TEXT: Colossians 2:1-8
Introduction
As a Christian, how are we to interpret and respond to devastating circumstances that take place in our community, in our nation, and on the world stage?
Illustration #1: On Friday, a man in the prime of his life, was travelling along Goulburn Valley Hwy, Thornton with a colleague from work, when their ute collided with another motor vehicle and claimed his life. He was a father, husband, and well-known member of our community. How do we interpret and respond to that situation?
Illustration #2: At the time of writing these words, at least 20 people have died in the current bushfires with at least another 28 missing. In our state alone, there are more than 50 uncontrolled fires raging. The state of disaster has been declared for the first time, the army has been deployed, helicopters have been leased from other countries, and panic is widespread. How do we interpret and respond to this situation?
Illustration #3: America’s decision to kill Iran’s notorious General Suleimani this week could spark a war. Most analysts are saying that Iran will retaliate, and to what extent, nobody knows. Iran has extensive medium-range missiles, and past experiences suggest that they are not beyond killing civilians and ignoring the Geneva Convention. How should we interpret and respond to this situation?
As we commence this new year, and as we survey the news about us locally, nationally, and globally, I hope to restate, recalibrate, and reinforce our biblical worldview so that our “structure of faith” is sound, and our responses and actions are aligned with God’s will.
This message will be a little different in that we will spend a good portion of time discussing the Christian worldview in a semi-interactive format before we look at the text. Please be patient with me as this is a particularly important topic at this time.
Join me as I preach a message entitled: A Biblical Worldview in Disturbing Times
1. The Definition & Diagram of a Worldview
See the attached document and explain it.
An individual’s worldview affects everything. How you understand the fatality in Thornton, how you perceive the raging bushfires, and how you react to Trump’s decision to assassinate Iran’s General will all be determined by your worldview.
2. The Definition of a Biblical Worldview
The Biblical worldview refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian interprets the world and interacts with it. Conservative Christianity is another way of describing those who defend a biblical worldview.
A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do. This is what we refer to as “Sola Scriptura” or Scripture Alone!
The further a nation moves away from God’s moral laws, the more the Biblical worldview is treated with contempt, and those who boldly uphold the fundamentals of our faith are subject to severe persecution. It should not surprise us that we come under fire!
Unfortunately, a so-called “Christian worldview” is not necessarily the same as a “Biblical worldview” in today’s society. For example, many “Christians” have moved away from the absolute authority of Scripture and therefore take unbiblical positions on homosexuality, abortion, worldliness, repentance and faith, and many other hot-button topics. The Biblical worldview is becoming increasingly diluted.
3. The Dilution of a Biblical Worldview
The Biblical worldview is under constant attack. The battle never subsides, and its casualties are many! Non-biblical and anti-biblical worldviews are not passive, they are pro-active, and are spearheaded by the devil himself.
We are bombarded by humanistic, atheistic, rationalistic, pragmatic, relative, god-denying philosophies. This is evident everywhere we look:
(1) in our homes via television and internet;
(2) in our workplaces through employment policies, anti-discrimination acts (highly discriminatory of Christians), discussions in the lunchroom, magazines, books, and the media;
(3) in our education systems by means of academic theories posing as objective truths (evolution, etc.);
(4) in our politics by means of climate change theorists and alarmists, the Greta Thunberg’s of the world, and scientists who are hand puppets for Satan himself;
(5) in our religious establishments via weak, unsaved preachers who coddle, entertain, and finally damn their congregants by preaching secularistic, spirit-of-the-age sermonettes that are void of spiritual truth and cannot save.
Because of this widespread spiritual erosion, many “Christians” have watered their souls with worldly wisdom and have been taken captive by philosophy and vain deceit (Colossians 2:8).
They are more concerned about the ice age than the church age; more concerned with saving the whales then preserving the sanctity of life; more concerned with the rainforests than redemption; more concerned with climate change than spiritual change; more concerned with bush fires than eternal fires (no disrespect intended); and more concerned with carbon reductions than the rampant moral decline.
Like a gnawing rodent, the devil continues to consume the moral fabric of society, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The Bible tells us that in the last days lawlessness will increase and because of this, “the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
Inevitably, the dilution of a biblical worldview finally leads to a total departure from the biblical worldview.
4. The Departure from a Biblical Worldview
Many (so-called) Christians have departed from the Biblical worldview because they have applied worldly logic and wisdom to the circumstances of life. They have become captives of philosophy and empty deceit.
Whenever we depart from God’s written revelation, we open ourselves up to the enemy’s deceitful darts, and he operates without mercy.
These departures should not surprise us, but they should disturb us.
- The Galatians had “quickly deserted him who called you in grace to Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6).
- Paul names Hymenaeus and Philetus as those who had “swerved from the truth” (2 Timothy 2:18).
- Demas was once a fellow-labourer with Paul, but “fell in love” with the world and what it had to offer (2 Timothy 3:9).
- The aged apostle John, speaking of some of antichrists said, “They went out from us, but were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).
5. Doorway to the Biblical Worldview
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…” (Colossians 2:6)
The entrance into a biblical worldview comes by means of receiving Christ.
To “receive Christ” is to believe in Him. It is to exercise faith in His person and work of redemption on your behalf. It is to acknowledge your desperate need of a Saviour, and your absolute dependence upon Jesus to meet that need.
I believe that there are many pseudo-Christians- men and women masquerading as believers but without having truly received Christ Jesus the Lord.
This is why there is utter confusion in the “Christian Camp.” So many varied opinions rather than a unity and purity of doctrine stemming from a biblical worldview.
Application:
- Have you truly received Jesus Christ?
- Has your life changed since the Spirit made His abode within?
- Have you been masquerading as a Christian and yet not spiritually alive?
- Is your life marked by a pursuit of God and His will?
6. Developing a Biblical worldview
“Walk in Him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Paul provides us with three distinct metaphors in this text:
- Walking
- Rooted
- Built
- “Walking” speaks of motion, effort, muscles, and energy.
This denotes the believer’s daily conduct. To walk in Christ is to live a life patterned after His.
In like manner the believer is to be moving in the direction of godliness, faith, and sanctification.
Where once we were all stumbling in the darkness, now we are walking in the light, and all the more as we see the Day approaching!
Illustration: Watching Lucy begin to walk.
- “To be rooted” speaks of a tree whose roots strike deep into the earth which act as an anchor when the winds blow, and the weather is tempestuous.
This illustration speaks of firmness, strength, maturity and resolve.
- “Built up in him” is to be layered.
In building terms today, there are a number of stages/layers:
- The foundation stage (Jesus Christ).
- The frame stage (Theology and doctrine).
- The Lock Up Stage (windows, fascia, gutters, electrical, plumbing).
- The Fix Stage (plaster, skirtings, benchtops etc.).
- The Final Build Stage (paintwork, walk-in-robes, air con, etc.).
- The Inspection Stage (The sign off).
- The Settlement Stage (Time to move in).
Paul also uses the word “established” which again speaks of soundness, firmness, to be robust and solid.
In other words, the responsibility of EVERY Christian is to grow in their development of a biblical worldview. Faith must grow and permeate every thought, every deed, every decision, every attitude. Another way of saying this is pursuing sanctification.
The last phrase in verse 7 must not be overlooked: “abounding in thanksgiving”.
The life of faith and the sound structure of a biblical worldview will overflow with thanksgiving to God (in all situations).
Practical Applications:
- It is the Christians responsibility to continually feed his soul with the Scripture so that he can think right, decide right, and finally act right throughout the circumstances of life.
- A biblical worldview sees the bushfires through the lens of Scripture
- Applies the truth of God’s goodness and sovereignty (to the mind)
- Feels empathy towards those who are hurting (to the emotions)
- Decides upon a godly path of action to help (to the will)
- Thank God for doing mysterious things
- A biblical worldview sees the sudden death of a local through the lens of Scripture
- Understands that death has come about because of sin and does not blame God.
- Applies the truth of God’s sovereignty and goodness.
- Feels the inexpressible pain of those who today no longer have a husband and father.
- Decides to help in ways that will soothe pain and point the hurting towards Christ.
- We must ensure that the Scriptures are the compass, the light, and the basis for our thinking and decision making. We cannot trust our logic; we cannot follow our hearts; we cannot be led by our emotional responses.
7. Defend the Biblical Worldview with all your Might
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
There were some very specific errors threatening the Colossae Church and they are the same ones that continue to terrorise the church.
- Paul says, “see to it” or “beware”. Be vigilant, on guard, ready to defend the truth at all times.
- To be “taken captive” is to be seduced, spoiled, cheated, robbed, and made a prisoner of war.
- Philosophy: The pursuit of knowledge and wisdom outside of God
- Vain Deceit: Tricks, delusions, traps, and worthless deception.
Application:
- If we are not actively defending, we are losing the battle.
- If we are not walking, we are stumbling.
- If we are not being rooted deeper all the time, we are being plucked up and eroding.
- If we are not being built, we are being torn down. The “big bad wolf” is seeking to blow our house down.
If you would think and act aright in a culture of continued perverseness, you must strengthen your biblical worldview each day, and sharpen your powers of discernment.
Hebrews 5:11-14 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
If you do not develop and defend your biblical worldview, the culture and the spirit of the age will chew you and your family up and spit you out.
As we commence 2020, and as we observe the many difficult circumstances that surround us, may we exercise the mind of Christ, and live with a biblical worldview which glorifies God, and points the lost to Christ!