I don’t know whether or not you have noticed, but our country is in a mess. The following list is far from exhaustive, but is a good sampling of what is happening.
- Rampant sexual immorality
- Dominance of naturalistic relativism in societal institutions
- Death culture
- Fraud and corruption in government
- Breakdown of the family
- General lawlessness
- Illegal immigration
- Rampant substance abuse
- Racial division
Without a doubt, many of these things have existed for years. But now we see it at an entirely different level.
There are a lot of people and organizations working to try to turn things around. And it is a good thing that these societal efforts are taking place. It is worth the effort to try to make the social environment we live in better. As society spirals downward, it causes everyone’s life to be worse.
In spite of all the good work so many people are doing, however, not much of it will make a difference big picture wise. The problem is, while this degradation is showing up in society, and people are working on societal solutions, the actual problem is not societal – it is spiritual. And nothing can fix it but a spiritual solution based on faith in Christ.
Let’s analyze this using a worldview paradigm. To use that approach, we need to compare how society (Naturalism) and Christianity (Christian Theism) answers four specific questions:
- What is the ultimate authority source?
- What is the nature of ultimate reality?
- What is a human being?
- What is the ultimate a person can get out of this life?
Authority Source
Society’s Approach
The authority source that underlies most of the problems we see in modern society is human reasoning. The vast majority of people believe that what is right and wrong, good and bad, is based on their own personal opinion and preferences. People who believe that make up their own moral rules and simply do what satisfies them in the moment. The result is that there is no such thing as objective right and wrong. That leads to societal disorder – exactly what we see in modern society.
Christian Approach
The solution based on Christianity is to use the Bible as our authority source. It provides for an objective understanding of morality that leads to order.
What is the Nature of Ultimate Reality?
Society’s Approach
Modern society’s belief about the nature of reality is that this life is all that exists. With that as a starting point, following one’s own personal opinion and preferences is only natural. Besides simply not reflecting reality, however, if everyone has that kind of selfishness in their heart, the only possible outcome is the chaos we see.
Christian Approach
Contrary to what many people think, the Bible is not about legalism and does not advocate a legalistic approach to life based on some prescribed set of moral rules. The Bible reveals who God is and how we can know Him in a personal relationship. It is life in relationship with Him that creates the kind of personal order that leads to societal order.
What is a Human Being?
Society’s Approach
The belief that this life is all there is assumes that God does not exist – that human beings are nothing more than one species of natural animal among many. While some people may object to this characterization, they still live “as if” it is true. The result is the chaos and immorality that is prominent in society.
Christian Approach
The Bible affirms that we are persons made in the image of God, but fallen. We have an inner core that recognizes the existence of right morality, but we have a fallen nature that inclines us to do wrong. Living out life by giving into those wrongs has separated us from God. Knowing this gives us a direction we can take to get the problem fixed.
What Is the Ultimate a Person Can Get out of this Life?
Society’s Approach
If this life is all that exists, then the best that is possible is for people to do all they can to accomplish personal fulfillment in this life. When everyone is doing that, societal chaos is what we get.
Christian Approach
But the real problem with humanity is a corrupted heart that needs to be fixed. God has provided that fix by allowing us to enter into a personal relationship with Him by faith in Jesus Christ. When we invite Christ into our life, our heart gets changed – and along with it our motivations and actions. We want what He wants. And with everyone willingly pulling in the same direction, peace happens in society.
The only thing able to create peace in society is peace in the hearts of the masses in society. That only happens when God is the center of it. Spread the word.
Freddy Davis is the president of MarketFaith Ministries. He is the author of numerous books entitled The Truth Mirage, Rules for Christians Radicals, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, and his latest book Shattering the Truth Mirage and has a background as an international missionary, pastor, radio host, worldview trainer, and entrepreneur. Freddy is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular speaker, particularly on the topic of worldview and its practical implications for the Christian life. He lives in Tallahassee, FL, with his wife Deborah.
You may also contact Freddy at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.
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