The Shift in Our Nation’s “Worldview”

by

The Rev. Rob Hartley

This country was founded under a theistic worldview, more specifically a Christian worldview, but is now navigating into her future according to the new dominant worldview, Secular Humanism?  (A worldview can be defined simply as the way we view the world and understand life.)  There is no question that this shift has occurred, and everyone, Christian and secularist alike, understand ourselves to now be a “post-Christian” society. 

What are we to make of this shift?  What are its consequences?  First of all, this without a doubt will effect (is already effecting) the course of our country (for good and for ill), its destiny, prosperity and blessedness.  Granted, the Constitution and its amendments, which are based on Christian principles and ideals, are still in place, but even those are being interpreted from the perspective of a worldview different from that under which these founding documents were created.  It would be foolish not expect a shift in many areas of our common life  like morality, ethics, economics, American religious life, education, the shape and importance of families, and, of course, politics and governance.

A salient question for us, then, is this shift in worldviews and governing ideals good for us as a nation.  The century-old Progressive Movement in our country argues yes.  Christian Conservatism, while embracing many of the positive reforms championed by Progressivism, laments the shift and say no.  Of course, both cannot be right. 

The first step in knowing the answer is to have an understanding of the worldviews themselves.  Here are three dominant features, albeit far from exhaustive, of each worldview:

The Secular Worldview:

·     A trust in ourselves and our intellect for ordering our individual and common life, with no assumption that there is anything transcendent governing our lives.  We are in control.  Morality and ethics are therefore what our experience, societal norms and personal desires call for.

·     All personal religious considerations should be excluded from moral debate, civil affairs and public education.

Therefore, the improvement of our lives and the well-being of our nation can only be by material means (since that is all there is) and through the inherent goodness that is in each of us.

The Christian Worldview

(Sometimes referred to as a Biblical Worldview)
·     Absolute moral truths exist and have their origin beyond ourselves in our sovereign Creator.

·     These truths are communicated by God to us in both natural ways (observing His creation around us) and supernatural ways (divine revelation of Scripture, the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, and God’s ultimate self-revelation of God, Jesus the Christ).

·     We know all too well of our flawed and fallen human nature, but we also know of God’s love, mercy, grace, providence and desire to redeem us from ourselves and bring us into an unencumbered relationship with Him. 

Therefore, the improvement of our lives and the well-being of our nation can only be through conformance with God’s good and perfect will for our lives individually and as a nation.

What, then, does God expect of His Church, given this unsettling shift in worldviews governing the future of our country? 

·     First, God does not expect handwringing.  Instead, He offers us a peace to be found in our unswerving trust and dependence of Him:  “It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”               Deut. 31:8

·     Secondly, God calls us into a steadfast faithfulness: “Choose this day whom you will serve… as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”    Joshua 24:15

·     Finally, God calls on His Church to boldly and openly stand as a witness to the Truth of the Christian Worldview and to proclaim the Good News of blessing and salvation to be found in Christ alone:  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.                                           1Peter 2:11