Happy April 1st, or you might call it ‘April Fools’ Day.’
April Fools’ Day origins are uncertain, but most historians believe it began in 16th-century France when the country switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, moving the New Year from April 1st to January 1st. Those who were slow to hear the news or resisted the change continued celebrating in late March/April 1 and were mocked as “April fools.”
If you’ve heard Christians teach or preach long enough, you’ll recognize the words from Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Conversely, and just as important, is Proverbs 9:10, which says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The truth is we are all somewhere on the foolish-wisdom spectrum.
I am reminded of conversations I had with a couple of “fools.” Lee Strobel was an investigative journalist and legal editor of The Chicago Tribune. An atheist, Lee probed the evidence for Jesus for nearly two years in hopes of saving his wife, Leslie, and proving her Christian faith false. Instead, Lee was confronted by the evidence and surrendered himself to the lordship of Christ.
And, Rice Brooks, the author of several books, including GOD’S NOT DEAD: Evidence for God in An Age Of Uncertainty, on which the movie ‘GOD’S NOT DEAD’ is based. The antagonist in the film and book is an atheist college professor who vehemently challenges the faith of new students he discovers are Christians. The main character, a Christian freshman, must choose to defend God’s existence or stay silent to avoid confrontation. His courageous stand impacts other students and reveals the professor’s own hidden pain. The book is meant to help readers develop “a faith that is real, credible, and strong enough to help others find faith in God.” Isn’t that what we want our children to be equipped to do? I want to be better at that myself!
Lee Strobel and the antagonist in the film based on Rice Brooks’ ‘God’s Not Dead,’ are both examples of foolishness in their rejection of our creator. Sometimes those who deny God loudest are running from Him hardest. While I hope most of you reading this are not running from God or attacking others for their faith in Him, the truth is many wrestle with doubt and surrender. As we approach Easter and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, many of you will read or hear a sermon that includes a focus on the disciple Thomas, doubting Thomas. Thomas gets a bad wrap, when it’s possible he was actually more honest than other, less vocal disciples, regarding his trouble believing his recently killed rabbi came back to life. After all, Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” Jesus is often quoted as saying, “O ye of little faith” to His disciples, but I take comfort also knowing how loving and patient He was with them, and is with all of us.
As we model Jesus in making disciples of the next generation, we do well to remember the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, and humbly acknowledged, “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). I’m so thankful our Lord welcomes us to Himself wherever we may be on the spectrum of faith.
Christian Service Brigade is known for how well Scripture is integrated into all aspects of our material and programs. But when tragic events in life come, simply being able to quote Scripture may not be enough. Knowing the Bible is so very important, but having a deep understanding of biblical truth and how it applies to the world and the circumstances we live in is the wisdom the next generation needs. What the young men, and soon to be young women, under our care need is a firm biblical worldview. Biblical literacy and biblical worldview are related but different – knowing biblical content doesn’t automatically result in a biblical worldview that shapes how one sees and engages the world.
George Barna, of Barna Research, said that today, he’s focused on worldview development and cultural development more than ever before. The Church is at a critical juncture, he warns, referring to recent research that shows only half of Protestant pastors have a Biblical worldview. Barna goes on to say the path to a thriving Christian community lies in returning to the core biblical principles, the empowerment of parents as spiritual leaders and the intentional discipling of the next generation. “…we’ve reached a time of Christian invisibility in our culture. What I’m seeing now is that we’re getting to this place where the typical American … will not have anyone in their circle of influence who has a biblical worldview. You’re not going to be influenced with God’s truth.” Read more here.
Everyone we meet has, and is being shaped by, a worldview, whether they realize it or not. A worldview is defined as a person’s network of desires, thoughts, and ways of being that direct how they see, interpret, and engage the world. Indeed, worldview and routine practices are key elements in discipleship, and we are all being discipled, either towards a biblical worldview or through the worldview of the dominant culture of our day.
I recently had a conversation with Dr. Roger Erdvig, who is Summit Ministries’ Director of the Center for Biblical Worldview Formation, to explore how Christian Service Brigade can integrate biblical worldview formation into our material and programming. Having researched and developed expertise in biblical worldview formation for over 30 years, Roger’s life purpose is to equip those who are on the front lines of raising up the next generation of culture-shaping leaders. Summit Ministries’ stated goal in Biblical Worldview Formation is: “The life-long process of conforming how one sees, interprets, and engages the world to the principles, values, and ideals of the Kingdom of God.” The next generation needs to be able to apply the principles, values, and ideals of God’s Kingdom to their lives and the world they live in. It is a life-long process, but let that wonderful journey start with robust and intentional support from Christian Service Brigade!
True wisdom seeks truth, even when it’s uncomfortable – a biblical worldview can handle honest investigation. So whether it’s preparing young men and women to be prepared to give an answer to an antagonistic atheist college professor for their hope and faith in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15), or moving them further along that “I believe, help my unbelief” spectrum for their own sake, it will take an intentional commitment to shaping them to think biblically in all areas of life. We need a movement of young men and women who understand their faith as reasonable and defensible. A generation that has the courage to stand for truth, even when it’s costly, will change the world!
Happy April Fool’s Day! Don’t be one! Or allow the next generation to be either!
