Biblical Christian Worldview

The life of the baby vs. the rights of the. mom. Abortion is one of the central issues in America today. As with any topic of this magnitude, there are extreme opinions on the far edges of both sides of the bell curve, and each group points to the other in an attempt to draw the majority of the population toward their radical views. Holding a Biblical Christian worldview includes having an opinion on the subject of abortion, which favors the rights of the unborn. However, in a world in which we all have to choose between the “lesser of evils” there are situations where the rights of the birth mother can and should take precedence over the rights of the baby. What is often left unsaid in these debates are the circumstances surrounding the decision to abort and the long-term consequences of that decision. Background Pew Research According to Pew Research (details here) and the CDC, there were 626k abortions in the US in 2021, an increase of 29k or a 5% increase from the previous year. These totals do not include states not reporting, including California, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. Eighty-seven percent of abortions were by unmarried women. Ninety-three percent of abortions were during the first trimester (13 weeks). Two percent of abortions in America result in some form of complications for the woman, of which most are considered minor. Guttmacher / NPR A recent NPR article (details here) stated that in 2023, it is estimated that there were 1,026,700 abortions in America, representing an increase of 10% since 2020. Reasons For Abortion According to a peer-reviewed study published in VeryWellHealth, the following represent the primary reasons for having an abortion. Note that only 3% of respondents chose abortion because they didn’t want children, and only 12% offered health concerns as a part of their decision process. Long-term Consequences of Abortion For some reason, there are very few, if any, studies on the short and long-term psychological impact of having one or more abortions. Each situation has a unique set of circumstances that can involve more than just the woman and her doctor. If the pregnancy is disclosed, pressure can also come from peers, the father, and the woman’s extended family. One Personal Experience with Abortion Below is a personal story of one individual who responded to one of our articles (details here).

The terror of a God moment. I experienced China firsthand when I attempted to smuggle a large load of Bibles into the country. I take the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19–20) very seriously. I have always had a heart for missions, for speaking, singing, and reaching out to other cultures where Jesus is not well-known amongst the people. From Russia to Turkey to the high mountains of Guatemala and beyond, each trip has deepened my love for other peoples and other cultures as I watch the power of God work. Perhaps the greatest work has been done in me. But the “God moments” I experience never cease to amaze me. While in China, I witnessed and experienced the power of God more poignantly than on any other trip. It was both awesome and terrifying. But ultimately, it was simply amazing. And I don’t use that word lightly. Prior to departure, I was given training on how to act, what to wear, where to meet up with home church leaders, and what to do if I was caught going through customs. I felt confident knowing I was in God’s hands and had spent much time in prayer. I was well aware of the potential dangers of my actions. China does not allow people to bring in Bibles in bulk. Bible availability in China is a complicated issue. It is not illegal to own one. But Bibles cannot be sold in “regular” stores. Nor can they be sold online. Enforcement is strict. All books sold in China must have an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). And the Bible has never had an ISBN. Bibles can only be sold legally in bookstores of government approved churches. Most government approved churches are located in large cities. China controls the printing of Bibles through the only printing company authorized to print Bibles, Amity Printing. And the supplies are limited. There are also government “approved meeting sites” that are affiliated with the approved churches located outside the city. However, they, too are highly monitored with limited supplies. In addition, many are reluctant to visit these “approved church sites” due to a fear of surveillance. Underground Christian home fellowships began to pop up years ago. Pastors and members of these home churches have been arrested and imprisoned for “inciting subversion” over the years. This is still going on today. Yet, Christianity seems to be flourishing.

We need to choose wisely for the fate of our destiny.

Artificial Intelligence holds great potential for both good and bad.

Christians should follow God's truths rather than their own conscience.

The question of the Bible being used as a defense for what detractors consider "Hate Speech" is clearly under debate today. Do Biblical Christians have the right to express their opinion on subjects such as abortion, gay marriage, and women in leadership using Scripture as support? This question has moved from the public forum, to the courts and is likely headed into the pulpit.

Life on earth demonstrates the second law of thermodynamics. Not true of Heaven. Quick Quote - Source - Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective - The second law of thermodynamics is centered around entropy which is “a process of degradation or running down or a trend to disorder" (Wikipedia). We see this dictum at work on many levels from the destruction of man through our own sin nature, to the deterioration of stars as energy is given off through heat and light until death. Praise God that for those who believe in Christ's finishing work on the cross, we will live in eternity in a perfect, sinless state where entropy no longer exists.

Recently I published two articles on the negative state of the Methodist Church (UMC) given its movement toward inclusiveness (see details here and here). The topic resulted in a broad range of responses, most of which challenged the premise that compliance with the world was a bad thing. One of the more succinct, yet telling responses came from a reader, quoted as follows.... This individual is/was a "lifelong Methodist", angry that her church left the UMC denomination because its leadership believed the denomination was not maintaining its traditional views and, was instead, acquiescing to our current cultural norms. Her anger was that her church was not keeping up with the changing world around it. Note that her brief response also generalized to all churches, calling the institution a cult, and that its end as a viable entity is approaching.

Sharing the Good News should come from our love for the lost not to impress others by our virtue. Quick Quote – Source – Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – Christians need to avoid condemning the sin nature of man unless forced to express our opinion based on a direct challenge to one’s worldview. Seekers are looking for those who care about their situation, not those who wish to solely point out their sin. Salvation is a heart change, not a head change. It is the reason for evangelism, not our pride attempting to demonstrate we are “holier than thou”.

Quick Quote Source – Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – Scripture clearly teaches that all of us “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, that does not mean that we all have the same sin in our lives. As we grow and mature in our walk with Christ (sanctification), our unique sin nature sadly grows and matures along with us. Some are prone to alcohol, others are more inclined to lie, others cheat, others sexual immorality takes center stage. Unfortunately Satan is a master of determining where our weak points are and targeting those areas of our lives to undermine our testimony. To be aware of this obvious vulnerability is the first step in prayerfully guarding against it. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11

As believers, we need to recognize a broader application of our sin nature beyond the physical realm. When we look at our Biblical Christian systematic theology as presented on Sunday mornings and discipleship classes, what is typically emphasized is our need to focus on the nature of God and Christ as presented in and through the Holy Spirit. In a constant battle with our personal sin nature, we are reminded to pray, read our Bibles, and fellowship with other believers as we repent of our sins and grow towards the Lord (sanctification). These are the most important aspects of the Christian life. However, this is not a complete picture of the obstacles to our spiritual walk. What is missing is a recognition of the influence and the need for protection from the evil side of the supernatural or Spiritual Realm. Conclusion The six points below should always be part of our awareness of the potential for evil that exists all around us. 1 Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

The activities we do for God are secondary. Quick Quote – Source – Erwin Lutzer A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – As Christians, we can get so caught up in church activities and other ministry “opportunities” that we neglect our quiet time with the Father. God wants our attention, not our activity. He desires for us to focus on His presence more than our Christian projects. Take time out of your busy lives to seek the Lord for wisdom and communication, even if it means declining a potluck dinner, a nursery assignment, a finance committee meeting, or even a discipleship class.

If the antichrist was actually in the world today, his personality would be somewhat hidden and obscured by the need to gain power and influence at this stage in his ascendency. Once obtained, his real personality, as presented in the Bible, would then surface. However, systematically working through the verses from Scripture that refer to the coming antichrist, one can get a good sense of what to expect. The question to reflect on at this point in time is… Is there perhaps someone currently on Earth who most fits the attributes of the antichrist? Conclusion As you skim back over the verses above and reflect on someone whom Christians applaud as a leader and even savior of America, is it possible that an individual appearing to fulfill these lofty goals is only supporting his own, private agenda? If there was such a man, should Christians rally around him, even at the risk of hurting our own testimony due to his hypocrisy? And finally, if there was such a man that begins to perform “great signs and wonders so as to lead astray… even the elect” (Matt. 24:24), should we really be offering our support under the “lesser of evils” dogma? Though much of this material would seem to be slanted toward a specific individual (details), sadly, many world political and industrial leaders would fit comfortably within these prophetic verses of Scripture. Consequently, the Bible makes it clear that as Christians we need to be watchful toward our surroundings and our worldly support (1 Thes. 5:4). For the Lord will ultimately come "like a thief in the night" (1 Thes. 5:2) and we need to be prepared (Matt. 25).

Quick Quote – Source – Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – As Christians, do we focus on seeking God’s advice in day-to-day matters? “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” – James 4:14 Often Christians live just like unbelievers, making decisions without seeking God’s counsel through the Holy Spirit. So often we don’t pray, either to ask God’s help or advice on important matters, much less the mundane. Yet we seem quick to close our eyes and lower our heads as part of a Sunday service or when facing a crisis and in need of a “flare prayer”. The Lord was making a point on where our focus should always be when Scripture calls us to: Pray without ceasing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Prayer is a form of communication with God and should not be limited to “eyes closed and heads bowed”.

Quick Quote – Source – Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – With every issue, there will always be extreme opinions. I recently responded to a reader who stated that Christian preachers were calling for the execution of gay people. I am sure one can find extreme views such as this if we look hard enough. However, in most cases, the extremes on both sides of an issue are in the minority. But they do garner media attention and gaslight viewers into believing extreme positions are mainstream. It is important to look to the middle of the bell curve, rather than the vocal extremes when evaluating the popular direction on an issue, especially a divisive one. From the center of the bell curve, Christians don’t hate gay people, they don’t want to turn America into a Christofascist state, and most realize there are times when abortion is an appropriate medical need.

Quick Quote – Source – Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – In our publications, we use the term “Biblical Christian” as a replacement for what was once termed “Christian”. That is because so many Christians have lost their way theologically. Many who associated themselves within the boundaries of Christianity did so, not because of a love for God, but because it was where the “good” people hung out. Many are now disassociating themselves from true Biblical Christians as we have come under more social scrutiny for our unchanging beliefs. There is a set of core theological beliefs (here) that are both clear from Scripture, and necessary for salvation. They hinge around Rom 10:9 and Eph 2:8–9. As harsh as it may sound, Christians, or those who used to consider themselves Christians, who believe they are earning their way to Heaven by being good people, are sadly heading in the opposite direction… they are not Christians rooted in God’s word. Instead, they have been inoculated with dead Christianity.

Overview The Salem Media Group is a bellwether for Christian media. They own and operate 95 radio stations in 38 American markets, with 3200 affiliates. Further, Salem has multiple internet publications, along with magazine and book publishing enterprises (details here). Headquartered in Irving, TX, Salem represents the largest single Christian media organization in the country. From their latest annual report, Salem's 2023 revenue fell $8m from the previous year, resulting in an operating loss of $46 million (here). Details Salem Media Group continues to struggle due to declining broadcast revenues and "changing audience behaviors" (here). To offset losses, the company sold its headquarters ($6.2m), divested of other real estate holdings ($8.2m), and sold six of its radio stations in South Carolina and Kentucky for an estimated $11m and its publishing arm for $4m. Pending divestments represent another $10m in movie and land sales along with a recently failed $30m sale of its Church Products division. Stock prices for the company have trended down from a high of $28/share in 2004, to its current value of 38 cents/share, voluntarily delisting from the NASDAQ this past January (details). What's Happening Americans are turning away from all forms of traditional media, and especially Christian media. What we see in churches, book sales, crusades, radio stations, television programming, libraries, schools, and higher education has a single theme running through it. The United States is changing and Christians are having to choose between accepting that change or holding fast to their traditional values.

Quick Quote - Source - Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective - So many Christians view the New Testament and, in particular, Jesus, expressing the importance of love. Jesus put love as the highest command when He said... Mark 12:29-31 - Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no other commandment greater than these.” 1 John 4:8 - Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. However, God and His Son, Jesus Christ, have much more to teach us than a single word. Further, there is a hierarchy of love that begins with a love for God and His commands which allow us to express a true love for our neighbor. Given the consequences which follow death, the greatest love one can show his fellow man is to share the full truth of saving faith in Christ. For some, that revelation can be seen as tough love because it takes control of our lives out of our hands and into His. Hebrews 12:6 - For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Quick Quote - Source - Jeff Hilles A Biblical Christian worldview perspective - We always seem to compare ourselves, to ourselves rather than to Jesus as a benchmark for how we should behave. When we look at the gap between us and Christ, any moral superiority we think there is between one faction and another becomes infinitesimal and irrelevant. Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:10-12 - as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” This is a harsh reality using Christ, who was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21), as our benchmark. The good news is that God provided a way for all that we have done wrong to be forgiven, by accepting His son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior.

Quick Quote Source - Darrell Harrelson A Biblical Christian worldview perspective - Throughout history, there has been so much fighting over land based on who came first and who has the right to occupy it. Today, this is being played out on the world stage in places like Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, and potentially Korea. God began mankind with Adam and Eve and the rest of us have populated the world from that small but significant beginning. We have been told to love the Lord, and through this, to love and care for each other as the summary of all of God's commands. Yet, sadly, our sin nature continues to overwhelm our behavior. The endpoint of our current behavior of selfishness is coming when God will return those of us who have trusted Him, back to a sinless state and the world will be renewed as a New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21-22).