I Was Challenged & Convicted!

Last week I had the privilege of speaking at a VIP Worldview Conference sponsored by BJ Press and Precept Marketing. It was held at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.

One of the highlights of these conferences is to hear from some amazing speakers. Dr. Bryan Smith, Jeff Keaton, Ben Schettler and Dr. George Barna always challenge those in attendance on the need to provide children with a biblical worldview education.

This particular conference was marked by a sense of urgency that was evident in every presentation. I came away even more determined than ever that the education we give the next generation must be built on a strong biblical worldview and a biblical philosophy of education. This must be a reality at home, church and school.

Dr. Barna shared that his research shows that the most dominant worldview among young Christians is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. That might sound like a lot of mumbo jumbo but it is a very dangerous belief system that too many Christians live their lives by.

In order to understand this worldview system, it is best to compare it to genuine Christianity. Consider the table below.

It is important to know where our students are coming from when we are attempting to help them develop a biblical worldview. I realized when listening to Barna that most of our students, including those who claim to be Christians, most likely have a worldview that is in conflict with authentic biblical Christianity.

There were several truths that were emphasized by each and every presenter. It  is important to note that we, as speakers, do not get together and plan what we are going to present. A few of the common themes that were presented at this conference were:

1. Neutrality is impossible in education.
2. Every educational effort is religious in nature.
3. There must be greater intentionality on the part of parents, pastors and teachers in their efforts to make disciples of Jesus Christ when it comes to educating the next generation.
4. We can only give to students what we, ourselves, possess.

As I contemplated where the younger generations of people are in relation to a biblical worldview, I asked myself how can we reverse some of these dangerous trends. A couple of things came to my mind.

First, I understood that I needed to examine my own life and worldview. Do my beliefs reflect a true biblical worldview or are there things in my life that line up with Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? One thing that Barna said really struck home with me. He shared that the vast majority of Christians have developed a syncretic faith. This is a faith that combines beliefs from two or more religions into one belief system.

Next, I realized that I must be diligent in renewing my mind. I have always believed that renewing one’s mind is not a one-time activity but a life-long process. We have been born with a faulty mind and are bombarded with falsehoods on a daily basis. Paul’s challenge in Romans 12:2 is that Christians must be continually renewing their minds.

Finally, I was reminded of how important it is to connect all knowledge to a biblical worldview framework. Dr. Renton Rathbun shared some questions that teachers must ask themselves as they plan their lessons. These questions demonstrate how a biblical worldview is an essential part of every subject that is taught. This is because a biblical worldview is the only worldview that matches reality.

1. What is the basis of truth for this subject?
2. Why does this material matter?
3. How do I account for my beliefs about this subject?
4. How do I make connections from this subject to the real world?
5. To what degree can I place my confidence in this subject?

Biblical worldview education is more critical today than at any other time in our nation’s history. Secular education is doing its best to shape our children’s minds in a way that is completely anti-biblical.

I never thought I would see a day when boys would be allowed to use a girls’ bathroom because they “identified” as a girl. But an even greater shock was when I heard a school board and superintendent deny that a rape occurred in one of their bathrooms due to this absurd type of policy. Then last week, I saw where not only a boy was crowned homecoming “queen” at his high school but the entire crowd cheered when it was announced.

This should not surprise anyone. When God’s existence is denied, anything and everything is permissible. The challenge to Christians is that we must be distinctively different from the world.

We cannot afford to attempt to be simply “better” than secular schools. Christian schools must not take a secular model of schooling and merely Christianize it with Bible classes and chapels. Here are two questions that need to be answered.

1. Are we simply operating a traditional Christian school?
2. Or are we operating a biblical Christian school?

We must never forget that there is no neutrality when it comes to how we educate future generations!