Rethinking Worldview: A New Paradigm for Christian...
Transcript of Rethinking Worldview: A New Paradigm for Christian...
Rethinking Worldview: A New Paradigm for Christian Discipleship
Dr. Rich Knopp
Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Project Coordinator, Room For Doubt
www.roomfordoubt.com Lincoln Christian University - Lincoln, IL
Session Resources at http://worldvieweyes.org/icec2015.html
Worldview
2004 Conference!Grand Rapids, MI
“After Worldview: Christian Higher!
Education in Postmodern Worlds”
“… Why the theme "After Worldview"? Critics come at it from many angles, but if you polled a random sampling of scholars at a
Christian college you'd get a goodly number who find the concept unsatisfactory, in its fundamental character (tainted by the
pretensions of Enlightenment reason and the "modern project," many would say), its popular application, or both….”
Personal & Professional Background
Worldview Books
Personal Library: ‣ 38 books with “worldview” in title or subtitle.!‣ 8 published before 2000.!‣ 30 published 2000 or after.!‣Of the 8 originally published before 2000,
4 have a new edition since 2000.
Worldview Tool The worldview concept can be an extremely valuable and versatile tool that facilitates desperately needed
discipleship diagnosis and development in an increasingly post-Christian culture.
I. Disconcerting Data about Discipleship
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10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Adults CHURCHED Teens
59%
45%
“Born Again” vs. “Biblical Worldview”
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10
20
30
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50
60
70
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All Adults All Teens 18-23 Yrs.
0.5%2.0%9.0%
Barna 2008
Rise of the “Nones”
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10
20
30
40
50
1990 2007 2012 2014
22.8%19.3%
15.3%
8.1%
The “Nones”Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014
All Americans
The “Nones”
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10
20
30
40
50
1990 2007 2012 2014 (25-33) 2014 (18-24)
36%34%32%
22%
11%
Millennials
Pew Research Center, 2012 and 2014
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20
40
60
80
100
From Religious Homes “De-Converted”
66%73%
The “Nones”Drew Dyke, “The Leavers,”
Christianity Today
“... sharing their burgeoning doubts with a Christian friend or family member only to receive trite, unhelpful answers.”
Most Frequently Mentioned Factor by “De-Converts”
Drew Dyck, “The Leavers: Young Doubters Exit the Church,” Christianity Today, posted 11/18/2010.
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20
40
60
80
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No Longer Active Significant Doubt Felt Like Rejecting Faith Can’t Ask in Church
36%32%38%
59%
Churched Doubters & “Dropouts”
Barna Research!D. Kinnaman, You Lost Me
www.roomfordoubt.com
Worldview Weekend Test
Fall 2006
Fall 2008
Fall 2010
Fall 2012
Spring 2015
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Strong Biblical Moderate Biblical Secular HumanistSocialist Communist
TOTALResults
Lincoln Christian ID101
(Intro to Worldviews)
Indianapolis Suburban Church
Indianapolis Suburban Church
Age 66+
Age 56-65
Age 46-55
Age 36-45
Age 26-35
Age 19-25
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Strong Biblical Moderate Biblical Secular HumanistSocialist Communist
By Age231 responses
II. Discipleship Problems and Worldview Prospects
! “After more than a decade and a half of research into American faith, I believe that the Christian church in the United States has a shallow faith problem because we have a discipleship problem.…
“Dropout” Problem - A Discipleship Problem
The dropout problem is, at its core, a faith-development problem; to use religious language, it’s a disciple-making problem” (David Kinnaman, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church...and Rethinking Faith)
David Kinnaman
Discipleship Problem CAUSES
Worldview ToolPOTENTIAL
Contentment with Milk (Hebrews 5).
MEAT of Maturity.
“Mind-less” Christianity. A Christian MIND.
GAP: Belief // Behavior. INTEGRATION.
GAP: Sacred // Secular. Relevance of faith to ALL of life.
Don’t know WHY we believe nor WHY WE DON’T believe something else.
A tool for comparison & apologetic CONVICTION.
Miss the “BIG picture.” A FRAMEWORK for the BIG picture.
The “BIG PICTURE” ???
The “BIG PICTURE” ???
III. Prominent Worldview Perspectives and Recent Shifts
Different “Doorways” to Worldview
1. Comparative Philosophies ✦ Compare “isms” using key universal questions
E.g. James Sire, Universe Next Door
2. Theological Categories ✦ Use Creation, Fall, Redemption categories (CFR)
E.g. Charles Colson & Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live? E.g. Nancy Pearcy, Total Truth
3. Socio-Academic Implications ✦ Focus on social categories and academic disciplines
E.g. David Noebel, Summit Ministries; Understanding the Times E.g. Del Tacket in “The Truth Project”
Different “Doorways” to Worldview
God Nature Man Death Ethics Know-ledge
History PersonalImplications
Christian Theism
Deism
Naturalism
Nihilism
Existentialism
Postmodernism
Pantheism
New Age
Islamic Theism
Comparative Philosophies (ISM’s)
James Sire
Christian Worldview
E.g.Darwinism
E.g.Secular Humanism
E.g.Post-
Modernism
E.g.NewAge
Creation(Where did we come
from?)
Fall (What’s wrong?)
Redemption(How can we fix it?)
Restoration(How now
shall we live?)
Theological Categories
Nancy Pearcey
BiblicalChristianity
Secular Humanism
Marxism-Leninism
NewAge
Islam Post-Modernism
Theology
Philosophy
Biology
Psychology
Ethics
Sociology
Law
Politics
Economics
History
Socio-Academic Areas
Del Tackett
David Noebel
Implications of a Biblical Worldview
Philosophy Politics Ethics Economics Biology Education Politics
History Psychology Sociology Law Physics Art Literature
Theological Implications
Predominate Assumptions
Critical Engagement
Correct Criticisms of Worldview
1. Too focused on the MIND and on mere BELIEFS.
2. Too ABSTRACT.
Recent & Helpful Shifts1. James Sire, The Universe Next Door (1976, 1988, 1997)
“HEAD”: “a set of presuppositions ....” that are true or false.
2. David Naugle, Worldview: The History of a Concept (2002)
“HEART”: “The heart of the matter of worldview is that worldview is a matter of the heart” (p. 269; cf. Sire’s changed definition in UND, 4th ed. [2004] and 5th ed. [2009]).
3. James K. A. Smith, Desiring the Kingdom (2009)
“ACTIONS oriented by ultimate desire--by what we LOVE. !
IV. Discipleship Diagnosis & Development: A New
Paradigm for the Worldview Tool
Functioning Components
ACTIONS Habits SPEECH
LanguageBEHAVIOR
A T T I T U D E Emotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
W I L L Desires;Motives
ACTIONS Habits SPEECH
LanguageBEHAVIOR
A T T I T U D E Emotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
W I L L Desires;Motives
Core
Who You
ACTIONS Habits SPEECH
LanguageBEHAVIOR
A T T I T U D E Emotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
W I L L Desires;Motives
are
? ? ?
Really?
Worldview
BEHAVIOR
W I L L Desires;Motives
A T T I T U D EEmotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
A “Worldview” is ...
ACTIONSHabits SPEECH
Language“... a way of life guided by one’s basic beliefs and
priority values that are expressed in preferred behavior.”
BEHAVIOR
W I L L Desires;Motives
A T T I T U D EEmotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
ACTIONSHabits SPEECH
Language
A Christian “Worldview” is ...
ChristianWorldview
“... a way of life with basic beliefs, priority values, and preferred behavior that are consciously directed by a
love for God and His Word for humanity.”
Mark 12:30
The “Greatest Commandment”
“and you shall love the Lord
your God with all your HEART,
and with all your SOUL,
and with all your MIND,
and with all your STRENGTH.”
Action Speech
AttitudeWill
Mind
Behavior
ACTIONS Habits SPEECH
LanguageBEHAVIOR
A T T I T U D E Emotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
W I L L Desires;Motives
When CONSISTENT
Integrity
W I L L Desires;Motives
A T T I T U D EEmotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
SPEECH
Language
“Hypocrisy”
When NOT Consistent
ACTIONSHabits
Using the Worldview Tool!
Identify Functioning Components
in Bible Passages
Romans 12:1-2
Mind
Attitude
Action
Will
Talk
I urge you ... to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your
true and proper worship. Do not conform to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind ...
Colossians 3:5-10Mind
Attitude
Action
Will
Talk
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your
earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil
desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these,
the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these
ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid
yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice,
slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to
each other, since you have taken off your old self with its
practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being
renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Using the Worldview Tool!
Evaluate Personal Integrity from Biblical Passages
ACTIONS Habits SPEECH
LanguageBEHAVIOR
A T T I T U D E Emotion;
Conscience
M I N D Basic Beliefs
W I L L Desires;Motives
Integrity ???
“Love the Lord your God with al l your heart, with al l
your soul, with al l your mind, and with al l your strength”
Using the Worldview Tool!
Assess how your LIVING a Christian W.V.
• Consciously? • Consistently? • Comprehensively?
Someone With a Christian WorldviewLOVES God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mk 12:30) Is adequately INFORMED by God’s revelation. (2 Tim 3:16-17; Rom 1:18-20) Has a TRANSFORMED mind led by the SPIRIT of God. (Rom 12:1-2; 8:5-14) Is not taken CAPTIVE by deceptive philosophies. (Col 2:8) Takes every thought CAPTIVE to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5) Is ready to give REASONS for the Christian hope. (1 Pet 3:15)
Applies its obligations and implications to ALL of life. (3 Jn 1:4; Eph 4:1,14-15; Col 2:6; 1 Thess 4:1)
Individual Involvement
ReadingMedia
Music
Money
EducationWork
Leisure
Sexuality
Language
AttitudeWill
SpeechActions
Mind
Integrity
ChildrenSpouse
Co-Workers
Parents
Brother(s)
Sister(s)
Church Leaders Grandparents
Employees
Boss
Relational Investment
Friends
Boy/Girl Friend
Socio-Academic Influence
Politics
Psychology History
Economics
Philosophy
Sociology
Theology
Biology
Law
Anthropology
Art
Education
Cultural ImpactMissions
Poor
Hungry
Homeless
Social Justice
Orphan
Prisons
Disasters
Elderly
Crisis Care
Unwanted Pregnancy
Child Care
Medical Care
Apologetic Interaction
Postmodernism
Islam
Pantheism
Cults
Deism
Atheism
Animism
Nihilism
New Age
Paganism
Existentialism
Individual Involvement
ReadingMedia
Music
Money
EducationWork
Leisure
Sexuality
Language
AttitudeWill
SpeechActions
Mind
Integrity
ChildrenSpouse
Co-Workers
Parents
Brother(s)
Sister(s)
Church Leaders Grandparents
Employees
Boss
Relational Investment
Friends
Boy/Girl Friend
Socio-Academic Influence
Politics
Psychology History
Economics
Philosophy
Sociology
Theology
Biology
Law
Anthropology
Art
Education
Cultural ImpactMissions
Poor
Hungry
Homeless
Social Justice
Orphan
Prisons
Disasters
Elderly
Crisis Care
Unwanted Pregnancy
Child Care
Medical Care
Apologetic Interaction
Postmodernism
Islam
Pantheism
Cults
Deism
Atheism
Animism
Nihilism
New Age
Paganism
Existentialism
Individual Involvement
ReadingMedia
Music
Money
EducationWork
Leisure
Sexuality
Language
AttitudeWill
SpeechActions
Mind
Integrity
ChildrenSpouse
Co-Workers
Parents
Brother(s)
Sister(s)
Church Leaders Grandparents
Employees
Boss
Relational Investment
Friends
Boy/Girl Friend
Socio-Academic Influence
Politics
Psychology History
Economics
Philosophy
Sociology
Theology
Biology
Law
Anthropology
Art
Education
Cultural ImpactMissions
Poor
Hungry
Homeless
Social Justice
Orphan
Prisons
Disasters
Elderly
Crisis Care
Unwanted Pregnancy
Child Care
Medical Care
Apologetic Interaction
Postmodernism
Islam
Pantheism
Cults
Deism
Atheism
Animism
Nihilism
New Age
Paganism
Existentialism
“Do not be taken captive ...” (Col. 2:8)
“Take every thought captive”(2 Cor. 10:5)
Rethinking Worldview: A New Paradigm for Christian Discipleship
Dr. Rich Knopp
Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Project Coordinator, Room For Doubt
www.roomfordoubt.com Lincoln Christian University
Session Resources at http://worldvieweyes.org/icec2015.html