Craig Gaunt
Christian Faith & Contemporary Worldviews
Essay #1: Worldviws based on Sire’s Seven Questions
It will be best if I address the questions presented in James Sire’s book in the order it presents them and build on each of them as Sire has also done. The first question asks about what is reality. My worldview sees reality as being two different realms. There is the physical, which can be observed by the senses, and the spiritual, which is hidden but not completely. Both of these find their existence in God. The existence of a transcendent, immanent, all-powerful God who works both outside and within creation is the most logical, coherent explanation for its entire natural phenomenon, and these testifies to its Creator (Rom. 1:18-20). This is the sensus divinitas, or innate knowledge of the divine, that John Calvin discussed and is present throughout all humanity.[1] This is a baseline reality and is pre-theoretical because, as Sire states, one does not need to think about the pre-theoretical because it deals with being, not doing or thinking.[2] Also, it is my personal, subjective experience about the power of God’s transformation in my own life that has confirmed in me (and several others) to the objective reality of God’s existence. I appreciate how Sire explained this by stating that God, in creating us in his image, gives us the innate ability to conceive his existence pre-theoretically, or by intuition.[3] Furthermore, Christianity makes the most cohesive explanation of the concepts of creation, sin, redemption, love, and justice while at the same time giving a person hope in Christ.
Additionally, across cultures and throughout time, there have been certain absolute laws that people have followed. A chief example would be murder. This is evidence that there is a universal moral law that everyone is obligated to follow. For there to be a moral law, there must be a lawgiver. A lawgiver who is transcendent, omniscient (knowing that this law is relevant for all eras), and omnipotent (having the power to craft this law onto the hearts of people) matches the Judeo-Christian God. This God, who has created all things and has given humanity an innate moral sense, must then be personal.
Looking at the reality of God through Scripture, the Bible does not try to prove God’s existence for if it tried then epistemology would precede ontology which would not provide a sound argument. However, traces of something beyond humanity is present in the fact that the Bible. It was written over a period of one thousand years, by over forty different authors from various backgrounds, in three different languages, on three different continents. Yet, despite these factors, God has ensured not only its proven historical accuracy and validity, but he has weaved a plan outlining man’s redemption. It is this God who is the ultimate reality.
The nature of the world around us must be grounded in the answer to our first question in that God is the reality. With this in mind, I see that the world was made and is governed by his word, law, and wisdom. I see this governance by the order of creation with all its complexities and, yet, it has a universal harmony running through it. Somehow, we see cycles of death and rebirth in plants, checks and balances in the animal kingdom, and it is a more logical assumption that an all-powerful Being caused this rather than blind chance, probability, and time. We see these complexities the most within human nature. All human beings everywhere have similar emotions and, more importantly, are self-aware and ask questions dealing with reality. It is this self-awareness that separates us from all others species. Plus, we as human beings have a sense of universal moral inclinations, which was discussed earlier. However, despite all this order, the world also appears to be very chaotic as proven by thoughtless acts of immorality and violence. These two different observations, combined with the baseline reality of God, bring us back to what has been viewed as the Christian interpretation in that the world is cursed by sin but restrained and maintained by God’s grace which eventually brings it to redemption.[4]
With regards to the world being matter or spirit, I would argue both because it involves how to define the word “world”. If the definition of world as being just physical earth than, matter is within reality and, being so, can be observed through the senses. However, if we incorporate our first two answers into this one, we see that there is the Spirit of God which holds this world together and gives people the ability to know him, accept him as Lord, and do his will (sensus divinitas). Not only this, but the Bible mentions that each person has a spirit and even wisdom and other traits, both good and evil, are personified as spirits (1 Sam. 28:8; 2 Kings 2:9; Eph. 6:12). Hence, while it is true that matter and spirit are two different realms of reality (as stated earlier) they are also intertwined with one another in our present reality. It is this intertwining that it can be recognized both our subjective, personal relationship with the world as part of its meta-narrative as well as the objective writer of that meta-narrative, God. People realize that, through our subjective relationship of the world, we observe laws and behaviors that point to an objective Source.
The third question posed is what is a human being? Continuing building on the previous answers, I would say that human beings are separate from any other species on the basis that they have two natures rather than one. One is physical while one is spiritual. Human beings, in both natures, have been made in the image of God because God is omnipotent. However, because of the fall of humanity through sin, our physical nature desires what is not godly but evil and selfish (Gen. 3; 6:5; Prov. 14:12: Jer. 17:9; Matt.15:19). We are all born having this sinful nature (Rom. 5:15-21). On the other hand, our spiritual nature retains this image of God which, again, is the sensus divinitas. We as human beings are self-aware and asking questions such as “who created me?” or “where did I come from?” It is this spiritual nature that has prompted us to ask these questions and that we understand more completely when we become “born again” or born of the Spirit through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection (John 3:5-8). With this birth, the human nature and outlook is changed from focusing on self to focusing on God and others. Even though sin and desires of the flesh are still present in our lives after this second birth, we now are no longer under the curse of death but have forgiveness and the power to fight against sin. Some would argue that there have been moral leaders in the past who did not accept the reality of God, I would counter that by saying these leaders, while moral, had no justification for their ethical acts, but a Christian has justification for acts and the Holy Spirit to prompt him/her to act.
While looking at a person during their life, we then may ask ourselves about what happens after this life? As Sire notes, this question, like our first cannot be proven beyond a shadow of reasonable doubt.[5] However, I can come to a pretty sound rational hypothesis based on our previous three answers: 1) God is the ultimate reality 2) God is the all-powerful and sovereign creator and judge of the universe and 3) humankind is both matter and spirit, both fallen yet retaining God’s image. Before stating the hypothesis, it would help to look at a person’s worldview in regard to Jesus Christ for this is the bedrock of how a person will be generally convicted of life after death.
If a person regards Jesus as anything but what Jesus himself has claimed to be, then that person has not been born of the Spirit and they are still controlled by their sinful nature. Hence, Jesus’ words of heaven and eternal life will have no meaning or relevance to them. However, if a person has trusted Christ as the only Son of God and has been forgiven by God through grace, then that same person will trust Christ’s words and integrity about moral living in this life and safety in the next. Plus, the gospel of John claims that Jesus has been the only one to have come from heaven to earth. Hence, who could know about heaven except the one has been there himself. He would be the reliable source to find the answers. In both Luke’s and John’s gospel, Jesus says that the righteous that are trusted in Christ are forgiven of sin and enter into the presence of God, finding eternal rest and peace (Luke 16:19-31; John 14:1). On the other hand, the wicked that have not trusted are sent away to a place of separation and torment (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 14:11). There have been many religious founders and people who have speculated about life after death, but none have returned from death to tell the living accept the Son of God. As a Christian, I have a worldview that trust’s in God’s mercy and justice on the cross at Calvary and not by my own works. Therefore, where God’s Son is there I will be also just as Paul claimed (2 Cor. 5:8).
The next question on Sire’s list addresses how it is possible for a person to know anything for certain. Without a doubt, there are several subjective experiences in a person’s life that builds their thoughts and worldviews, and no two are ever identical. However, as Sire suggests I need to build on our first four answers that are ontological before attempting to answer an epistemological question.[6] God’s existence and loving character (that wants his creation to know him) combined with sensus divinitas gives us objective, universal truth.[7] I agree with Sire who said that if God is all-knowing and we are made in his image, than we as humanity can know some things for certain.[8] Plus, on the basis of God creating and governing all things, this leads to a conclusion that there must be an order to the universe. With this order, certain laws can be observed, understood, studied, and certainly known. With God creating all things and establishing universal laws, that means that two contradictory statements cannot both be true, and truth is, by that definition, exclusive.[9] In addition to the general knowledge of God and him giving humanity capacity to reason and observe the physical world through the senses, he also gives specific revelation by his Word and by his Son. In regards to the Bible, it has already been noted that the Bible has stood the test of time, historical scrutiny, persecution, and disregard. This fact, as well as the power contained in its pages, testifies to God’s truth that of which we can be certain (Ps. 119; 2 Tim. 3:16). More importantly, we find certain, absolute truth in Jesus who was from the beginning and claimed that he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 1:1; 10:30; 14:6; Heb. 1:4).
It is with all these answers that I address the next question about how can humanity tell what is right and wrong. If we look at the very three answers and our fifth answer once more, then we can come to a reasonable answer conclusion for this question. God is the ultimate reality, and His spirit is present in this world governing it, and human beings are made in God’s image and retaining sensus divinitas, and there are certain things about which humans can be absolutely certain. Ethics and morals and a basis for right and wrong are based in God’s character of perfect goodness and power.[10] It is not based on human choice or what “feels” good because, as we have seen, humanity has a sinful nature that chases after evil desires. This is hardly a basis for determining truth and untruth. It is also certainly not attributed to anything evolutionary because a moral sense cannot have an immoral first cause as this is illogical. There is also an important distinction to make here. Truth is different from fact. Facts, though true, are neutral and provide no guidance for what is right and wrong. Truth is that guidance. We may find facts in textbooks, but we the truth in Christ and Scripture (though we do find facts in the Bible as well which have been proven true). Henceforth, I can know what is ethically good because God has given us principles by his Son and his Word. Within both, people find both abstract truth and practical application.[11]
Finally, the seventh question deals with the meaning of human history. A better way of phrasing it could be asking the question “why are we here?” One of the common answers I have heard from a Christian perspective is “to love God and enjoy His glory forever”. Turning to Scripture itself, another answer comes from Ecclesiastes which says, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being” (12:13). One quote I remember hearing was that history is “His-story”. God’s purpose throughout human history is to have his creation love, enjoy, and obey him. From what I have thought about, God has created us because of his love for us, not because he needed us or we deserved it but because of his great love. However, we chose to disobey resulting in our separation from God’s presence, but God demonstrates his continued creation love by sending his Son so we could have atonement. It is our purpose, therefore, to glorify God and “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). Sire worded this well when he said that Christians are to become part of the salvation meta-narrative that announces and lives the Gospel to all people.[12] In this way, through God’s grace, we will experience glimpses of the kingdom of God until it comes fully realized on earth. The entire meaning of human history is to know God, the ultimate reality. In knowing and loving him, we can have the desire to help and love our neighbors.
[1] Sire , James W.. Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a concept. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004. pg. 82.
[2] Ibid. pg. 83-84.
[3] Ibid. pg. 117.
[4] Ibid., pg. 33.
[5] Ibid., pg. 86.
[6] Ibid., pg. 118.
[7] Ibid., pg. 69, 118.
[8] Ibid., pg. 117.
[9] Ibid., pg. 42.
[10] Ibid., pg. 55.
[11] Ibid., pg. 57.
[12] Ibid., pg. 105.