Stand Up 

       1. Fight for What’s Right 

             A. Framing Your Worldview

Beyond Blind Belief: God Exists

“In the beginning, God…” Genesis 1:1  

There is nothing more disputed, debated, and discussed than the existence of God. Atheists claim they cannot believe what they cannot see. Others are on the fence unsure of what to think. Some assume there’s a God out there, but never take the time to investigate the evidence. Even Christians today come to the conclusion that our faith is enough to prove His existence. But, in reality it is atheists and those who refute God’s existence that need an extreme amount of faith for their worldview to actually be reality. The evidence for God’s existence corresponds with reality that’s reasonable and well grounded. All we have to do is examine it and be willing to open our hearts and minds to the truth. Here is the main four evidences or arguments in support for the existence of God: 

The Cosmological Argument 

Cosmology is the first-cause argument. It simply states that everything that begins to exist must have a cause. If you went far enough back before time you would find the first cause–and that cause would be the Creator, God. The big bang theory is an overwhelming scientific  supported event that theorizes that the universe exploded into being out of nothing at some point in the distant past. The acronym, SURGE, covers the five points that summarize why the universe has a beginning. They are as follows: 

1) Second law of thermodynamics 

2) Universe that’s expanding 

3) Radiation afterglow 

4) Great seeds in the radiation afterglow 

5) Einstein’s theory of relativity  

From these five universal scientific truths we can conclude that at some point there was not time, no space, and no matter. The Big Bang was not an explosion in space but the explosion of space. And it was not  an explosion in time but the beginning of time.  Or the explosion of matter, but the creation of it. Thus, the cause of the universe must be something beyond space, beyond time, and beyond matter—a Being who is outside the bounds of space, time, and matter. Natural forces or processes couldn’t have possibly created the universe because they did not exist before. This means that the cause of the universe must beyond nature and be supernatural. This supernatural Being we call God. The Cosmological Argument then can be summarized in three statements: 

1. All things that begin to exist have a cause of their beginning to exist 

2. The universe began to exist 

3. Therefore, the universe was caused to exist. God is that cause. 

Who Made God? 

Note, that above we stated that everything that begins to exist has a cause. Christians do not need to believe that everything that exists needs a cause. Rather, everything that begins to exist has a cause. So how can we explain and rationalize a God who has always existed. Apologist William Lane Craig comments sharply: 

“And this is not special pleading in the case of God. After all, atheists have long maintained that the universe doesn’t need a cause, because it’s eternal. How can they possibly maintain that the universe can be eternal and uncaused, yet God cannot be timeless and uncaused?”

Simply put, some things can never be explained as our finite minds cannot comprehend how God has always existed. But common logic strongly points towards a Being that caused the universe to exist and a God who is uncaused is the most reasonable explanation. 

For more read: Before Time Began: Breaking Into Eternity’s Mysteries 

The Teleological Argument 

This is the study of the design of the universe. We can point towards the laws of nature, the complexity of living single cells, DNA, and the precise location of Earth as evidences towards God’s existence. As King David wrote: 

“The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

We see the vast majestic wonder of a mark of a designer everywhere: in the night sky filled with shinning stars, the high mountain peaks, the incredible complexity of even the smallest insect, the distinct variety of plants and animals, and the wonder of how the human brain operates. The DNA in just one cell in the human body holds the equivalent of roughly 8,000 books of information. Thus, if the DNA in an adult human were strung together, it would stretch from Earth to the sun and back around 70 times! To believe that this was caused by chance and mere evolution would take an incredible amount of faith. The design of the universe points to a creative, intelligent, and magnificent being–God. 

For more read: The Dazzling Display of the Divine Design 

The Moral Law Argument 

The moral law argument simply states that because all human beings are wired with a conscience and awareness of right and wrong there must be a Lawgiver. Every human culture and society throughout history has had moral law and there is an incredible universal agreement about certain moral principles that are vital such as justice, fairness, and courage. Without a higher source, where could these moral standards come from? Without God, we then  have to no right to judge others on their actions. All is acceptable. The existence of morality is an inexplicable illusion. There can be no evil without good. 

Yet if God exists, then we have reason to believe in morality. We ought to be just, because God is just. We ought to be loving, because God is love. It’s God’s character that our morality is stemmed from. The simple argument then is a reasonable conclusion in light of the existence of moral values: 

1. If objective moral values exist, God must exist. 

2. Objective moral values exist. 

3. Therefore, God must exist.

For more read: The Great Debate of the Moral State 

Personal Experience with God Argument 

This ministry is called, Truth’s Transformation, for good reason. It is not a wishful thinking, pie-in-the-sky philosophy. The validity of our faith is built upon a real relationship that can be experienced and true change can become a reality. It is far from instant and there are times of doubt and uncertainty. But through it all, those who seek God will the heart will always find Him in the end. Those who oppose the faith will argue that God could easily be an illusion, an emotional fantasy. How then can hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people testify on His behalf? Or how he’s changed their heart, attitude, and life? If you personally have a relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted His gift of salvation,  your life is a testament of God’s existence. 

No Doubt About It 

Philosophers, atheists, agnostics, and skeptics alike are all tried in vain to exclude God from the explanation for human existence and the meaning of life. Apart from a personal Creator God, though, life has no meaning. We simply have no excuse for doubting in God’s existence since it is clear in creation, in our hearts, and in the lives of His children: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) 

For more read: The Absurd Assertion of Atheism

We, as Christians, need to be confident and bold about defending and proclaiming the truths about God’s existence. To believe that God doesn’t exist requires an extraordinary amount of faith compared to what evidence God has put in place for His existence. Everything hinges on this universal truth: God exists. There is no Christianity without God’s existence. Jesus then is just another man. His death was in vain and we have no hope of salvation. The grave is the end of all of life, there is afterlife, and nothing we do here on earth has lasting value. Choosing to believe in God is the first stepping stone to realizing your identity, your calling, your destiny. As we open our Bibles we read the first words in Genesis penned thousands of years ago: “In the beginning, God…” What a marvelous beginning to the story this is! 

Tracking Your Transformation: 

1) How did you come to accept that God exists? What argument resonated with you the most? 

2) What is the Cosmological Argument?   What three statements summarize this argument?  How can we explain God’s eternal existence in light of these truths? 

3) What is the Teleological Argument? What part of creation has captivated you the most? In what ways has this revealed God’s nature? 

4) What is the Moral Law Argument? What are the implications of a society without moral values? What three statements summarize this argument? 

5) What is the Personal Experience Argument? How has God personally transformed your life? Summarize your testimony in a few short paragraphs and be prepared to share it with someone in need of the Gospel this week.  

Sources:  

Josh McDowell/Sean McDowell, The Unshakable Truth. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon: 2010, Pages 57-66

Stand Up 

       1. Fight for What’s Right 

               A.  Framing Your Worldview

Born For This Purpose 

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate 

“Are you King of the Jews?” was the question Pontius Pilate asked Jesus who stood trial and was accused of sedition.  Jesus responded, “I am not an earthly king…My kingdom is not of this world.” The governor then sarcastically  replied, “You are a king then.” The prisoner then answered, “You say that I am a king and you are right. I was born for that purpose and I came to bring truth to the world.” All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”  Pilate then responded with a question that has stood the test of time, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38a) An answer never came from Jesus’ mouth. There was no need for an answer. The answer was right before Pilate. The Truth was staring right at him. The truth in human flesh, Jesus Christ. 

Days earlier Jesus had told His disciple Philip, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) He was telling him that truth is a person to relate to, “the way” is a person to follow, and that He is the only true source of life. Truth, a way of living, and life itself is embodied in God. The means to obtain the truth, the way, and the life is through a relationship with Jesus. Relationship is the key into Christianity and always will be. 

The Continous Cycle  

Today in our schools and in most of our churches we are taught the Hellenistic model of learning information. This approach presents a student with relational and logical constructs of information that he or she is required to absorb intellectually. They are then asked to relay the information back to the teacher and this is called testing. If a student can accurately repeat the information, they pass the course, and in essence are “taught.”  

The Hebraic model of education is vastly different from this form of learning. The goal is for the truth to become one with the student until it is actually lived out. It is practiced in the context of relationships with others. And this needs to be how we view our understanding of learning God’s Word. It isn’t enough to be able to repeat Bible verses, historical facts, and theological concepts. What’s important is how the truth has transformed our attitude, behavior, and our life. 

Justin Martyr, an early church founder in the second century, declared that the Christian faith revolved around a continuing cycle of believing, belonging, and behaving. They were seen as whole, integrated, and continuous. By believing, we come to know the truth. By belonging, we come become that truth in relationship with God and others in the body of Christ. By behaving we become intimate with the truth, it transforms us, and it is lived out. Three elements: Know the Truth. Live the Truth. Be the Truth. Let’s take a closer look at each element and what each one means.

Know the Truth 

According to a recent survey done in 2006 by The Truth Project 91% of young people in the Church today (ages 16-25) do not believe in absolute truth. Sadly, most Christians today are not looking to the Biblical truth in order to know the truth; they are actually looking for “their truth.” A large majority of people in our culture today including many professing Christians proclaim that there is no objective moral truth. Thus, they pick and choose their personal truths in what they read in the Bible and mesh with their own way of thinking. Their truth is subjective and personally determined.  

There are truths that are personal and subjective, though. These truths are personal choices and preferences. Such as, “my favorite food is pasta.” Or “I enjoy watching football.” When two friends say opposing views such as, “Christmas is the best time of the year” or “Spring is the best time of the year”; which statement is true? Your answer would depend on your personal preference and would not be either right or wrong, true or untrue. There is no contradiction because this kind of truth is relative to the individual and can change. Moral truths on the other hand, are quite different in nature.  There are a few key points to keep in mind in regards to the nature of truth:  

• Truth can only be discovered and cannot be invented.
• Truth is unchanging despite what we believe at different points in our life.
• Beliefs cannot change a fact no matter how much we cling on to them.
• ALL TRUTHS are absolute truths.
• Finally, contrary beliefs are possible, but contrary truths are not possible.  

Moral truth isn’t up to us to decide. We cannot create it either. In fact, it’s not even something God decides on. Why? Because it is something He is. It is God’s nature and character that define moral truth. When we discover that Jesus is the Truth and an exact representation of God the Father we begin to experience this moral truth personally and relationally. He enters our lives in the deity of the Holy Spirit transforming us to a living representation of Himself.   

In order to know the Truth, we must have conviction in our beliefs. Jesus doesn’t want His followers to believe in Him blindly with no substance to walk on. The evidences for believing what God says is true are there to convince our minds that what He says is real and true. In other words, our mind and heart have to be aligned. To know what we believe and why we believe it. The Word of God repeatedly encourages us to examine the truth to see that it corresponds to reality and then form our convictions. This is what it means to know the truth.  

Live the Truth  

Truth cannot be simply learned to be effective in our growth as Christians. Truth is to be lived out, and when it is lived out it becomes an example to others. “Let us stop just saying we love each others; let us really who it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth.” (1 John 3:18-19a NLT) To live the truth does not require perfection. We live in a fallen world and all will mess up. (Philippians 3:12) To live the truth is a daily declaration to grow, develop, and mature as followers of Christ. Application is not an easy thing to do. Especially in the faith because it is often contrary to our sinful nature. But the more we practice, the more Godly habits we ingrain into our lifestyle. This is what it means to live the truth.  

Be the Truth 

It is not enough to simply know the truth. It must become the core of who we are. By living the truth, we begin to become a living representation of truth. “As the Spirit of the Lord works with us we become more and more like him and reflect His glory even more.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) To become a living representation of the truth we must allow the truth of God to penetrate us so intimately that it transforms our lives. Christianity is often viewed in the doing, but in reality it is the being that is the heart of what’s important. To become what we were made to be. To conform into the image of God’s Son, Jesus. (Romans 8:29 NASB) This is what it means to be the truth.

The Joy of Truth  

These three elements carried out: Know the truth, live the truth, be the truth are the foundational stepping stones of the Christian worldview. They make all the difference between the average, mundane existence and the extraordinary life that God offers. The full life that we were meant to live. Truth has incredible power to expose our faults and set us free, help us to forgive each other, lead us in the right direction, and bring us what we all crave—joy.  What is truth?  Truth is the person of Jesus Christ. He is to be known, His character is to be lived out, and we are to become living representations of Him. Know, live, and become the Truth. This is our calling. Our purpose. Our destiny.  

Tracking Your Transformation: 

1) Why was the question Pilate asked Jesus so ironic? Why is this question so relevant to our lives today? 

2) What is the difference between the Hellenistic method of learning and  the Hebraic way?  Which one is more effective in our opinion? 

3) What is the continuous cycle of the Christian faith that Justin Martyr first indentified? How is it related to the three elements of truth? 

4) What are the three elements of truth and how is each element to be carried out in the Christian life? 

5) Which element to you struggle with the most in your walk with Christ? Why do you believe this to be the case?  

Sources: 

Josh McDowell/Sean McDowell, The Unshakable Truth. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon: 2010, Pages 37-46

Stand Up 

  1. Fight for What’s Right

        A. Framing Your Worldview

The Virtue of Valuing Your Worldview 

“The church’s singular failure in recent decades has been the failure to see Christianity as a life system, or worldview, that governs every area of existence.” -Chuck Colson 

“How would you define the Christian faith?” Is it about following a bunch of rules? A set of philosophical  viewpoints or a simple idea of how one should live their life? A relationship with God?  Christianity today is more than not regarded as a religion and Christians are seen as “religious”. Christians today are often susceptible to view their faith as just a part of their lives—going to church on Sundays, reading their Bibles from time to time, and giving to the less fortunate. That’s what being a Christian is all about… right? Our failure in living out our faith, being the men and women we were meant to be, and effectively carrying out the Great Commission is in the fact that we fail to see Christianity as a worldview. 

According to a recent study by George Barna, founder of Barna Group, only 4% of all American adults have a Biblical worldview and only 9% of born-again Christians in America have such a perspective. These kind of statistics are a major reason why SHOUT IT Ministries was founded. Our nation is has slowly allowed  the secular worldviews of tolerance, secular humanism, and Darwinism into our schools, government, culture, media, and our churches. Is it any wonder then why America has greatly lost touch with moral values vastly over the past few decades and the church has fallen suit?

What is a Worldview?  

A worldview sounds like a word that should be reserved for college professors and government officials. It’s not a word we use often in our vocabulary.  But it’s something every human being covering all faiths, backgrounds, societies, ethnic backgrounds, and ages possesses. A worldview is the overall perceptive from which one sees and interprets the world. From this worldview, a person tries to give reasons for how the facts of reality relate and tie together.  The individual then derives an understanding, interpretation, and response to the world in which he or she lives.  From this worldview a person answers these important questions: 

• Who am I?
• Where did I come from?
• Where am I going?
• What is true and what is false?
• How should I conduct my life, or act?
• Does God exist and if so what is my response to Him? 

Before we move any move further, remember that adopting a Biblical worldview does not necessarily define the essence of Christianity. What defines our worldview is being in proper relationship with God. It must be formed out of our relationship with God as defined through Christ by His Word and empowered by His Holy Spirit. The importance of forming this worldview cannot be understated. It is essential for growth and maturity in the Christian life. It is how we live lives of purpose, conviction, passion, and love. To separate ourselves from blending in with mainstream society. It is a way of knowing and being and living in a right relationship with God, ourselves, the church, and the world around us. What does the Christian worldview begin with then?

The Word’s Worldview 

It begins with God’s Word. It is the foundation and basis of Who the truth is, how to know Truth, live out the truth, and become the truth. God Himself has preserved these truths for us so we can know Him personally and pass along the faith to others. As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” Scripture is far more than a set of rules and teachings. It is not outdated or irrelevant to our lives. The very opposite is true. It is from the Bible that we form a worldview that gives us a solid understanding of how government, family, business, society, culture, arts, and church were meant to be in God’s original design. It is the utmost importance tha we grasp these truths. 

Three Truths Taught 

There are three foundational truths we found flowing throughout Scripture—God’s original design, His incarnation in our world, and His plan for a re-creation. These teachings were first clearly seen by the second-century theologians such as Tertullian and Irenaeus in the Nicene Creed. From these truths twelve declarations were outlaid that defined the Christian faith, they illuminate the three foundational truths. They are as follows: 

1. The truth that God exists 

2.  The truth about God’s Word 

3. The truth about original sin 

4. The truth about God becoming human 

5. The truth about Christ’s atonement for sin 

6. The truth about justification through faith in Christ 

7. The truth about living the transformed life 

8. The truth about Jesus’ bodily resurrection 

9. The truth about the Trinity 

10. The truth about God’s kingdom 

11. The truth about the church 

12. The truth about the return of Christ 

These truths held together form the basis of understanding that is the Christian worldview. They are the core truths of what the Gospel is all about. They gives us the answer to who we are, why we are here, and where we are going. our identity, purpose, and destiny. And it’s all found through the pages of Genesis to Revelation. They address the very heart of the our existence.

You and Your Worldview 

The truth of the Christian worldview is that it should intersect every single area of our lives. Our eating habits, how we spend our money, what we do with our time, what we watch, what we say, and how we think. The more we see through the lens of a Biblical worldview, the more we discover what we were meant to be.  Becoming a living representation of Christ. To be transformed inside and out. To experience peace, joy, happiness, purpose, and leave a lasting legacy.

Next we’ll get a closer look at the three elements that make up truth that are outlined in the SHOUT IT Ministries slogan: “Know the Truth. Live the Truth. Be the Truth.” Know, Live, Be. This is the foundation of our faith. It all starts here. By framing your worldview. 

Tracking Your Transformation 

1) What is a worldview? Does everyone have one? 

2)What is the Christian worldview based on? 

3)What are the three foundational truths found in Scripture? 

4) In a paragraph or two write down what you believe  and why you believe it. Define what your current worldview is.

Sources:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0502worldview.asp

Josh McDowell/Sean McDowell, The Unshakable Truth. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon: 2010, Pages 30-34

Introduction

A recent study among Christians revealed that 81 percent said the essence of the Christian faith was “trying harder to follow the rulers described in the Bible.” What’s more stunning is that 75 percent of Christian leaders were not able to define the core concepts of Christianity and what it takes to reach spiritual maturity.  Today we are the crossroads of confusion with what the Christian faith is all about. There’s still a strong emphasis on salvation, baptism, and the beginning stages of the Christian walk, but little substance given for those who have already committed there lives to Christ.  Christians are then left pondering what Christianity is all about. Is it a set of teachings we are to follow from the Bible? A relationship with God. A philosophical viewpoint? A set of beliefs we need to adopt? The answer to these questions is forming a worldview that is based on the Bible. That is why this ministry was founded. To help you build and develop a Biblical worldview that is well-rounded, informative, and based on the Truth.

Transformation is an important part of your growth as a follower in Christ. It involves the formation of a new mind: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) as well as a new heart.  We are to become holy and develop the character of Christ. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4) We are to be holy because God is holy. What transforms us? Truth. Learning the truth, living it out, and ultimately becoming a living representative of truth.  Christ didn’t just tell us the truth or show us the truth, He is the Truth. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Clearly, without truth there is no Christianity, because Christ Himself was the entity of it.

The phrase, “SHOUT IT” is more than a declaration in living out the Christian faith as well as the name for this online ministry found here. It is a seven-letter acrostic that covers the seven core principles of the Christian faith. They are as follows:  Stand Up, Holiness, Outrageous, Unite, Thankfulness, Integrity, and Tell Them. And from these seven principles an entire Mission Statement was created to give you a detailed and creative way to put together the Christian worldview. Let’s briefly go over each principle as we’ll be looking into each of them much deeper with this ministry.

Stand Up is where the Christian worldview begins to form. With this principle we’ll learn how to build a Biblical worldview, the fundamentals of the faith, discovering and developing our identity in Christ, and the fears we need to overcome in the process.  This is the foundation of SHOUT IT and where all the other principles are built upon.

Holiness covers our relationship with Christ through the act of surrender, service, and seeking His ways.  Becoming like Christ is in essence why we’re still on this earth. To be holy is to love God more than anything else. To serve and obey His commandments out of joy. To show that love to others through serving them. And to spend time with God reading His Word, in prayer, and throughout each day. It is a divine romance between the Creator of the universe and us. The most profound reality we’ll ever experience!

Outrageous is often viewed in a negative sense, but here it’s shed in a positive light. This principle covers the three tenses of our life:  Past, present, and future. It’s about how to learn, cherish, and move on from the past, live your life to the fullest with purpose and conviction, and leaving a legacy behind. When this principle is lived out, we’ll truly be seen as outrageous to the rest of the world!

Unite is the in center of the SHOUT IT acrostic and most appropriately should be. Because love is the core of the Christian faith and the principle of unite is all about love in the context of our relationships. The two greatest commandments Jesus said are to love your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) We are to love others as Christ loves us.

Thankfulness caps off the word, SHOUT, and is the call for a life of gratitude in worship, stewardship, and wonder. We are called to give thanks back to God in everything we do (Colossians 3:17) in response to what He’s done for us and who He is. Thankfulness is more than something we partake from time to time; it’s a lifestyle that is carried out daily.

Integrity is the most overlooked principle in the Christian walk. It’s carrying out what you say and actually doing it. Being who you proclaim to be—at all times.  It’s not enough to know the truth and tell others about it. The truth must be lived out and shown to the world. Only through a life of integrity will you be able to led others to Christ.

Tell Them may be the last of the seven principles, but it certainly isn’t the least important. This is taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ and telling others about Him. It is NOT an option that we can choose to be part of if we’re up to it. It’s a call we ALL must join together in. The word IT then is a two-way process to live out what we believe in and then tell others why we do what we do. This is done through our love, our personal testimony, and sharing the Gospel message.

The SHOUT IT Mission Statement can be seen as very simple and straightforward or very long and drawn-out. There are seven main principles, three core principles underneath each of them, and three more principles under each of the core principles. In some ways it reads more like a Manifesto than a Mission Statement!   

Through Truth’s Transformation we’ll get a complete overview of the entire SHOUT IT Mission Statement from start to finish. From the first principle, Fight For What’s Right , to Tying Together the Truth. To Knowing the Truth to Becoming the Truth. It will be take several years to complete(just this study, the actually process will require the rest of your life); so endurance and patience are required. There will be a large emphasis on application of the principles as we move along. We’ll spend more time on some areas than others. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up if you fall behind. PDF files will be available in the near future of questions and key points to assist you in the process. The Blueprint for this ministry will be updated and revised within the next few weeks if you have any more questions on what Truth’s Transformation is all about.

The singular goal and vision of this ministry is help you form a solid Biblical worldview in your life so that you will begin to transform in the image of Christ. From the time we begin shortly, until we reach the end point, you should see a radical difference in the way you think, speak, and act on an everyday basis. If you make it a priority to read these entries, reflect and research the concepts, answer the questions, and apply these truths into your everyday life–then I can promise you that this will happen with the help of the Holy Spirit living in you!   The journey will begin with truth and its vital role in forming our Biblical worldview as we look at the principle: Forming Your Worldview.  Stay tuned for the first entry!  

Sources:

Josh McDowell/Sean McDowell, The Unshakable Truth. Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon: 2010, Page 29