Assessing Worldviews

Susan Myers

The media—the broad entity of TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, and now the Internet—that forms public opinion and behavior in our country, is the focus for this article’s prayer challenge. There is no doubt that this force has blurred the lines between right and wrong, Christian and non-Christian, and right and left in our country. The discerning Christian has been able to detect a growing liberal bias in the media for the last several decades. Surveys of journalists have amply demonstrated this fact.

However, if you have been paying attention in recent months, then you are well aware of how blatantly open mainstream media has become in pushing their humanistic and socialistic agenda: Besides using the power of the media to get liberal candidates elected and deliberately advancing the abortion and homosexual/ LGBT causes over majority public opinion in public schools as elsewhere, they have pressured governmental bodies and officials into taking power away from other duly elected bodies simply to remove logical thinking from science teaching in public schools. Further, they have blacked out major news (like that of the widely attended TEA parties) to stifle American citizens’ opposition to the current socialist swing in government. Much is done to discredit Christianity. Vocal Christian (and logical-thinking) public figures are persecuted while liberal leaders are endorsed wholesale, with reporters even openly stating that “Obama is sort of God.” Gains for humanism and socialism are celebrated, regardless of the disenfranchisement of citizens involved. The list goes on and on.

We certainly need to pray for newscasters and networks—for truth to triumph, and for individuals in the media to come to Christ. We also need to pray for discernment for the public—an understanding of what is true and what is not true.

However, let us also examine ourselves. Do you and I have a Christian worldview? Instead of carelessly assuming that, of course, we know what is biblical and right, why don’t you take the PEERS test from the Nehemiah Institute (named after the prophet in the Old Testament who led the charge to rebuild a fallen culture) with me and see how we rank. As this ministry states, “Key to Nehemiah’s work was ‘inspecting the walls.’” Taking this test with your family or class can be the first step toward rebuilding our Christian republic. Do we really have a worldview that is true to God’s revelation in His Word in regards to education, as well as politics, economics, religion, and social issues? Or have we slipped into a compromised Christian, secular humanist, or even a socialist worldview in one or more of these areas? Think with me as we read these words penned by Thomas B. Polluck in the 1800s.

"We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought"

We have not known Thee as we ought, Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace & power;
The things of earth have filled our thought, And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near, And grant the grace of holy fear.

We have not feared Thee as we ought, Nor bowed beneath Thine awful eye,
Nor guarded deed and word and thought, Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near, And grant the grace of holy fear.

We have not loved Thee as we ought, Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;
Thy presence we have coldly sought, And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart To feel and know the love Thou art.

We have not served Thee as we ought, Alas, the duties left undone,
The work with little fervor wrought, The battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might, For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

When shall we know Thee as we ought, And fear and love and serve aright?
When shall we, out of trial brought, Be perfect in the land of light?
Lord, may we day by day prepare To see Thy face and serve Thee there. Amen.

We all need to evaluate our understanding and our practice. Have we been lured away from the Lord by the siren call of entertainment and worldly programming? Let us fall in humility before our Maker and pray for His mercy and grace. This weekend especially, I hope you will take time to pray for yourself along with other Christians for forgiveness of our sins and the neglect of Christ’s Person and purpose. Then pray for the unsaved and for our nation to return to its foundations and be liberated in mind and spirit.

Once we realize exactly where we are in our understanding, may we take the next step to firm up our biblical foundation and worldview by vigorously studying our Bible, using the materials offered by the Nehemiah Institute, and reading books like the new Ultimate Proof of Creation by Dr. Jason Lisle (available on CSE's Web site), which point out the correct viewpoint and reveal the logical fallacies people believe when they look at life apart from God’s truth. Let us be free from the world’s illusions.

May we think and live and speak up in such a way as to be beacons of truth and life in our society. God’s Word tells Christians that “ye are the salt of the earth [a purifying, preserving influence]; but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13). Let us heed this warning, ask God to purify and empower us; then impact our world, rather than letting the world (including the media) influence us.