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*This audio has been edited for publication. If you have any questions or would like the full audio recording, please contact Reid.
Notes
| Christianity | Naturalism (Secularism) | Moral Therapeutic Deism | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Reality | Triune God of Scripture (Gen. 1:1, John 1:1ff, Heb. 2:10, Rom. 11:36, 1 Cor. 8:6) | The prime reality is the external reality, the natural world. | God is the prime reality, but God is transcendent and impersonal. |
| External Reality | The cosmos is (1) real, (2) created, and (3) destined for redemption. (Gen. 1:1ff, Rev. 21, John 3:16, 1 John 2:2) | The "spiritual" world is a product of the human mind, which is little more than a set of chemical reactions. | The physical world is created and "less real" than the spiritual. (This is gnostism, but it's on a wide spectrum.) |
| Nature of Man | Man (1) is body and soul, (2) dead in sin and radically evil, and (3) possesses a constrained will. (Prov. 16:9, Ezra 1:1, Acts 4:27-28, 1 Cor. 15:10) | Man (1) is totally physical, (2) morally neutral, and (3) possesses a constrained will. | Man (1) is body and soul, (2) basically good, and (3) possesses a free will. |
| Afterlife | Believers go in spirit to be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8). Unbelievers go in spirit to the Lord's judgment (Luke 16:22-24). All will be resurrected bodily and judged on the last day (Rev. 20-21, 1 Cor. 15:50-54). | There is no afterlife of any substance. | Good people go to heaven; bad people go to hell. |
| Source of Knowledge | (1) We are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27, 1 John 3:20). (2) God reveals truth to us through natural revelation (Ps. 19:1) and Scripture (Heb. 1:1, 2 Tim. 3:16). | Knowledge comes from observation. We use our senses to gain information and process it scientifically. | Observational knowledge is primary, followed by personal, experiential knowledge. Religious texts like the Bible are the result of this second kind of knowledge. |
| Source of Morality | God's law in all of its forms (Rom. 2:14-15, Ex. 20, Gal. 6:2) | Minimization of harm | Balance harm minimization and self-actualization. |
| Meaning of Human History | Generally, human history serves to glorify God (Rom. 11:36). Specifically, God intends to redeem the whole created under under the kingship of Christ (Phil. 2:9-10, 1 Cor. 15:20-28). | Self-preservation and harm mitigation | Human history has no meaning on a grand scale besides the ultimate happiness and self-actualization of individuals. |
Key Scriptures
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." -- Gen. 1:1
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." -- John 3:16-17
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." -- Prov. 16:9
"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'" -- 1 Cor. 15:50-54
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." -- Ps. 19:1
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." -- Heb. 1:1
"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." -- Rom. 2:14-16
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -- Phil. 2:9-10
Notes
Worldview: A worldview is simply the way that a person views the world. In other words, a worldview is the sum of all of the presuppositions and assumptions that inform a person's perception of all things in life. It's like the pair of glasses between my eyes and you.
A Christian worldview must be a biblical worldview; that is, a Christian must look at the world through "Bible glasses." Often, Christians will borrow presuppositions from other worldviews. The result is that far too many Christians today are operating on assumptions that are faulty and unbiblical.
You'll notice that I've combined "naturalism" and "postmodernism" into one. The reason for this is that postmodernism looks at life through a naturalistic lens; postmodernism is naturalism carried out to more of its logical conclusions. Postmodernism goes beyond naturalism in saying that although our spiritual and religious beliefs are manufactured by man, they are not fictional. A postmodern person may say, "God is real for me because I believe in him." In other words, my beliefs are real only insofar as I believe them.
Anderson (see book below) lists many worldviews. I've chosen these three because these are the worldviews that you will most likely encounter in your everyday life. I would also point to two others that are on the rise, New Age and Islam.
Recommended Resources
1. James N. Anderson, What's Your Worldview?
2. Greg Bahnsen, Against All Opposition
3. Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?
4. John Frame, We Are All Philosophers
5. James Sire, The Universe Next Door
Ten Thing About Gen Z
Gen Z is generally regarded to run from about 1997 to 2009. Our college students are very different from what you'd expect, and, in many ways, they have reacted negatively to the impact that millennials have had on the world. They see themselves as doing "damage control" for their millennial parents.
1. Far more polarized culturally than earlier generations.
2. More comfortable with conflicting opinions and values.
3. Place high value on culture, tradition, and "family values."
4. Are "digital natives;" don't remember a time before the internet.
5. Interested in building local, face-to-face relationships.
6. Opposed to globalization.
7. Thirty-six percent evangelical (in America).
8. Highly pragmatic.
9. Less interested in traditional job pathways, opting for gig economy.
10. Dissatisfied with the impact of social media.
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Continuing for a 2d Wednesday Our In‐Depth Study of Psalm 51 – the Supreme & Classic Penitential Psalm/ David’s Lament & Plea, “Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God!”
Part 3 of a Look at the Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130)
Summary from my background and interpretation notes for last Wednesday’s study: Psalm 51 is by far the most well known and poignantly powerful of these seven penitential psalms in the Psalter. Psalm 51 ranks among the top two or three best‐known and most‐recited psalms by Christians across the ages of Christian history, faith, and worship. In fact, Psalm 51 is very likely the most‐recited Psalm in the history of Christian worship, devotionals, and prayers – perhaps even far surpassing either Psalm 23 or Psalm 100. That historic status for Psalm 51 is consistent with the fact that this “King” of the penitential psalms is without question, one of the most amazingly earnest and – at the same time – eloquent pieces of religious writing in all of human history. Psalm 51 is theologically deep at a level most people never dare to go, and, at the same time, is unrelentingly intense, as the “man after God’s own heart” seeks God’s grace and David’s own personal transformation. Further, for Christian worship and personal piety, Psalm 51 is by far most often highlighted of any Psalm as THE model par excellence for a true and efficacious prayer of confession and repentance.
This classic, model Penitential Psalm combines lament and petition, but with respect to distress NOT primarily because of external human enemies. Here, David is desperately aware that his deadly foes are not external but are his own heart, spirit, sin, guilt and other consequences. So in this lament and petition, David seeks deliverance not from “my enemies” or “false friends” out three but from his own sin nature, his own sin, and from the ultimate and most horrifying potential consequences of that sin: being severed from God’s holy presence and Spirit. Therefore, David is not so foolish as to think a quick ritual confession is true repentance or to propose to God David’s own plan/proposal/”prayer” for restitution and rehabilitation. David comes truly in the “fear of God” and turns himself totally over to God’s mercy and to whatever God chooses to do to bring radical change to David’s life, heart, and spirit.
2 Samuel 12:13 is the lead‐in verse to Psalm 51: David’s confession of sin to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” is the turning point in the narrative of sin, tragedy, and redemption conveyed in 2 Samuel 11 & 12. David’s confession not only connects directly with his expanded confession in Psalm 51:4ff but also sets the entire theological framework for the entire psalm. So the particular superscription for this psalm particularly warrants our attention:
For the choir director.
A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Last Wednesday we read & discussed 2 Samuel 11‐12
We should remember that long before even David’s sins re God, Bathsheba, Uriah, David’s troops, Israel, etc., there were major sin issues like these:
Deut. 17:17 And he [Israel’s king] shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
2 Sam. 5:13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
חקּיּו <_> חקל (laqach) <-> Genesis 3:6 חקּתּו
David takes for himself what he wants.
Later in 2 Samuel 11, Dilemmas for David in his sin/unfaithfulness include:
v. 1c But David remained at Jerusalem. [… and was bored or idle, walking around on his roof.]
Numbers 15:39 ‐ And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.
v. 4 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David,“I am pregnant.” הרה ׃יכנאָ
… Then all of the man of actions actions fail [or lead to even greater evil].
2 Sam. 12:4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took חקּיּו
the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
12:5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,…
12:7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul….
BIG DILEMMA – There was NO sacrifice under the OT Law for intentional. Premeditated sin. Cf. Leviticus 4:2, 4:22, 4:27; 5:15‐18; 22:14.
David:
Lusted after another man’s wife.
Strongly lured her or forced her to commit adultery. Lied to her husband, a royal/covenant soldier/brother.
Ordered others to lie and commit murder with/for David. Continued to try to cover up all of the above sins instead of ever repenting.
Took Bathsheba and the son as his.
Psalm 51
Invocation & Initial Petitions vv. 1‐2
Confessions vv. 3‐6
Petitions vv. 7‐12
Vows of Praise vv. 13‐19
Have mercy ךָימחר on me,[a] O God,
according to your steadfast love; ךָדּסחכּ according to your abundant mercy,
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that You may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and
in sin did my mother conceive me. Cf. Psalm 139:13ff; See also Genesis 3 & Isaiah 6:5.
6 Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [see Lev. 14:9ff, 14:43-57; Number 19:14-22]
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God – O God of my salvation – and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will You delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
a. Psalm 51:1 Or Be gracious to me b. Psalm 51:10 Or steadfast