Throughout the history of the world there have been world views that were dominant in a certain culture. The majority of the people, educators, etc. held to the major tenants of the view. Unknown to many is that in the early days of our country almost all major education centers were predominantly Christian. The original purpose of Harvard University was to train ministers and magistrates. Reading the rigors of study for the first students of Harvard is amazing. In the documents it states that to be a true student the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord! Students had to be able to read the New Testament in the original language of Greek just to be admitted to the school! Part of the curriculum was a required time of personal devotion including scripture reading, meditation and prayer! Princeton, Yale and the other Ivy League schools were Christian at their founding.

Fast forward to the “enlightenment,” and the gradual infiltration of “secular thought,” creating controversy after controversy. Prayer and Bible reading in public schools, the norm until this point was removed. Teaching of evolution was introduced. Gradually, science became more dominant than theology. Some younger than me read about this in text books, I lived through it! The 1960’s led to a “coming out party” when massive social upheaval took place. It was the first major throwing off of the Judeo-Christian cultural world view. That time was a national collision of world views. As a nation, the tide began to turn from a nominal Judeo-Christian world view to a decidedly more secularized world view.

This opinion can be seen in many federal and state laws. It can also be seen in many of our historical buildings in Washington D.C. and other places. It can also be seen in the sweeping changes and intolerance toward Judeo-Christian traditions and practices all around the country.  It has only been in recent days having the 10 Commandments posted in a public building has been challenged. That one thing alone shows the turning of the tide in the collision of world views. I sat on a jury in North Carolina in the 1980’s when the woman in the case was charged with, “alienation of affection!” With the 10 Commandments posted on the wall. She had an affair with a guy and it was illegal! There are many states who still have similar laws governing sexual behavior but most have been removed now. The point is, before the 60’s enough people subscribed to these views there were laws on the books!

Simply having this discussion about the Boy Scouts of America being pressured to change a view they held from their inception shows we are in a seismic cultural shift. Good or bad, right or wrong, healthy or a mistake is all determined by what world view you ascribe to.

Which brings me back to my first blog in this series. As I have written the responses I’ve received are expected. People who have given me a hard time because I categorized homosexuality as sin, no worse than any other sin come from either a philosophical Christian world view or a secular world view. The secularists say, it isn’t a sin. They can say that and really believe it because from their world view, they determine what is and isn’t “sin” though they probably wouldn’t even use the word. Philosphical Christianity, which often barely uses the Bible as a guide to their faith would relegate biblical teaching on homosexuality as a cultural thing that doesn’t apply to now. The biblical Christians who commented are appalled I would say all kids should be allowed to participate. I would expect nothing less because that is their world view.

A biblical Christian will always view, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, incestual sex, bestiality, pedophilia and same-sex relationships as outside of God’s design. They could do nothing else and be true to their world view.

The collision comes when the vocal adherents, evangelists if you will,  to a particular world view fight over which view will rule the land. For all who are pushing 60 years of age, the frustration and anger spill over because you were the minority view and now you are winning the day, or you were the majority view and you are now losing the day. Thus, the major brew ha ha over Boy Scouts and allowing openly homosexual scouts and I’m sure soon openly homosexual scout leaders. The Boy Scouts of America though not overtly Christian ascribed to a “Judeo-Christian based world view,” and the vocal homosexual advocate groups generally view life through a secular or philosophical Christian world view.

As Christians we are called to win people to Christ one by one. We are called to love, be compassionate and caring. People’s hearts change through coming to know Jesus personally and being absorbed by His great love. You cannot make someone a Christian, but you surely can make someone NOT want to be a Christian. We are called to love, to share the gospel and leave the judgment to God.

Blessings,

Scott