A Biblical Worldview – What On Earth Is That?

In January 2004, The research
organization of George Barna actually put out a survey and
statistical report, relating to the present attitude of pastors
to a profile of what we call a Biblical perspective. What this
actually means is, identifying those who adhere to the bibles way
of doing things and hold to a conservative Christian approach
regarding historical fundamental doctrine and a lifestyle lived
in accordance with those views. These then are labeled as being a
conservative bible believing group who hold a doctrinally
conservative view of the Bible, and thus outwork a theological
and practical lifestyle conducive with it. This then is what
identifies one as having a Biblical worldview.

If you were to ask most modern evangelical pastors of
today’s contemporary Christian congregations, "do you
hold a Biblical worldview", I am sure they would answer
without hesitation a resounding YES! However the actual truth is
THEY DO NOT. Their position regarding what they say they believe
and their position regarding what they in practice do are very
different things. Barna’s criteria for defining the bibles
worldview was believing absolute moral truth exists based on the
Bible, and having a biblical view on six core beliefs - the
accuracy of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of Jesus, the
literal existence of Satan, the omnipotence and omniscience of
God, salvation by grace alone, and the personal responsibility to
evangelize. Barna argued, "you can’t give people what
you don’t have".

The results of Barna’s survey absolutely confirmed this.
He unequivocally showed just 9% of all born again adults and only
7% of protestants and half of all pastors possess a biblical
worldview. In this particularly alarming fact two things are made
crystal clear. Firstly, not only do many modern pastors run their
churches and teach beliefs different from those that the Bible
teaches but secondly, and more importantly, most Pastors and
leaders of todays’ contemporary church congregations do not
even know what the Bible teaches on many given subjects.
Therefore the sad outcome is that those who sit under their
counsel and influence have no idea what the Bible teaches either.
That should send shock waves through the ranks of the
conservative church. Because the disgraceful reality is, what we
are presenting to the unchurched and non Christian world is
something that Bible does not even espouse. No wonder adultery
and divorce now have a higher rate of incidence inside the
western Church than outside amongst the so called
unbelievers.

I talk with many pastors on a weekly basis who have absolutely
no idea what the Bible teaches on the following subjects -
dealing with fraud in a congregation, allowing accusations to be
laid against alleged defaulters, and I mean alleged as most
accusations have an element of truth to them but that is all. I
am appalled at the folly of pastors that violate the sanctity of
hearing both sides of a story before passing judgment or offering
advice, a thing the Bible considers reprobate. Most importantly,
many do not know how to deal with serious character faults in
members and leaders and therefore do not follow scriptural
precedent in these issues when trying to correct them. The Bible
lays down clear distinct guidelines for all of these areas and
gives steps when dealing with them.

This is to name just a few examples of controversy tearing the
church apart at present, but what of homosexuality, lesbianism,
heresy, lying, covetousness, anger, rage, immodesty, uncouth
language, lust etc. etc.. Barna stated more than six out of every
seven congregants in the typical church do not share the biblical
worldview of their pastor even when he or she has one.
Educationally, the pastors least likely to have a biblical
worldview are seminary graduates (45%). In contrast, three out of
five pastors who have not attended seminary operate with a
biblical worldview (59%).The largest gap related to gender 53% of
male pastors have a biblical worldview, just 15% of female
pastors. What does this tell you - simply that emotion is not
what is to motivate the church but logic is. Logic comes from the
word LOGOS

What a serious and concerning indictment against the church
that those who are its conscience (namely its leaders) do not
even know themselves what it requires and stipulates, when
confronting these issues of sin. I know for myself upon reading
of these facts, find the question arises, how can we as the
representatives of Christ and God upon earth expect God to
adjudicate and vindicate our efforts when we do not even align
ourselves with what He as God decrees? Would you as a Boss
endorse what one of your workers did, if they acted contrary to
your instructions and in the process were summarily caught and
prosecuted in the process for their ignorance or disobedience? I
guarantee you would not take responsibility for it let alone
condone or sanction it.

We live in a world where not only the world itself is in great
confusion, but the church is enveloped in greater confusion and
the Muslim believers look at us and laugh calling us the great
satan because we no longer have a chaste co-hesive standard to
live by. And to think we believe we have the truth. What a joke!
Isaiah 52 States as a result of this mockery THE NAME OF THE LORD
IS CONTINUALLY BLASPHEMED EVERY DAY AND HELD IN DERISION.

We need to get back to the foundational issues, forsaking this
philosophical stupidity of simplification. Whoever heard of
lowering the bar so future high jumpers could attain for their
self image of being able to say they reached their goal? The bar
should be constantly lifted. So to with the level of our
education both secular and spiritual, whether people like it or
not is not the issue, our generations to come will suffer with
ignorance degenerating into humiliation if we keep on this path
of political correctness and seeker friendly insanity. Read
Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:20-33

"Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her
voice in the broad places; She crieth in the chief place of
concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she
uttereth her words: How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate
knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my
spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you. Because I
have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand,
and no man hath regarded; But ye have set at nought all my
counsel, And would have none of my reproof: I also will laugh in
the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on
as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. Then
will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me
diligently, but they shall not find me: For that they hated
knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah: They would
have none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof. Therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with
their own devices.

For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the
careless ease of fools shall destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall
be quiet without fear of evil."