Posted on 06/09/2005 12:03:02 PM PDT by Rytwyng
Radio evangelist Chuck Baldwin, WorldNetDaily, and Whistleblower magazine have recently revisited findings by Christian opinion researcher George Barna that only 9% of born-again Christians have a Biblical perspective on life. “The problem with America’s Christianity today is that, for the most part, it doesn’t exist!” Baldwin said, in a June 1 broadcast.
We should revisit these figures too. They first appeared in a Barna Update December 1, 2003: “A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person’s Life.”[1] Barna defined a Biblical worldview as belief in eight propositions:
Absolute moral truths exist. The Bible defines moral truth. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and He rules it today. Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned. Satan is real. Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with others. The Bible is accurate in all its teachings. What Does It Mean? “People’s views on morally acceptable behavior are deeply impacted by their worldview,” Barna wrote.
In general, he found, people who do not have a Biblical worldview are much more likely than those who do have a Biblical worldview to condone or engage in immoral behavior: cohabitation, drunkenness, homosexual activity, adultery, profanity, voluntary exposure to pornography, abortion, and gambling. For example, those who held a non-Biblical worldview were 31 times more likely to accept cohabitation than the Biblically faithful.
Nondenominational Protestant churches yielded the highest percentage of persons with a Biblical worldview (13%), with Pentecostal churches next (10%), and Baptists third (8%). Mainline Protestant churches (2%) and Catholics (1%) brought up the rear.
“The results are shocking!” Baldwin said.
Given the prevalence of the non-Biblical worldview — in a country in which 80% of the people call themselves Christians — is it surprising that our entertainment industry cranks out smut? That our public schools teach moral relativism and hold “workshops” to teach children how to perform aberrant sex acts? That our politicians, judges, and business leaders aren’t much better?
Shocking, maybe. Distressing, to be sure. Thou Shalt Not Panic Let’s not panic. As bad as these statistics are, we who do have a Biblical worldview know that Christ sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father. All power in heaven and earth is given to Him (Matt. 28:18). His enemies shall be made His footstool (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:34–35). Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess Him Lord (Phil. 2:10–11). That is the end to which God has directed all of history. That is the message of the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
God’s Word is about truth, not self-esteem. Rather than be demoralized by findings like Barna’s, we should take them as indicators of where we are as a nation and where we need to go.
Acquiring a Biblical Worldview If America wanted to be a Godless nation, there would not have been such a decisive “values vote” in the 2004 election. Support for abortion would not be slipping in poll after poll. Eleven out of 11 states would not have amended their constitutions to block “gay marriage.” Mainline denominations would not be losing droves of members to Biblically faithful churches.
These are indications that more Americans would like to adopt a Biblical worldview. Speaking as someone who for much of his adult life did not have a Biblical outlook, my biggest problem was that I didn’t know I had a problem.
How do you acquire a Biblical worldview?
Read the Bible every day, making it an indispensable part of your daily routine — like getting dressed. It’s good to read about the Bible, to take a Bible study course, and to listen to Bible teachers, but there’s no substitute for the Bible itself. God will speak to you through His Scriptures — if you listen. Get into the habit of measuring all things by how they stack up against the Scriptures. To be able to do that, you have to acquire the familiarity with the Bible that comes with daily reading. Don’t ask, “What would Jesus do?” You don’t know because you’re not Jesus. Ask instead, “What does the Bible say?” This is the standard used by Jesus Himself and by His apostles (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 4:30). Strengthen your prayer life. Prayer is how you connect with God, person to Person. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 53:3); this means you, and everyone. We need God’s grace in our lives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). No one else can pick us up when we stumble. No one else can help us to do better. There’s Hope Barna has reported one sign that more Americans are already trying to acquire a Biblical worldview. In an April 11, 2005 Barna Update, he found that 45% of adults in America read the Bible during a typical week — “a significant rise from the 31% measured in 1995,” he reported.[2]
A level of 45% still means there’s 55% left to go, and “during a typical week” can be improved to “every day.” Nevertheless, it’s progress — the kind of progress that, in time, ought to mean changes in the more distressing figures.
Christ was not a "simple man," but His message sure was.
What part of "Christ's blood sacrificed for the redemption of sin for believers" is too complicated for you?
NEWSFLASH SPARKY:
Various Apostles and disciples were still spreading the gospel at that time -- And believe it or not IN PERSON.
"Every baptized Christian (which is what makes one a Christian)"
Pardon me, but baptism doesn't make one a Christian any more than attending a particular church does.
A "Christian" is a person that has realized(by the intervention of the Holy Spirit) they are a helpless sinner that cannot save themselves from that sin. They recognize their sin separates them from God and they are fit only for hell. In Jesus Christ they perceive the only hope they have of pardon. So, by faith(also a gift from God) they put their whole trust in Christ (God the Son) and Him alone as the means to be saved from both the penalty and power of sin over them. As the old hymnn goes, "nothing in my had I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."
No ritual, like Baptism, makes one a Christian. However, once one has placed their trust in Christ alone, they will submit to Baptism because Jesus commanded it. A Christian will be obediant to their master (Jesus Christ). They will not be sinless, but they will strive to be so (repentance).
Christ has already died on the cross.
Even He said, "It is done."
Now just what part of "It is done" don't you understand, brother, OR was Christ lying when He said it?
"The most interesting thing to me about the Bible is that its depth and beauty are so deep and intense that one can never get to the bottom or tired of its glories."
When led by the Spirit, I agree. It is an amazing gift God has given us through the Church.
Regards
"by the way, who told you that all of those books of the New Testament were Scripture?"
Santa Claus.
HO HO HO!
"Christ was not a "simple man," but His message sure was."
Yes, the "folly" of the Cross. It's one thing to be presented with a "simple" message. It is entirely something else to submit entirely to the message of the Cross - to die to one's self.
Regards
"Christ has already died on the cross.
Even He said, "It is done."
Redemption is finished. Salvation is not, brother. Is Christ's redemptive suffering applied to all people - do all people go to heaven? Paul certainly didn't believe he was saved, he continued to run the race, correct?
Regards
"NEWSFLASH SPARKY:
Various Apostles and disciples were still spreading the gospel at that time -- And believe it or not IN PERSON."
Ah, so there is not just ONE Christian doctrine, then...
Seems to me you are saying God reveals Himself through Scripture AND Apostolic Tradition. Hmmm, what would your Protestant friends be saying when they find out? Tell you to go join the Catholic Church?
Regards
Yes and No.
1) God indeed reveals Himself through Scripture
2) There is no "Apostolic Tradition" -- unless you happen to believe "traditions" impress The Almighty (Hint: They don't).
Christ's blood NOT "suffering" offer the believer a chance at "redemption."
Only God will judge the heart of those "who" go to heaven.
" Paul certainly didn't believe he was saved, he continued to run the race, correct?"
Paul most certainly knew he was "saved."
His "race" was run to encourage and teach the Word -- under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
So much argumentation to get around the plain statements of St. John 3.5, St. Mark 16.16, St. Matthew 28.19, Acts 8.12, 1 St. Peter 3.21, Acts 2.38, Acts 16.33, Acts 18.8, Galatians 3.27, Acts 22.16, etc.
Why not just take the Bible literally instead of creating complex arguments?
Like I said before, I am not interested in the debate. Save it for some other thread.
Read the last verse of the last chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel and repeat it over and over and over again. Look at Christian history with an objective lens. Analyze the roots of Christianity through Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, and then make your determination. I am really not interested in exchanging Bible verses with you. I am content with the way things were ordered and established by Jesus Christ through His Church.
This has already been answered. Baptism by desire suffices for salvation, especially if it is explicit.
Again, infallibly dogmatic: Baptism is necessary for salvation. You cannot disprove the norm by the exception. Baptism of desire is necessary for salvation. Read St. Matthew's Gospel, the last few sentences of the last chapter.
De fide Dogma:
Baptism is necessary for salvation. This is the Biblical and historical view of all of Christianity.
De Fide dogma. Period. Lights out. End of story. St. Matthew, last couple of sentences of the last chapter of the Gospel.
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My guess is that he was simply mouthing the words given him by his speechwriter.
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