DIVERSE WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS

Watching The Truth Project, Lesson 3, prompted the following questions:

1. Why did the founders of the United States develop so many checks and balances in government?

2. If people can choose a worldview that allows them to live however they want (do what feels good) or a worldview that admits of the need to follow standards for right and wrong, and the government and educational system and media are all telling them to choose option one, which option are they likely to choose? Why? Is option one the option that seems the most consistent with truth?

3. If evil/bad is the result of societal factors, and is not due to the internal nature of people (i.e., a fallen or sinful nature), why do we have to train our kids how to be good and not to be evil/bad?

4. If we are the product of random, purposeless evolutionary forces, where did we develop the idea of good and evil - aren't things just there and everything is neutral? Aren't we no more evil or good than a knat or a frog?

5. If we are the product of random, purposeless evolutionary forces, how do we ever have the right to condemn "human rights" violations or misconduct of people who are not subject to our laws? What does the answer tell us about whether there is a higher standard of conduct beyond actions of a government?

6. What is the "scientific" reason for the conclusion that people are inherently good? Does that conclusion comport with the reality of what we see in the world around us?

7. If it is assumed that the highest purpose of individuals is to be "self-actualized," what is the role of a government that is trying to see people fulfill that purpose?

8. If people believe that they don't live up to a transcendent standard of goodness, where does that thought come from?

9. Would you rather live in a country where people and their government understand that people have a "fallen" nature (we don't live and act and speak as we should) or in a country where people and their government assume that everyone is basically good and everyone needs to be self-actualized? Why?

10. Why has almost every diverse culture in the world developed a concept of falling short of the standards of a God or the gods and of the parallel need to appease God or the gods for the failure to comply with such standards?

For those who don't understand the Christian worldview, it can be summarized like this:

1. God created people with a knowledge of God. The Bible says that we were made to reflect God's image/qualities - Imageo Deo. The first people (Adam and Eve) chose to disobey God - they didn't trust that what God said was true and they chose to believe a lie instead. As a result, they entered a fallen condition known as "sin." They fell short of the glory/image of God in their lives. The Bible says that people in that fallen condition are separated from God and will spend eternity in that fallen state of separation from a loving, glorious God unless their sins are forgiven and they are given the righteousness needed to be with their loving Creator.

2. Every person since Adam and Eve has inherited that fallen condition, except for one person - Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ eternally existed as God the Son (part of the three part nature of God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Jesus came into the world as a baby, in extremely humble conditions, without the sin nature. He came in order to offer himself as a sacrifice in our place - so that we would not have to bear the spiritual penalty of eternal separation from the God who loves us, because of our fallen nature.

3. Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice - so that no more sacrifices are ever necessary. He offered up himself, allowing Romans to brutally torture and crucify him at the request of Jewish religious leaders. He was not only tortured and then crucified, but stabbed in the heart by a spear. H death was witnessed by many people in Jerusalem. He was wrapped in burial cloths and laid in a tomb for two nights, with a large stone rolled over the entrance of the tomb and Roman soldiers standing guard at the tomb. On the morning of the third day after his crucifixion (early Sunday morning), he raised from the dead. His resurrected body was witnessed by more than 500 people. He ate with the disciples and showed up in both Jerusalem and Galilee after his resurrection.

4. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension to Heaven, his uneducated and backwoods disciples and brothers were transformed from cowardly followers into bold, courageous followers. They entered a world that hated them (both Jews and Gentiles) and that was hostile to them in every way. They were martyred and persecuted every step of the way. Yet, within 300 years, Christianity had become the dominant religious influence in the Roman culture. How did that happen?

5. Even today, in the "second" and "third world," Christianity is growing rapidly among diverse people groups. People of every language, culture and ethnicity relate to and respond to the claims of Jesus Christ. More people were martyred for the Christian faith in the "modern" 20th Century than in any previous century and the persecution is continuing to rage. Yet, people continue to give up everything to follow this first century carpenter whose public ministry only lasted three years in a remote part of the world. How is that possible?

6. Even our world-wide dating system is structured around the approximate date of his birth. Many major world holy days involved remembering some aspect of his birth, life, death or resurrection. His life has inspired works of art, masterpieces of music, architecture and scientific discoveries. Some of the greatest thinkers, scientists and writers in the world have professed to be inspired by Jesus Christ. Why?

7. Christians believe that Jesus' primary purpose was to offer everyone eternal life - so that we can know for certain we are in a right relationship with God, that our sins have been forgiven and that we have been covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He makes that offer to everyone, but that free gift must be accepted through faith in the person of Jesus Christ to forgive us and cleanse us and make us right with God. He doesn't create bondage to religious ritual or mindless tradition, but instead offers life in a daily relationship with the Living God!

8. Faith in Jesus Christ starts with a confession before others - telling someone that you have chosen to accept God's free gift and follow Jesus. Faith is more than a one-time confession, however, it is something that is proved by a transformed life. When we choose to follow Jesus, we choose to leave the things in our life that keep us from living holy, that keep us from honoring and blessing God with our lives. We also choose to pursue those things that are on God's heart, the things that matter to him. The Holy Spirit, God's Word, and other Christians help us to this - it would be impossible otherwise. These things are described in more detail in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament (the new covenant created by Jesus sacrifice for us). Thus, it is important to read the Bible for yourself and to pray, asking God to help us become more like Jesus in the way we think and speak and live.

9. The Christian recognizes that no one in this world is perfect and that for that reason we all need accountability and encouragement to follow Jesus with all of our heart. We need to be involved with other Christians in fellowship and worship and shared teaching from God's Word.

10. God promises to give everyone who trusts Jesus as their Savior the Holy Spirit to convict us and help transform us and direct our hearts and minds in godly ways.

11. The Christian recognizes that there must be checks and balances in government, because power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even Christian leaders can fall into temptation and abuse of power. Thus, everyone must be accountable, including church leaders and government and government leaders and judges. We are all susceptible to falling back into the old way of thinking and acting that is part of the fallen nature. Transformation is a daily process.

12. For the Christian, there is the absolute assurance that we will leave this body some day and be in the presence of God. This is not on a cloud playing a harp, but in a new creation where sin and evil are not undermining the holiness and beauty and blessing that God has for us. For the Christian, eternal life starts when they place their faith in Jesus Christ and it never stops, even though the body will one day wear out. In the mean time, we daily communicate with Jesus by reading the Bible and by prayer (listening to and speaking with God). As we walk with him, we see God daily work in our lives and help us through issues, problems and blessings.

13. Great and insignificant men and women, educated and illiterate, rich and poor, continue to find a right relationship with Jesus Christ every day. A fallen angel, known as the devil or Lucifer (an "angel of light" - deception) is trying to keep people from finding Jesus. God is allowing him a limited time within which to try to deceive people, but his end will eventually come and God will set up a new heaven and a new earth for those who chose to truth Jesus Christ.

14. Perhaps this is a great day for you to choose to place your faith in Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and to help you become holy in the way that you think and speak and live. If so, call a friend, tell them what you have done. Get a Bible and start carefully reading through Mark and then John - two of the "Gospel" (good news) messages about Jesus' life. There are two other Gospels (Matthew and Luke - all written from different perspectives and for different audiences) and many letters from Paul, Peter and others in the New Testament that are intended to help the churches and Christians understand how to live the Christian life. Then, find a church where people love and follow Jesus Christ and live according to the precepts of the Bible. May God wonderfully bless you in following Jesus.