How does the Psalmist characterize atheists?
(Job 12:7-10; Mark 12:29-31; John 1:1-14; Acts 17:22-31; Rev. 14:6-7) Blog Oct. 18-24, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God educated our first parents through manual employment, governing responsibilities, and divine instruction. When given perfect freedom they chose to eat the one forbidden fruit rather than obey God. In mercy God provided a Substitute that they might have hope of restoration to their original home. True education is best received when it comes from One who provides our every need and to whom we respond with loving obedience. God’s Law of Ten Commandments gives us a perfect education for living.
Worldview (John 1:1-14; Gen. 1:1; )
1. What is a “worldview”? A “worldview” is the way a person views the world in which they live.
2. What four concepts are an essential part of any world view? Origin, destiny, meaning, & morality.
3. If we were talking about sports, how would we express these four essential concepts that make up a worldview? In sports they would be: start, finish, goal, & rules.
4. How does the secular mind (that of the majority today) understand the four components of their worldview? That the world & all within it came from nothing & is headed toward nothing, that as humans we have no goal but self-pleasure, & that we make up our own rules.
5. What opposing worldview still exists in the world today? That of a Biblical (or Christian) worldview.
6. How does the Biblical worldview understand the four worldview components? That the world & all within it was created by a loving, all-wise, all-powerful God & is headed toward a glorious eternity with him, that as human beings our goal is to please God, & that God has given us rules for living in the Ten Commandments.
7. What erroneous synthesis of the two predominant worldviews are many trying to make today? The combination of components from each of the two opposing worldviews which results in a belief that God got things started & will bring a glorious future in the end but that we have no responsibility to him in the meantime nor are we subject to rules imposed by him – sort of a divine sovereignty without human responsibility.
8. How might we summarize the secular world view? No god, NO creation, NO sin, NO savior, earth is our home & we are here to be happy, feelings are the answer to our questions, & I make up my own rules.
9. How does the Psalmist characterize atheists? As fools.
Origin (start) and Destiny (finish) (Gen. 1:1; 3:15; Job 12:7-10; Mal. 4:1; Acts 17:3, 22-31; Rom. 1:19-20; 5:5-8; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; Rev. 20:15; 21:7)
10. What is the primary source of a Christian worldview? The Bible.
11. What other sources besides the Bible help inform a Christian worldview? Nature, conscience, providence, & childhood education.
12. What do nature and the Bible tell us about the origin of life on earth? That a loving, all-powerful, generous God created this world and all that is in it.
13. What do nature and the Bible teach us about the destiny towards which we are headed? That all whose names are retained in the Lamb’s Book of Life will inherit all things & live in God’s glorious presence throughout eternity while those not included in that Book will be cast into a lake of fire that will destroy them “root and branch”.
14. What intervened in God’s perfect creation and what was made necessary for its restoration? Sin interrupted God’s perfect creation & the incarnation, life, suffering, & death of God’s dear Son became necessary for its restoration.
15. On what do every other worldview but the Christian one base a glorious future? Every other worldview bases a glorious future on something done by us or in us whereas the Biblical worldview bases our future on something done by & in Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.
Meaning (goal) and Morality (rules) (Exodus 20:1-17; Mark 12:29-31)
16. What is the meaning of life according to the secular worldview? That our personal pleasure is our highest goal.
17. What is the meaning of life according to the Biblical worldview? That of pleasing God & enjoying him forever.
18. What assumption results in the secular worldview that we each make up our own rules? The assumption that there are NO absolutes.
19. Why can only Christians be joyful and content in this life? Because they live by unchangeable rules that were designed for their greatest good & are not subject to the variable whims of a multitude of gods.
20. If expressing our worldview to others leads to disagreement what do we need to beware of doing? Of devaluing people which can lead to intolerance & to violence. Jesus expressed his view of truth in love which often brought disagreement, but he never reacted by devaluing people, rather he loved his enemies?