Competing Worldviews

Designed by God

 

Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing the idea of the skeptic beginning to look at his or her own viewpoint with open eyes. To realize that their perspective might not be as bullet proof as they had believed it to be. Today I would like to look into the idea that differing worldviews are at odds with one another, and that the most coherent view of all will lead a person to embrace Christianity and become a follower of Jesus.

This is the very reason that I have constructed this blog, to help people that God has already been drawing to Himself. Over the last 18 months there has been piece by piece evidence of natural theology given that point to an absolute need for a providential designer being responsible for all of the amazingly complex things we see around us.

Ronald Nash in his book titled Worldviews in Conflict points out that “Since Christian Theism is only one of many competing worldviews, on what grounds can people make a reasoned choice among the systems? Which worldview is most likely to be true? What is the best or most promising way to approach this kind of question?” This is at the heart of the discussion today. It is the asking of these kinds of questions that earmarks ones journey to faith in Christ.

Nash further states “When faced with a choice among competing touchstone propositions of different worldviews, we should choose the one that, when applied to the whole of reality, gives us the most coherent picture of the world. If one system can provide plausible solutions to many problems while another leaves too many questions unanswered, if one system tends less to skepticism and gives more meaning to life, we should engage with the more promising first principle.”

First principle is an important part of the equation here. I recently had a discussion with a close friend about this. He has a coworker that describes himself as a confused Christian. He has many troubling doubts about his faith.  Granted, his uncertainties need to be explored and wrestled with, however these misgivings are all secondary questions. The first order of creation and sustaining of the universe is not defeated by any of these doubts. I use the metaphor of a contractor that has built a house. The buyer moves in and sees a crack in the drywall on the ceiling. Does it need to be fixed? Yes, for sure. Does the homeowner say that because of the crack, therefore the contractor doesn’t exist?  Totally not, it does not make sense to conclude that.

contractor

It is the same thing for the skeptic of Christianity. He may see a crack in the ceiling but that doesn’t validate his opinion that there is no God. The house called the universe has already been built. It is of the order of first importance. Having a designer present at the very beginning of the universe is the most reasonable and satisfying picture of the true nature of how things are around us.