Faithfully Different

1. Christians are now a worldview minority in an increasingly secular culture

If you have a biblical worldview, you're now in a worldview minority.

Shifting landscape. Research shows that only 6-10% of Americans have a biblical worldview, despite 65% self-identifying as Christians. This dramatic shift has occurred rapidly, with the percentage of biblical worldview holders declining by half over the past 25 years. The gap is even wider among younger generations.

Cultural implications. Being a worldview minority means Christians increasingly face hostility and misunderstanding from the dominant secular culture. Values and beliefs once taken for granted in society are now openly challenged or rejected. This new reality requires Christians to be more intentional about understanding and articulating their faith in an environment that no longer shares their basic assumptions about reality.

2. Secularism is not neutral but a competing worldview with significant implications

Secularism isn't what you get when you simply subtract so-called religious beliefs from a person's worldview.

Defining secularism. Contrary to popular belief, secularism is not a neutral stance. It is a worldview that places ultimate authority in the self rather than in any external source like God or religious texts. This fundamental assumption shapes how secularists view reality, morality, and the purpose of life.

Competing claims. Secularism makes truth claims that directly contradict Christian beliefs:

• There is no supernatural realm
• Humans are solely physical beings, products of unguided evolution
• Morality is subjective and based on individual or societal preferences
• The purpose of life is self-determined happiness

Understanding these competing claims helps Christians recognize why secular culture often clashes so strongly with biblical teachings and values.

3. Secular messages appeal to human desires for autonomy and self-authority

Secular messages are influential in large part because they speak to what we want to hear.

Four key appeals. Secular culture promotes messages that resonate with human desires:

1. Feelings are the ultimate guide
2. Happiness is the ultimate goal
3. Judging is the ultimate sin
4. God is the ultimate guess

Pervasive influence. These messages are amplified through social media, mainstream media, entertainment, and education. They tap into the human tendency toward self-centeredness and rebellion against authority. Christians must recognize how these appealing but unbiblical ideas can subtly influence their own thinking and worldview if not carefully examined.

4. Evidence for God's existence provides a strong foundation for Christian belief

There is strong evidence pointing to the existence of a supernatural creator, designer, and moral lawgiver—an extremely important starting point for making the case for the truth of Christianity more specifically.

Three key arguments:

1. Cosmological: The universe began to exist and requires a cause outside of itself
2. Design: The complexity and fine-tuning of the universe point to an intelligent designer
3. Moral: Objective moral values require a transcendent source

Implications. This evidence demonstrates that belief in God is rational and based on more than blind faith. It provides a foundation for confident Christian belief in a culture that often portrays faith as anti-intellectual. Understanding these arguments equips Christians to engage in meaningful dialogue with skeptics and to strengthen their own faith.

5. Biblical authority is essential for maintaining a coherent Christian worldview

If the Bible is God's authoritative Word for all time, then what it teaches is not a menu from which to choose; it's truth on which to feast.

Coherent foundation. The Bible provides an internally consistent worldview that explains reality, morality, and human purpose. Accepting its authority as God's revelation prevents Christians from adopting contradictory beliefs or falling into relativism.

Cultural pressure. Many Christians, influenced by secular culture, pick and choose which biblical teachings to accept. This "à la carte" approach leads to incoherent beliefs and ultimately undermines faith. Progressive Christianity often redefines core doctrines to align with secular values, effectively creating a different religion.

Key doctrines. To maintain a biblical worldview, Christians must affirm:

• Jesus' deity and humanity
• His death as atonement for sin
• His bodily resurrection
• The Bible's inspiration and authority

6. Doubts are normal, but should lead to deeper investigation rather than deconversion

Stories of people who struggle with doubt, search for answers, find answers, and subsequently deepen their faith don't make headlines the way deconversions do, but those stories happen all the time too.

Normalizing doubt. The Bible shows that even strong believers like John the Baptist experienced doubts. Christians should not fear questions but see them as opportunities for growth.

Responding to doubt. Key principles for dealing with doubts:

1. Be honest about the nature of truth (it exists objectively)
2. Search for the root cause of doubt
3. Focus on the resurrection as Christianity's central truth claim
4. Ensure you're doubting actual biblical teachings, not mischaracterizations
5. Separate problems with Christians/churches from problems with Christianity itself
6. Be willing to invest time in finding answers
7. Proactively expose yourself to challenges and answers through apologetics study

7. Christians must reclaim concepts like morality and justice from secular redefinition

Christians need to better understand what rightfully belongs to the biblical worldview but is often "borrowed" by secular culture.

Borrowed capital. Secular culture often assumes concepts like human rights, equality, and objective morality while having no logical foundation for them within a naturalistic worldview. These ideas are rooted in a biblical understanding of human dignity and God's character.

Redefining terms. Secular activists intentionally redefine words like equality, diversity, and tolerance to promote their worldview. Christians must be aware of these shifts in meaning and articulate the biblical basis for these concepts.

Biblical justice. The secular view of social justice differs significantly from biblical justice:

• Secular: Based on group identity and power dynamics
• Biblical: Rooted in God's character, applies equally to all individuals

Christians should actively pursue biblical justice while rejecting unbiblical assumptions about oppression and liberation.

8. Biblical discernment is crucial for recognizing false teachings about Jesus

Christians with a biblical worldview must remain clear that God's moral standards never change because they're based on His unchanging character.

Common distortions. False portrayals of Jesus in culture:

• Everyman Jesus (just a good moral teacher)
• Theology-Lite Jesus (doesn't care about correct beliefs)
• Non-Evangelizing Jesus (only cares about earthly needs)
• Anti-Organized Religion Jesus
• Socialist Jesus
• Universal-Christ Jesus (a cosmic force separate from the historical Jesus)

Practicing discernment. Christians must:

1. Know what the Bible actually teaches about Jesus
2. Recognize subtle ways Jesus' identity is diminished or distorted
3. Understand the worldview assumptions behind false portrayals
4. Lovingly correct mischaracterizations when appropriate

9. Speaking truth lovingly is vital despite pressures of cancel culture

We need to be okay with getting canceled if it's happening because of the truth we share. After all, truth itself can never be canceled.

Understanding cancel culture. Rooted in critical theory, cancel culture seeks to silence opposing views, especially those seen as "oppressive." Christians are often targeted as representatives of an oppressive system.

Biblical approach. Christians should:

• Speak truth out of love for God and others
• Be familiar with their cultural context (like Paul in Athens)
• Consider timing, motivation, and approach when sharing truth
• Balance grace and truth in interactions
• Remember that rejection of truth is expected (John 15:18-19)

Key questions. Before speaking up, ask:

1. Is this worth addressing?
2. What is my motivation?
3. Should I say something privately or publicly?
4. What is the best way to communicate this truth?

10. Evangelism remains a Christian imperative even as culture deems it offensive

Evangelism is seen as an imposition or burden.

Cultural resistance. Secular culture views evangelism as:

• Arrogant (claiming exclusive truth)
• Imposing (interfering with personal happiness)
• Condemning (judging others' lifestyles)
• Silly or annoying (based on guesswork about God)

Biblical mandate. Despite cultural pressure, Christians are commanded to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). This requires understanding secular objections and tailoring communication approach.

Effective evangelism. Key principles:

• Recognize that beliefs matter, not just behavior
• Address common misconceptions about Christianity
• Emphasize the positive aspects of the gospel (reconciliation, purpose, hope)
• Build relationships and earn the right to be heard
• Rely on the Holy Spirit's work in people's hearts

Last updated: October 2, 2024