Shifting Paradigms

The worldview of Christians should be based on the Bible and on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. However, we live in a world that offers a vast diversity of beliefs and values that clash with Christianity. Those views are continually bombarding us through television, newspapers, magazines, movies, books, games, and secular education.

Worldviews have practical consequences. John Dewey, the Father of Modern Education, was an atheist who wanted to replace belief in God with the religion of secular humanism. Therefore, it is not surprising that many children who were raised in Christian homes but educated through modern public educational systems no longer practice their family's faith when they become adults.

Competing worldviews can influence the beliefs and practices of Christians. Three decades ago, the New Age movement (for example, "the New Spirituality") was already popularizing moral relativism. Moral relativism insists that there is no absolute truth; everything is dependent upon context or circumstance. This is directly opposed to the moral absolutes of Christianity.

By now, we are so accustomed to the moral relativism of Postmodernism that we hardly even notice its influence on churches from coast to coast. The Emergent Church illustrates it well. Led by a group of influential men "who are incorporating elements of Postmodernism within their theology," it denies the inerrancy of Scripture and undermines foundational Christian doctrines. Even those who claim to be evangelical, pentecostal, or spiritually conservative have been powerfully influenced by the postmodern worldview. Nothing is "absolute" except that God loves them and wants them to be happy. They rankle at the very thought of moral absolutes and biblical commandment. Is it any surprise that there is little discernible distinction between sinners and saints.

SUBTLE CHANGE

Non-Christian worldviews (especially humanism) have influenced the beliefs, assumptions, and daily lives of Christians in America and other western nations. We have changed more than most people realize. To get some idea of how much our thinking and behavior has changed, let's compare some modern beliefs and behavior with those of times past.

Go back to 1950. Sixty years ago, the most common disciplinary problems in public schools were chewing gum and talking during class. The overwhelming majority of people were virgins when they got married. Divorce was highly unusual. When people got married, they expected to stay together, no matter what.

In the 1950's, over sexual content in film was not acceptable. In the movies, if there was a love scene, you saw the couple together and then the picture changed or faded out. You might see a kiss, but that was it. Parents back then would have been appalled if their children saw the kinds of scenes that have become commonplace in movies and television today.

This week I observed some friends on Facebook discussing whether Christian women should wear a bikini or a thong bathing suit. One person shared of an acquaintance who had given up wearing a thong because of the need to be more modest. She now only wears a bikini. Now, I am pleased that to a person my friends agreed that it is not appropriate for a daughter of God to wear clothing that would incite lust, or a brother for that matter to wear "speed-o's", for the same reason. However, it is clear that a large segment of the body of Christ really does struggle with these, and other issues that should be no issue. Some have completely given up the struggle and have capitulated to the sex-driven culture.

Charles Spurgeon preached until his death in 1892. That was 116 years ago. When he preached, every seat in his church was filled, and people who couldn't get seats stood in the aisles. Some people walked for miles to get to his church, stood for a two-hour service, and then walked home again. And they were grateful to be able to do it. There was no fellowship hall, no coffee, no smiling greeters at the doors, and no opportunity to shake the pastor's hand or talk with him. Men took God seriously. In our generation we are told that this is an illegitimate model for church life. The appropriate model for the modern church is informal and sometimes, irreverent exchange of ideas in which no one is wrong and all ideas are acceptable. Everybody's "truth" is a valid expression of their own self. There is little regard for the timeless truth of God's Word even though God's Word clearly expresses, "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."

PARADIGM SHIFTS

Sometimes people radically change their thinking based on one sermon, or one book, or one movie, or attending one conference. When the whole culture begins to flow with such change, it is known as a "paradigm shift. It is possible to have this kind of radical change in individual and collective thinking without being aware that it has happened.

Here is a recent example: One of the most popular "Christian books" of our generation William Paul Young's "The Shack." Admittedly, it is a fictional book, but Young's premises are nothing short of an all out assault on classical Christian theology. It attacks the Trinity, the character of God; elevating one element of God's character over another (i.e. "God's love trumps his justice."). Young tells us that God is not concerned with sin, there is no hierarchy within the Godhead (and therefore can be none in the church) - essentially Young teaches that all will be saved (universalism)because of God's great love, "sin is its own punishment", therefore God will not punish the wicked - because there really aren't any wicked. I have written a more complete review which can be found at www.acfellowship.net/The Shack Review.pdf.

What amazes me is the number of Christians who pick up this book which is filled with nothing less than heresy without the least regard or concern for its false presentation of God because its a good read (and it is - it has a very compelling story with characters with which we can all identify.) Pastor's are using The Shack from which to preach sermons, in place of the Word of God; Sunday School teachers are teaching classes from The Shack, rather than the Word of God. The book is being promoted by well known Christian leaders and teachers and musicians as the next "Pilgrim's Progress." The wide acceptance of such "theologically driven fiction" reflects a powerful paradigm shift in the culture of the church.

The problem is that we are ready to accept new ways of thinking without examining them. If men would pray as they read, and compare what they are reading with Scripture, then books such as The Shack would not have had such a profound impact on their thinking. As we read in the Bible,

"...they [the Bereans] received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Ac 17:11)


If men would follow this example, they soon would recognize that the book's message clashed with God's Word. At that point, they would have been wise to stop reading it. Except that men do not read, or listen for that matter with discernment guided by the authority of God's Word, nor overshadowed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to physical food, we are careful about what we eat. If something smells rotten, then we throw it away instead of eating it. We need to be even more careful when it comes to mental food and spiritual food.

INCREMENTAL CHANGES IN WORLDVIEW

Another way that people can change their worldview is incrementally -- gradually -- one small step at a time. Little by little, so that they don't notice the change. It requires constant vigilance and prayer to avoid being incrementally moved away from a Christian worldview. The Bible warns us to be "sober" and "vigilant" (watchful, on guard).

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8)

It is this Scripture primarily that causes me to be suspicious of those who taut being "drunk in the spirit" or "high on Jesus." This is no small movement in charismatic and pentecostal circles these days. The prophets of spiritual drunkenness are many and profoundly popular. The espouse the "true release" of the Holy Spirit causes men to be drunken and "joyous". However, those who drink too much often act impulsively, based on emotion, or feelings. They are not discerning, or for that matter even careful. They are seeking an experience or a feeling. On the other hand, sober men are capable of reflective thinking, discernment, self-control, and basing their actions on Scriptural principles rather than on fleeting feelings. Of course, it takes time and practice to learn to do that. But if we are sober and vigilant, then we are able to do it, even though we may not always be consistent about it.

The best way to learn to recognize counterfeit money is to study good money. And the best way to learn to recognize false teachings is to study Scripture. There have been times in my life when a teaching sounded reasonable, but I felt that there was something wrong with it, so I didn't take it in and apply it. And then later (perhaps many days later), a Scripture would be revealed to me, and I realized what was wrong with that teaching. I bless God that I was taught to do this as a child. I was taught to always, always trust scripture above feeling or experience.

This illustrates a combination of the value of knowing Scripture, and the nudging of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them (John 16:7-15). In this passage, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as being "the Comforter" (verse 7) and "the Spirit of truth" (verse 13). And one of the things that He does for followers of Jesus Christ is to guide them into truth—in other words, to enable them to discern truth from error. Jesus said,

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…" (John 16:13a, emphasis added)

In the epistle of Jude, we are told that God is able to keep us from falling away from Him.

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25, emphasis added)

Now this is not a reason to act as if vigilance is not needed. These two Scripture passages balance each other. The first tells us what we need to do. The second assures us that God will give us the grace to do it.

Here is an example of incremental change, from the world of popular music. In January 1971, George Harrison (of the Beatles) released the song "My Sweet Lord." It was his first solo record, and it was immensely popular.

The music is beautiful. The melody and instrumentation, and the soothing quality of George Harrison's voice, draw you into the song. It sounds so devout, so full of loving worship. The words seem to epitomize the goal of contemplative prayer—to really know God, to be with Him, to see Him. As George Harrison sings about longing to know God, the background vocals sing "hallelujah." It sounds so Christian.

But then the song changes. At first the change isn't obvious, because it is in the words of the background vocals.

George Harrison keeps singing about the same longing to know God. In addition, the instrumentals are so beautiful that when the "halle" of "hallelujah" changes to "hare," you barely notice it. After a while, you realize that the background vocals are singing "Hare Krishna" instead of "hallelujah." But then you hear some more "hallelujahs," so it seems as if it must have been "hallelujah" all along, a song honoring the God of the Bible.

Then the background lyrics become stronger and more noticeable, and it sounds as if they are singing in a foreign language. In reality, they are singing the names of some Hindu gods. They are also singing phrases from the "Hare Krishna" mantra.3

The song has morphed from seemingly Christian devotion to Hindu devotion. But it still sounds so sweet and beautiful that it is difficult to believe that the change has occurred.

That is a picture of what can happen when Christians become involved in contemplative prayer, mysticism, and things that come from Eastern religions or modern New Age practices. People can start out longing to know the God of the Bible, and wind up being drawn to Hindus and Buddhists and New Agers, and to the gods and goddesses that they worship.