media covers them poorly, but Christians seem to get it
larization of society with non-religious (irreligious) values
especially bad.” This depiction didn’t match his own experi-
and secular institutions. But the very fact they are turning
ence with Christians he knew personally. He goes on to say,
away from God doesn’t mean they are turning to something
“The Christians in my life were all incredibly wonderful and
that is neutral. In fact, to turn away from God means you
thoughtful and had very ambiguous, complicated feelings in
have to be turning to something else, which by default
their beliefs. And seemed to be totally generous-hearted and
becomes our 21st century idols.”
totally open to a lot of different kinds of people in their lives.”
If left as is we risk failing to be good stewards of the
At one point he says, “What Christians really are is not being
culture God has placed us in. Charles Colson writes in his
captured by the press.”
book, How Now Shall We Live, the solution to the modern
Now before I go on, allow me to say that it is easy to begin
day identity crisis of the American Christian, “How do we
to find yourself as pessimistic as the guy who fell asleep on
redeem a culture? How do we rise to the opportunity before
his job. Someone slipped up and
us at the start of a new millennium?
rubbed Limburger cheese under
The answer is simple: from the
his nose. When he woke up he said,
inside out. From the individual to
“It stinks in here.” He went into
the family to the community, and
"But the very fact they are
the next room and said, “It stinks
then outward in ever widening
turning away from God doesn’t
in here also.” He stepped outside
ripples. We must begin by under-
mean they are turning to some-
and said, “The whole world stinks.”
standing what it means to live by
thing that is neutral.
What this guy needed was to wipe
Christian worldview principles
In fact, to turn away from God
the smell from his nose in order to
in our own behavior and choices.
catch a whiff of truth and hope.
Unless we do, we will interpret the
means you have to be turning
In fact the best smelling perspec-
biblical commands according to the
to something else."
tive, in my opinion, is a truly bibli-
spirit of the age and will therefore
cal worldview. Simply defined, a
be conformed to the world rather
worldview is a comprehensive set of
than to God’s Word.”
truth claims that purport to paint a picture of reality; the
As Christ followers, we have an amazing opportunity to
framework from which we view reality and make sense of
spread a sweet smelling savor. “And Jesus came and spoke to
life and the world. A biblical worldview, therefore, would
them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven
find at its center the scriptures and the truth of who Jesus
and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the
is. Author Os Guinness describes it this way: “Christian
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
worldview involves believers thinking about anything and
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
everything in a manner that is consistently shaped, directed,
things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
and restrained by the truth of God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Such a Christian worldview encompasses core issues and
answers such questions as: Who am I? Where did I come
from? What is the purpose of my life? Where am I going?
Tim Throckmorton is pastor of Crossroads Church in Circleville,
Ohio. He was raised in Southern Ohio and worked in retail man-
Where did it come from? Is there a Creator, or are we the
agement for 20 years, receiving God’s call to full-time ministry
in 1996. He has served the Church of the Nazarene as Pastor,
products of blind chance? Is there any grand theme to history
Credentials Board Secretary, and District Secretary. He is the
and human life? If there is a Creator, what, if anything, does
vice chair of the Facility Governing Board at Star Community
Justice Center in Franklin Furnace. In addition, he writes a weekly
He expect of me?”
column for a number of newspapers in the Central and Southern
Critically important observations
Aubrey Vaughan, in Essential Worship, writes, “In our 21st
century, western society there has been a huge paradigm
shift, a turning away from the Judeo/Christian God-centered
worldview, to a new atheism which desires a complete secu-
Ohio region, is the former host of Tri State Celebration, Daystar Television’s local affili-
ate in Ashland Kentucky, and has hosted Morning Show WOKE 98.3 Joy F.M. With
a deep love for the Lord, his family, and his country, he desires to be a faithful com-
municator of the gospel as well as an encourager, motivator, and leader. In 2010, he
released a DVD project entitled Lest We Forget which is a study of our Godly American
Heritage along with a companion book bearing the same title in September of 2011.
His latest book, Jesus Hit Me was released in the fall of 2013. Tim and his wife, Terri,
have two children and a granddaughter.
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