Competing Worldviews: Why they matter
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Michael Craven Michael Craven's weblog
- Updated Feb 19, 2007
The term, “worldview” is used frequently today but what do
we actually mean when we use this term and what does it matter? A worldview is
ultimately one’s explanation of reality: “Where do we come from?” “What has
gone wrong with the world?” In other words, what accounts for the problem of
evil and suffering? And, “What are the answers to these questions?” In the end everyone
has a worldview whether they realize it or not. There is a way in which they
understand the nature of humanity and the world.
There is a struggle underway in American culture and it is
ultimately a battle between two competing worldviews or explanations of
reality. These two perspectives are the secular humanist explanation versus the
biblical explanation of reality. The former is man-centered while the latter is
God-centered.
The conflict between these two worldviews is made most
apparent in their respective views of sex and sexual morality. The secular humanist
argues that sexual morality is an artificially constructed concept that is unfairly
foisted upon society by religious institutions primarily and other
“unenlightened” moralists. The Humanist
Manifest II, drafted in 1973 condemned, “intolerant attitudes, often
cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures that unduly repress
sexual conduct.” The Manifesto went
on to say that “individuals should be permitted to express their sexual
proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire.” This position appears
most often under the label “liberal” but it is ultimately the secular
humanistic worldview.
Of course, the assumption of secular humanists, which was
inherited from the Enlightenment, is that human nature is basically good and
that it is society that distorts the individual’s innate innocence.
Conversely, the biblical view of reality regards sex as
something more significant than merely an animalistic urge or a morally-neutral
proclivity. Christians believe that sex is the consummation of a deeper
relationship that binds men and women together for life in a relationship of
mutual respect and satisfaction – a relationship that ultimately serves as the
foundation for the whole of society: family.
The Bible regards sexual intimacy as a complex and multi-faceted
experience that integrates a man and women psychologically, emotionally,
spiritually and biologically – meaning procreative. The Christian view does not
discount or diminish the pleasures of sex but instead ennobles the sexual
passion. Finally, Christians view human nature as possessing noble virtues,
being made in the image of God but with a natural inclination to selfishness
and sin.
It is for these reasons that the Bible calls for restraining
sexual desires to the exclusive relationship of monogamous marriage - this
unique relationship that offers emotional, psychological and physical security
in which true sexual freedom can be experienced.
Unfortunately, it is the secular humanist view that has
achieved consensus in American life and culture and that brings us to the
pressing problems of our day with regard to family dissolution, out-of-wedlock
birth, promiscuity, sexually transmitted disease, abortion and the
unprecedented proliferation of pornography and child sexual abuse – all of
which have become serious [and costly] social problems in the last four
decades. The degeneration of these former principles has naturally led to the
legitimization of homosexual behavior and now same-sex marriage. This is the
logical result within a culture in which individuals are “permitted to express
their sexual proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire.”
The consequences experienced in the last four decades should
serve as convincing condemnation of the secular humanist worldview. Sadly, the
Church still remains largely sidelined in this battle – seemingly ill-equipped
to respond with a persuasive and convincing defense of God’s truth related to
all of life. The absence of an adequate response only further marginalizes the
Church and its message.
This is why the Christian worldview is so important for
Christians to apprehend and be able to communicate in the marketplace of ideas
as we confront these competing moral perspectives.
One of the best arguments in defense of the Christian view
of reality that I have recently read was actually written by a self-proclaimed
agnostic. In his book Why America Needs
Religion: Secular Modernity and its Discontents, Guenter Lewy, professor
emeritus at the
However, what a group of Evangelicals recently wrote is true,
“To propose that securing civil virtue is the purpose of religion is
blasphemous. To deny that securing civil virtue is a benefit of religion is
blindness.” While social reform is not the principal aim of Christ’s coming, these
“benefits” will nonetheless be realized when the truth of God’s revelation is
consciously applied to every sphere of life and culture. If Christ is Lord then
He is Lord over all and our responsibility is to press His lordship into every
sphere of reality. This is not to be a coercive action on the part of
Christians but rather subversive. We constantly challenge false worldviews by publicly
testing them against their apparent and predictable results and then displace
them through effective persuasion pointing out the truth’s apparent and predictable
benefits. The truth works while efforts based upon a false assessment of
reality will inevitably and always fail to achieve their original intent and
likely do a lot of damage in the process. The secular humanist approach to sexuality
is a prime example.
This is what we mean when we say “worldview” and this is why
it matters. False views of reality, or worldviews, are those pretensions spoken
of in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that “keep people from a knowledge of God” that we are
charged with “tearing down.” The simple fact is; you can’t argue for or against
something you don’t understand.
© 2007 by S. Michael Craven
S. Michael Craven is the Founding Director of the Center for Christ & Culture, a ministry of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families. The Center for Christ & Culture is dedicated to renewal within the Church and works to equip Christians with an intelligent and thoroughly Christian approach to matters of culture in order to recapture and demonstrate the relevance of Christianity to all of life. For more information on the Center for Christ & Culture, additional resources and other works by S. Michael Craven visit: www.battlefortruth.org
Michael lives in the Dallas area with his wife Carol and their three children.