Category: Worldviews
Christian Worldview Research Worksheet
(Douglas Goodin, 2005)
Worldview Area: Politics
Selected attribute of God that is critical to this area: Righteous
Two key verses revealing this attribute: Ezra 9:15; Heb. 1:9
Selected attribute of man that is critical to understanding this area: Sinful
Two key verses revealing this attribute: Eph. 2:1-3 & Rom. 3:9-18
Describe the importance of the attributes in understanding this worldview area. Include any other primary truth revealed in the Scriptures regarding this area (principles, observations, examples, etc.):
God, in His righteousness, desires an orderly, obedient society of human beings. He has established laws, rulers, and governments to maintain this order, and they are necessary because the members of this society are predisposed to evil behaviors.
The Biblical Christian worldview position on this area:
God has established the State to govern the affairs of men. Specifically, the magistrate is intended to punish evil and commend good (Rom. 13:1ff). In order to be obedient to God, Christians must obey the civil authority, which is God’s instrument of justice. However, if the state commands what God prohibits or prohibits what God commands, then the Christian must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
Our Culture’s worldview position on this area:
Humanistic presuppositions render the culture’s view of politics to be, necessarily, democratic. If man is the highest good, then the opinion of the majority of men will rule the others. As with law, the government cannot operate based on ultimate standards of good and evil; rather, moral relativism and common consensus provide the backbone (of rubber) for the state. In America, the constitution as interpreted and applied by the majority of the current Supreme Court members serves as the highest de facto rule.