Teaching a Biblical Worldview with Stories
By Michael James Dowling
Before God graciously called me to faith in Christ , I was deeply involved in the New Age Movement and Eastern religions . Back in the 1970s , these ideas were on the fringes of society . Today , they are mainstream . Most Americans would agree with many of the following erroneous statements :
• Many different spiritual paths can lead to God .
• We should fight against all instances of intolerance and inequality .
• Truth is found within each person , so it can be different for everyone .
• Happiness is the goal of life .
• Organized religions do more harm than good .
• Gender is a choice .
• Promoting the self-esteem of children is of primary importance .
• Sin is an unhealthy , outdated concept .
• Jesus was an enlightened spiritual leader who came to teach us the path to fulfillment .
These unbiblical notions are on TV , in movies , in our schools , and everywhere . This is the environment our children and grandchildren are growing up in . As Christians , we are exhorted by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “ destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God , and to take every thought captive to obey Christ .”
Unfortunately , the trends are not encouraging . In his American Worldview Inventory 2020 , pollster George Barna reports that fewer than six percent of Americans possess a Christian worldview . That ’ s half of what it was only twenty-five years ago . In the 18 to 29-yearold bracket , the current figure is a mere two percent . No wonder our culture is becoming more confusing , chaotic , combative , and corrupt !
22 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW