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

http://www.roomfordoubt.com

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

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Adults CHURCHED Teens

59%

45%

“Born Again” vs. “Biblical Worldview”

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

All Adults All Teens 18-23 Yrs.

0.5%2.0%9.0%

Barna 2008

Rise of the “Nones”

0

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”

0

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

0

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.

0

20

40

60

80

100

No Longer Active Significant Doubt Felt Like Rejecting Faith Can’t Ask in Church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

w w w. w o r l d v i e w w e e k e n d . c o m

http://www.worldviewweekend.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” ???

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


LanguageBEHAVIOR


Conscience



Core

Who You


LanguageBEHAVIOR


Conscience



are

? ? ?

Really?

Worldview

BEHAVIOR


A T T I T U D EEmotion;

Conscience


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



Conscience


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


LanguageBEHAVIOR


Conscience



When CONSISTENT

Integrity



Conscience


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.


Evaluate Personal Integrity from Biblical Passages


LanguageBEHAVIOR


Conscience



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”


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

“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


http://worldvieweyes.org/icec2015.html

rethinking worldview: a new paradigm for christian...

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