Politics

Understanding Culture and Politics from a Biblical Worldview

I. What is a worldview?

A. Worldview is the filter through which we see life.

ê A self-centered worldview sees life from the perspective of how things affect me.

ê A hedonistic worldview lives for pleasure while avoiding consequences.

ê A victim worldview thinks that I am not responsible for myself.

ê A humanistic worldview places human understanding, values, and priorities as the highest.

B. Worldview answers questions:

Is there a God? Was I created? Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life?

What is my responsibility to God? Is there a destiny for my life? How should I respond to suffering?

How has God revealed himself to mankind?

C. Worldview determines...

ê ... what my values and priorities are.

ê ... how I relate with people.

ê ... the purpose for which we live -- for ourselves or for God’s kingdom

D. Ultimately, our worldview is defined by how we see ourselves in relationship to God.

ê Understanding proper worldview is critical because....

> We may think we have a kingdom worldview, but we do not.

> A kingdom worldview says that I have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and so do not belong to myself, but to Him who bought me.

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

> I live both as a servant and child of God -- to advance His kingdom not mine.

1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

2 Cor 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

1 Cor 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

II. What is a biblical worldview?

A. Someone with a biblical worldview sees the Bible as God’s only reliable revelation of Himself.

ê All revelations, experiences, and values are submitted to a biblical standard.

Prov 30:5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

ê The Bible is the standard for determining Truth.

B. Someone with a biblical worldview weighs out all they do and value from a biblical perspective.

2 Pet 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

C. Those with a biblical worldview gain their priorities from the Bible.

Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

ê Those with a biblical worldview draw their definitions of morality, justice, and mercy from the Bible.

D. The Problem: We enter God’s family as new creatures, but we bring along a humanistic worldview, which must be transformed by study of the Bible.

III. What does God say to the New Testament church about government?

2 Th 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor 11:2; 15:2; Gal 1:8; 2 Tim 1:13; Titus 1:9

A. We are to submit to the governing authorities.

Rom 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.

ê In a representative form of government, to submit means to participate in the process.

B. We are to show honor to those who govern, whether or not we think it is deserved.

1 Pet 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

C. We are to pray for governments so they will limit persecution.

1 Tim 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

IV. What are the moral priorities that should shape our view of government?

As long as we have a voice in government, for the preservation of the culture, we should promote the values that are close to the heart of God.

What is a common view held by the world?

What does the Bible say is God’s view?

Child Discipline

Spanking of children is harmful, because it teaches them to commit violence against others. A ban on spanking would improve society.

Child Discipline

Parents prove their love by their willingness to sacrifice their own feelings and administer a spanking for occasions of rebellion.

Prov 23:13 Do not withhold chastisement from a child; if you smite him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Smite him with the rod and save his soul

Prov 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to chastise him.

Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

Prov 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

(Also Prov 22:15; 29:15; 10:13)

Abortion

A woman’s right to choose what happens to her body is more important than her unborn child’s right to live inside of it.

Abortion

We must speak up for the helpless, and protect the weak.

Jer 1:5a "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart...

Ps 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Prov 24:11 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. 12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Luke 17:2 "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

What is a common view held by the world?

What does the Bible say is God’s view?

Homelessness

The homeless are those who live on the streets, because they are down on their luck. Compassion demands that we provide for them food and housing.

Homelessness

Help those who cannot help themselves, but do not reward those who are lazy.

Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." ... 21... 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

2 Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Clean needles for drug addicts

Just as sexually active teens should not have to risk pregnancy or STD’s, drug users should not have to risk diseases from dirty needles.

Clean needles for drug addicts

People do not grow when they are always rescued from living with the consequences of their choices.

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Prov 22:8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

Gay Marriage

To prohibit gay couples from marrying is bigoted and prejudicial against people who were genetically predisposed to their sexual identity.

Gay Marriage

Since God condones sexual behavior only between a man and a woman who have entered a marriage covenant, all other relationships are immoral.

Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.