Decision Making Assessment

CWV-101 Topic 6 Overview

Worldview Implications: Truth and Ethics

Introduction

In this topic, we transition to consider some of the implications of the Christian worldview. In Topics 2 through 5, we looked at how the Christian worldview beliefs have developed based on the Four Acts of the Biblical storyline. Now we will look at some implications of the Christian worldview as we consider some tough questions concerning truth, morality, and ethical decision-making.

Many people can miss the importance of the nature of truth and the nature of morality. What one believes about the nature of truth affects academic study, career, and personal life. What one believes about the nature of morality also has a profound effect on daily life. For Christians, the pursuit of truth is rewarding and paramount, "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Ps. 51:6).

Absolute vs. Relative Truth and Morality

Truth is conformity to fact, reality, or actuality. In other words, truth is that which is real, not imaginary. Absolute truth is not ultimate truth. Absolute truth is the belief that whatever is true is true for everyone. We can still debate what is true. So, by definition, truth is objective, and therefore absolute. It is common today to hear people speak of truth being "whatever you want it to be," and "what is true for you may not be true for me." This kind of thinking is steeped in self-deception, for it essentially makes an absolute statement that denies absolute truth. The statement "truth is relative and not absolute" is itself an absolute statement: true for everyone. It is logically inconsistent.

Some philosophers may dismiss truth and call truth subjective, a matter of one's opinion, or interpretation of reality. This is rooted in wishing to deny the possibility of a God who is the giver of truth. An objective moral standard causes us to ask where the standard came from. Without God there can be no moral and spiritual absolute and objective truths.

Absolute truth then, by its very nature, is exclusive. Exclusivism, in this sense, is the idea that not everything is true. Exclusivism, especially in today's world, seems offensive since people want everyone to feel accepted and affirmed in their beliefs, whatever they may be. The Christian message is to love and accept all people and respect their beliefs. One ought to be able to respect another's beliefs without necessarily accepting those beliefs as true.

Christian exclusivism is the concept that there is only one way to God or to please God.

This is sometimes called particularism. Christians believe that anyone can be forgiven,

redeemed, and transformed through the one way, Jesus Christ. If Jesus is not the only

way to heaven, not only are his statements false (John 14:6; Matt. 7:13–14), but God did

not need to send his only and beloved son to die on the cross for our sin (John 3:16).

Most worldview and religions have exclusive truth claims, believing they alone are right.

Those that believe all paths lead to God are also making an exclusive truth claim. They

are claiming that all paths lead to God and anyone who disagrees is wrong in their view.

The greatest respect we can give to others is evaluate rather than dismiss their exclusive

truth claims. For Christians, the primary truth claim is that through Jesus Christ alone we

can be redeemed.

Christians readily agree that many truths may be discovered through observation of the natural world, or science. Such general revelation reveals not only truths about nature, but also may reveal truths about our Creator. Psalm 19 begins with these words, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016). But truth goes far beyond what our physical senses may perceive, with or without scientific instruments.

Moral laws given by special revelation to humanity by God include the two great commandments, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Mark 12:30; Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:5), "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39; Mark 12:31), and the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20; Deut. 5). These timeless moral truths act as a window through which you may see the character of God and as a mirror by which you may see yourself and your need of a savior.

In her book Total Truth, author Nancy Pearcey (2004) quotes Francis Shaeffer from an address he gave at the University of Notre Dame in April 1981, "Biblical Christianity is Truth concerning total reality—and the intellectual holding of that total Truth and then living in the light of that Truth" (p. 15). Such total truth may be learned through observation of the natural world (general revelation) and by special revelation—God revealing truths to people as recorded in the Bible and culminating with God coming to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.

Christians believe as J. Gresham Machen (1987) once stated, that "truth is truth, however learned" (p. 81). And to take it one step further, "all truth is God's truth" (Gaebelein, 1954, p. 48). Indeed, everything about God is centered on truth. You can read of "the God of truth" in Isaiah 65:16. Jesus is described as being "full of grace and truth" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, John 1:14), and speaks of himself as the embodiment of truth (John 14:6) and the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). So it is not surprising the Paul refers to the Scriptures as "the Word of truth" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, 2 Tim. 2:15).

Truth is important to Christians. The Christian faith is based on historical events that are very well documented—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, spoken of not

only by the biblical writers, but also Jewish and Roman historians. And the veracity of the entire Bible is corroborated by archaeology with regard to dates, places, rulers, and much more.

Faith and Reason

It is evident then that truth is important to God. Jesus told us that "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001/2016, John 4:24). God clearly desires his people to be well informed, and when you speak of him or go before him in worship, you must do so with faith (spirit) and reason (truth). Christians often get criticized for having blind faith, but this is a misunderstanding of what faith is. For Christians, faith is trust, loyalty, response, and identity based on truth and evidence. That is, because Christianity is true, one can trust Christ, be loyal to Christ, respond as Christ has called us to respond, and, importantly, identify as a Christian—a person of faith.

Faith is only as effectual as the object of that faith is true and powerful. Otherwise faith is merely positive thinking. The object of Christian faith is a true and powerful God who not only created you but entered our world in the person of Jesus Christ at a critical time in human history to restore you to himself so your faith would not be in vain.

Pope John Paul II made this profound statement:

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves (Catholic Church & John Paul II, 1998, p. 1).

Faith and reason are not only both necessary for a true view of God, but also for a true view of ourselves.

All people, without exception, live by both faith and reason, but differ as to what their faith is placed in and how balanced they are with the two. An atheist may have faith in their core worldview belief that there is nothing beyond matter and energy; cause and effect—even when evidence may challenge that belief.

The Problem of Evil and Suffering

The age-old question of the problem of evil and suffering still haunts people: If God is all-good and all-powerful, then how could he allow suffering in the world? As you saw from your study in Topic 3 on the fall, the world was not created to include suffering; it came as a result of the rebellion of humanity, when Adam and Eve first decided to rebel and go their own way. Suffering is the direct or indirect result of sin.

Humanity was created with free will to choose to love and serve God or to choose to love and serve self. What is evident from the fall is that evil exists in our world because humanity chose rebellion. God will not violate our free will, so when one takes the wrong path, they will suffer. Suffering also occurs when we encounter evil or negligent

people. One can also suffer due to accidents, natural causes, and illnesses.

Why suffering and evil exists is related to rebellious human choices and imperfect people doing imperfect things. After that, now what? Christianity also has implications about what we are to do about suffering. Suffering is also an opportunity to make a difference and become better. This does not necessarily mean that the suffering was intended by God. It does mean that God can create good even out of suffering.

Christians may readily understand that they live in a fallen world and therefore suffering is bound to happen (Luke 13:4–5; John 16:33; 1 Pet. 2:19). Sin causes suffering for the one who sins, for others, and for creation. Even for the repentant Christian, suffering will occur in this life. Still, good can come from suffering:

1. Suffering increases compassion and equips us to comfort others who suffer (2 Cor. 1:3–4).

2. Suffering strengthens your character (Rom. 5:3–5; James 1:2–4).

3. Suffering is often a direct result of sin, and therefore teaches obedience (Ps. 107:17; 119:67, 71; Heb. 5:7–8).

4. Suffering sometimes is a tool of God's discipline (Heb. 12:7–11).

5. Suffering draws individuals to God, compelling them to repent of their sins (Ps. 25:16–18).

6. Suffering encourages humility and dependence on Christ (2 Cor. 12:7–10).

7. Suffering compels us to look forward to heavenly redemption (Ps. 121; Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17).

8. Suffering draws people closer to Christ and his sufferings, especially in persecution (Luke 9:23; Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 4:1–2, 12–16, 19; 5:8–10).

9. Even in the midst of suffering, God is aiming for the ultimate good (Gen. 50:20; Jer. 29:11–13; Rom. 8:28).

10. Especially in the midst of suffering, God wants us to experience his amazing love (Ps. 90:14–15; Lam. 3:19–23).

Here is a powerful quote from a woman who has had her share of suffering. Her name is Joni Eareckson Tada and she is quadriplegic. "Affliction is the gristmill where pride is reduced to powder, leaving our souls naked, bare, and bonded to Christ. And it feels beautiful" (Tada & Estes, 1997, p. 143).

Another comes from the book, Shattered Dreams: God's Unexpected Pathway to Joy, by Larry Crabb (2001), based on the story of Ruth from Naomi's perspective:

In fact, what He's doing while we suffer is leading us into the depths of our being, into the center of our soul where we feel our strongest passions. It's there that we discover our desire for God. We begin to feel a desire to know that not only survives all our pain, but actually thrives in it until that desire becomes more intense than our desire for all the good things we still want. Through the

pain of shattered lower dreams, we wake up to the realization that we want an encounter with God more than we want the blessings of life. And that begins a revolution in our lives. (p. 4)

Conclusion

Absolute truth (truth that is objective and true for everyone), absolute morality (a moral standard that applies to everyone), revelation from God, and the Christian perspective about suffering work together as an important implication of the Christian worldview. Because what is really true is true for everyone, because there is a moral standard revealed by God, and because suffering is the result of sin, rebellion, or simply imperfect actions of people, Christians have a calling.

All of this leads Christians toward the Christian calling to do good works, to make a difference in the world, and to pull good even out of the bad. By seeking to pull good out of suffering, we can build compassion, character, innovation, and we can draw nearer to God. For the Christian, the concept and understanding of suffering fits very nicely into a worldview that provides meaning and purpose to humanity in the context of the love and power of God.

References

Catholic Church, & John Paul II. (1998). Faith and reason: Encyclical letter Fides et ratio of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II on the relationship between faith and reason. The Holy See. http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul- ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_14091998_fides-et-ratio.html

Crabb, L. (2001). Shattered dreams: God's unexpected pathway to joy. WaterBrook Press.

Gaebelein, F. E. (1954). The pattern of God's truth: Problems of integration in Christian education. Oxford University Press.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#copy (Original work published 2001)

Machen, J. G. (1987). Necessity of the Christian school. In J.W. Robbins (Ed.), Education, Christianity, and the state: Essays by Gresham Machen. The Trinity Foundation.

Pearcey, N. R. (2004). Total truth: Liberating Christianity from its cultural captivity. Crossway Books.

Tada, J. E., & Estes, S. (1997). When God weeps: Why our sufferings matter to the Almighty. Zondervan.

© 2021. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.