Christian Theology and World View vs Other World Views

1. Christian Theology and World ViewvsOther World Views

2. Key Theological/World View Questions • What is the nature of God? • What is the nature of creation/the physical universe? • What is the nature of the relationship between man and God? • Where does Jesus fit into all this (Christology)

3. Outline • Theology: ideas about God • World View: What is man’s place in the world?

4. B. Christianity: The Christian World View • One's world view is the perspective one uses to process and interpret information received about the world.  • James W. Sire put it this way, "A world view is a set of presuppositions (ie. assumptions) which we hold about the basic makeup of our world."  • James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door (InterVarsity Press, 1997) A Jain World View

5. A “Good” World View Defined A. It is true. It is consistent with reality. It is consistent with what we know to be true from experience. It works. B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want answered. What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of God?) What is the nature of external reality-the world around us? What is a human being? What happens to a person at death? Why is it possible for us to know anything at all? How do we know what is right and wrong? What is the meaning of human history? What is my purpose? What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime reality?" C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than they would otherwise have been if they held to competing alternative world views.

6. Definitions • Animism: Anima = spirit. A religious system which includes the belief that spirits inhabit inanimate objects and phenomena. • Polytheism: Poly = many. A belief that the universe is governed by many gods. • Pantheism (monism): Pan = all. A belief that a spirit fills the universe. God is the universe, and we are part of God. • Panentheism: God is in everything (stoicism) • Dualism: A belief that the universe is governed by nearly equally matched forces of good and evil. (Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Taoism)

7. Definitions (cont.) • Deism: A belief in a distant, uninvolved God who is creator, but does not interact with his creation. (Epicureanism) • Monotheism: A belief that the universe is created/governed by a single omnipotent/omniscient/omnipresent spiritual being.

8. The Christian World View 1. The physical world is: a. real b. created out of nothing (ex nihilo) and c. essentially good. 2. There exists an unseen spiritual reality which is not limited to or defined by the physical reality. Human beings have a spiritual aspect to their nature. 3. The creator of both the physical and spiritual realm is the God who reveals himself in the Bible. 4. Human beings have both a physical and a spiritual nature, The spiritual nature is more essential as it is eternal. 5. God is not easily defined but he can be characterized by certain qualities. God is a person. God is love, God is just, God is holy, God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.

9. The Christian World View (cont.) 6. Although all God’s creation, including the physical world is good, evil does exist. Such evil is the result of freedom of will given to created beings and their subsequent decision to use that freedom to rebel--to “sin” 7. Because of God’s justice and his holiness, those who choose to rebel against him will ultimately be judged and separated from God for eternity. 8. The solution to evil, to sin and its eternal consequences is provided by God through the atoning substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

10. The Bible and Other World Views • If Genesis 1:1 is true, then animism, polytheism, pantheism, dualism, naturalism, deism, postmodernism and every other ism is false. • Conflicting world views cannot be accommodated with one another. Biblical theism is incompatible with all these other world views.

11. Biblical Theology • In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 • By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son….

12. Hindu World View • Maya. The physical world is an illusion. • Brahman. Universal soul. • The goal: Nirvana; oneness with the universal soul which is within yourself. • The Hindu world view has man looking inward, not outward.

13. The Four Noble Truths of Siddhartha • Suffering is not getting what one wants. • The cause of suffering is desire which leads to rebirth. • The way to end suffering is to end desire. • The way to the end of desire and of suffering is the eight-fold path. • Buddhism encourages dispassion, not compassion.

14. The eight-fold path to bodhi/dharma/nirvana/lack of suffering • Right viewpoint (the four noble truths). • Right values. • Right speech. • Right actions. • Right livelihood • Right effort • Right mindfulness • Right meditation

15. So, What is New Age, Really? • You are God, I am God, the trees are God, we all are God! • New Age is Western pantheism • New Age is a syncretistic blend of Gnosticism, Hinduism, Spiritualism, Mysticism, Buddhism and Paganism. • New Age is Monism! God is everything I am God!!! “Once we begin to see that we are all God, then I think the whole purpose of life is to re-own the God-likeness within us.”

16. Islamic Worldview: God is very distant from mankind In Islam, Allah determines everything, even who will choose to follow him. 2:142, 6:39 6:125 Inshallah God willing. It is God’s will that people suffer. .

17. Islamic Theology “Surely good deeds take away evil deeds” (11:114). Salvation by own effort (40:9, 39:61, 7:43) Charity atones for sins (2:271,277) • Earn grace. • Earn favor of Allah. • Earn salvation. • Earn paradise.

18. Salvation by own effort (40:9, 39:61, 7:43) Charity atones for sins (2:271,277) • Earn grace. • Earn favor of Allah. • Earn salvation. • Earn paradise.

19. Sura 23:102-103 Those whose balance of good deeds is heavy, they will be successful. But those whose balance is light will be those who have lost their souls

20. Islam: Salvation is earned through the efforts of those who were pre-selected by Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise. Christianity: Salvation is granted by the grace of a loving God to those who, through faith and repentance and baptism accept that love.

21. A Question: Who reaches out to whom?

22. Initiative Human approach Truth God God Mankind Mankind

23. Works Salvation: Man reaches out to God. Islam Hinduism Jaina Sikkhism Gnosticism New Age Buddhism? Salvation by Grace: God reaches out to man. Judaism Christianity

24. The Biblical World View • The physical world is real and it is good. Genesis 1:31 • Only Islam agrees with this conclusion. • This world is not our home. • But, compassion… James 1:27 Micah 6:8 • Christian groups are responsible for virtually all the world’s efforts to deal with poverty and human suffering in general and to work for social justice.

25. Summary • The theologies of world religions are fundamentally and diametrically opposed to one another. Many paths to the same God is a ludicrous philosophy. • The world view of Christianity is radically different from any other religion. They cannot both be right! • The truth of the Bible is confirmed by • Clear evidence of inspiration (fulfilled prophecy, types and foreshadows, historical accuracy, scientific evidence, etc…) • Public miracles worked by Moses, Elijah and others, and especially by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:3,4).

26. How, then, should we interact with members of other religions? • Find common ground. • Give respect where respect is due. • Acknowledge the good and do not make personal attacks—especially toward revered people. • Highlight distinctions in world view/theology and introduce them to Jesus Christ. • This is EXACTLY what Paul did in Acts 17:22-34

27. The Bible and Other World Views (cont.) • Acts 17:16-34 Paul shares the gospel by arguing for the Christian World View. • v. 22-23 Paul finds common ground. • v. 24-28 Paul argues for the superiority and the truth of the Christian world view as opposed to Epicureanism/pantheism and Stoicism/deism • v. 28 Paul quotes from Aretas a Stoic philosopher. “ For we are his offspring.” • v. 29-31 Having laid the groundwork, Paul points them to Jesus. • v. 32-34 Some, but not all were converted.

28. Acts 17:16-34 Paul confronts Greek World Views • God is Creator. He exists outside creation. • Disproves pantheism/Stoicism. • God is close to us. • Disproves deism/Epicureanism. • God is personal and has given us an individual purpose. • God will bring all of us to judgment. Evil will be defeated • Disproves dualism/Gnosticism.

29. Greek Background to Christian Theology • Pythagoreanism/Platonism • Gnosticism • Stoicism • Epicureanism Epicurus

30. Intro to the History of Christian Theology • Trinity and the nature of God • Christology • Nature of sin, grace and redemption

31. Early Motivations to Christian Theologians • Apologetics: Response to Greek philosophical criticism • Logos (Justin Martyr) • Heresy: Orthodox response to heterodox theology Origen of Alexandria AD 185-254

32. THE TRINITY Emmanuel Emeh Evangelist, ICOC Nigeria emmanuelemeh@yahoo.co.uk

33. A. The Trinity as an Apologetic Issue • A stumbling block to the Greeks. • God distant, unchanging, impassive • A major stumbling block to Muslims. • Tritheism/Polytheism • A problem for unbelievers in general. • Not logical/not rational Question: What is the trinity? Do you believe in the trinity doctine?

34. Heresies • Most, if not all of these heresies were attempts to rationalize the relation between Father and Son and the nature of Jesus. • Ebionites: Jesus a mere man. • Adoptionism:God adopted the man Jesus at his baptism • Gnosticism: • Jesus a spiritual emanation which occupied a human. Cerinthus, Valentinus • DocetismJesus only appeared to be human • ArianismJesus was not divine—he was a created demigod

35. Early Heresies (cont.) • Modalism The “Father” the “Son” and the “Holy Spirit are different aspect of a single entity, appropriate to the situation. • MonophysitismTwo natures before, one nature after the union. “God in a bod.” • NestorianismJesus virtually two persons: one human and one divine. Sought to emphasize the humanity of Jesus.

36. The Orthodox Response • Use of Greek terms, modes of argument • Polemical Writings • Against Heresies Irenaeus • Appeal to apostolic (later church) authority • Creeds • Councils

37. Doctrine of the Trinity • Tertullian AD 160-220 • The Father and the Son are different “not in condition, but in degree; not in substance, but in form; not in power, but in aspect”

38. Creeds • A second century Roman creed (said at baptism) • I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, and in the Holy Ghost, the holy church and the resurrection of the flesh.

39. Church Councils • Nicaea AD 325 • Arianism Jesus homoousios With the Father • Constantinople AD 381 • Nicene Creed Holy Spirit also homoousious • Ephesus AD 431 • Nestorianism condemned, Pelagius anathematized. • Calchedon AD 451 • Define the “two natures” of Jesus • Constantinople II AD 553 • Monophysitism • Constantinople III AD 680 • Monothelitism • Nicaea II AD 787

40. Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios, of the same substance, consubstantial as opposed to homoiousios) with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Is this what we believe?

41. Norwegian-1300AD

42. Apologetics and the Trinity • Bottom line, the trinity is a mystery. We cannot defend it as a logical concept. • It is not rational, but it is also not irrational. • The “apologetics” of the trinity is that God became a man so that he could reach out to us—so that we could know Him.

43. ChristologyWhat is the nature of Jesus?

44. Questions For Thought: • How can God be a baby? • Who was taking care of the universe while God was a baby? • Did Jesus know he was God when he was 3 years old? • Did Jesus have the ability to work miracles at 5 years? • To what extent was the omnipotence/omniscience of the Son limited while he was incarnate? • What happened at Jesus’ baptism? • When Jesus prays to the Father, is he talking to himself?

45. Chalcedon AD 451 “In agreement with the holy fathers we all unanimously teach that we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is one and the same Son; the same perfect in Godhead and the same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, the same of a rational soul and body; consubstantial with the Father in Godhead and the same consubstantial with us in manhood; like us in all things except sin; begotten of the Father before all ages as regards his Godhead and in the last days the same, for us and for our salvation, begotten of the Virgin Mary, the theotokos (as opposed to the Christotokos of the Nestorians) (the God-bearer, the mother of God) as regards his manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation…

46. Chalcedon (cont.) “Without confusion and without change” to oppose monophysitism/Coptic Christianity Monophysite = one nature “Without division, without separation” to oppose Nestorianism Q: Are we splitting hairs here?

47. Sin, Redemption, Salvation • Augustine!!!!! • The City of God • Total depravity • Monoergism • Predestination • Original Sin • Infant baptism required for salvation • Sacramentalism • Transubstantiation • City and State • Opposed Donatists Augustine of Hippo (from 6th century)

48. Augustine • Strong emphasis on depravity of man. • The Sovereignty of God: “The City of God” • Monergism. • Very logical! • Augustine: “An infant who dies unbaptized is damned even where no baptism is possible.” • “Rightly, therefore, by virtue of that condemnation which runs throughout the mass [of humanity] is he not admitted into the kingdom of heaven, although he was not only not a Christian, but was unable to become one.”

49. Augustine on Free Will • “A man’s free will avails for nothing except to sin.”

50. Pelagius AD c. 354-430 Works Salvation? Affirmed the existence of free will. “Evil is not born with us, and we are procreated without fault.” Rejected infant baptism. Taught that we become holy through our own effort? Adam was not immortal “We are procreated without fault”