you are concerned about the decay of your weary heart, your family’s condition, the turmoil in your town, city, nation, and world… it’s time to move back to embracing a biblical worldview –  the authority of God’s Word in our own lives.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
 
 

At the Fully Equipped Bible Institute, we are committed to maintaining a biblical worldview and training Christian leaders around the globe to do the same.  Interested in high quality biblical leadership training?  Enroll in an online course to be better equipped for every good work.

Interested in helping to provide scholarships for Christian leaders who are serving in difficult and dangerous places?  Our current students serving in places like Nigeria, Uganda, and the Philippines are doing remarkable work in the face of incredible deprivation and difficulties.  Just $50 a month provides a scholarship for a pastor or Christian leader.  Find out more here.

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