The topic first entered my mind after a Twitter conversation
following the debate and now has re-entered it as I sit next to two girls
discussing Mormonism in a coffee shop (and yes, I’m eavesdropping…judge me).
For clarity, a “worldview” relates to the basic assumptions that people hold about the nature of reality.
There certainly are an endless number.
I personally found the debate to be extremely interesting as
I am always fascinated to hear different points of view on the world. Because
of that I tweeted the following:
This debate makes me want to learn so much! Great discussion worth having no matter what your thoughts are. #soakingitin #creationdebate
— Jordan Cornett (@Jor_Cor) February 5, 2014
I immediately got a response from a
stranger that read:
"@Jor_Cor Careful. If you learn more you'll be convinced of evolution!"
"@Jor_Cor Careful. If you learn more you'll be convinced of evolution!"
First of all, as I said this was a stranger and I don’t know the motivation
or thoughts behind his comment. I acknowledge I may be taking this point too
far, but his statement implied it wasn’t healthy to learn more…and that fired
me up for a minute.
I have always had
just as many friends outside of the Christian faith as inside. That is
something I am so thankful for. Even now, I can imagine some of my closest
friends and family and all the different viewpoints and beliefs they are
bringing to the table as they read this simple blog post.
I have spent my
entire life questioning different belief systems, including my own. It is my conviction
that that is a very healthy thing to do.
After all my searching and questioning, I believe with all
of my heart that Jesus Christ was and is a real man, was and is God’s son, and
is the only hope of salvation.
In fact, I don’t just believe in Jesus, I know Him. Would I
change my belief in Him? Honestly, I’d have to say no. I realize that is a very
close-minded response to most of the world, but asking me not to believe in
Jesus is asking me to not believe in the only
thing I am certain of. I can be persuaded of many things in life, I am sure,
but the truth of Jesus Christ is not one of them. He IS life.
So considering that is my worldview, should I stop learning the
worldviews of others? Should I stop learning what my friends, along with Bill
Nye, consider to be true about evolution and the Big Bang? Should I stop
learning about what the girls next to me consider to be true about their
prophet, Joseph Smith?
Should I stop
learning any view apart from the Christian church?
I honestly think many Christians would answer yes to those
questions. Maybe even you would.
I beg to differ, though.
So many Christians
expect the world to be tolerant of our beliefs, while we are many times intolerant
of any belief other than our own.
In being tolerant, I
do not mean anyone has to accept another person’s belief to be true- but I do
mean there should be the expectation of interest, of understanding and of acceptance
in love.
Freddy Davis, founder and president of MarketFaithMinistries puts it this way, “When we learn the beliefs and perspectives of
other worldviews, we put ourselves in a position to look at the world the way
non-believers do. This allows us to more fully understand where they are coming
from, and gives us the ability to be stronger in our own faith and more
effective in our witness. A worldview is not right because we can understand
it. But if we can understand it, on every level, we are in a position to be
more effective instruments of God as he works to build his kingdom in the
hearts of all mankind.” (See more here)
Wow. Go Freddy.
So understanding different
worldviews allows Christians to:
1.
Understand
people.
2.
Have
the ability to be stronger in our own faith.
3.
Be a
more effective witness.
I couldn’t agree more. When I learn about my friends’
differing beliefs, I get to know them on a whole other level. More so, it often
makes me want to take a deeper look into my own faith, and I am challenged to
seek the Lord. What is cool is that when I do seek Him, I find Him and I end up
falling more in love with Him.
Even further, it opens the doorway to communicate the
Gospel- to others and to myself.
An important side note: Jesus Christ certainly showed
tolerance of other worldviews, spending time with those outside of the faith
constantly. He didn’t just sit in a church and wait for those who believe in
Him to come, but he traveled on foot to be around different people with
different worldviews. He worked with them. Had dinner with them. Healed them.
I don’t know that Jesus would ever say “Careful. Don’t learn
too much.”
The only reason that I can think a Christian should be
scared to learn anything is if they aren’t sure of their faith in the first
place. If you do claim Christianity and you are afraid to learn how others see
the world, let me encourage you to stop fearing what others believe and start exploring
the foundation of what you believe.
Then tell God your fears.
Be real with Him.
Tell him what you doubt.
Ask for wisdom in faith and God will give it to you. That is
a promise (James 1:5).
If you know you know the Lord, I encourage you- keep learning. If you have the
opportunity, learn about the theory
of evolution, learn about Mormonism, learn about Buddhism, etc. When a
Christian truly seeking the Lord engages in conversation with a person of a
different worldview, I think it is always
positive.
I think it is equally
important that you don’t do this alone. Also surround yourself with other
Christians that have a solid foundation. That way when you wrestle with
difficult questions, you have brothers and sisters to walk through the journey
with you. I have found some of the greatest growth in my life has come out these
difficult conversations.
So, thank you Bill Nye for teaching me some things this past Tuesday. You make me want to keep learning.
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