Deconstructing Your Doubt (2/5)

Confidence In A Confusing World

By Pastor Jon Whiteway, August 08, 2021

Main Idea: A worldview worthy of building your life on must be intellectually credible and existentially satisfying.


Worldview Definition:

A “perspective on life, a whole system of thought that answers the questions presented by the reality of existence.” — Francis Schaeffer

A worldview that is intellectually credible and existentially satisfying answers 4 critical questions presented by the reality of existence:

1. How did we get here? [Origins]

2. Why are we here? [Purpose]

3. How should we live? [Morality]

4. What happens when we die? [Afterlife]

Effective apologetics is less a defense of the faith and more a of competing worldviews; them on the true and better Christian worldview.

Acts 17: 22-23 (ESV) “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship…”

Paul begins by identifying how everybody has a worldview that shapes the way we live.

Paul then begins the deconstruction of their worldviews:


How did we get here? [Origins]

Acts 17:23b-26

Deconstructs the of their origin story and rebuilds it with a true and better found in Christianity.


Why are we here? [Purpose]

Acts 17:27-28

Deconstructs the of their purpose for living and rebuilds it with the true and better found in Christianity.


How should we live? [Morality]

Acts 17:29-30

Deconstructs the structure of their ethical code and rebuilds it with the true and better found in Christianity.


What happens when we die? [Afterlife]

Acts 17:31

Deconstructs the of their faith and rebuilds it with the true and better found in Christianity.


Ultimately, the epicenter of Christian Apologetics is the person of Jesus. His life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus answers each of the 4 critical questions of an intellectually credible and existentially satisfying worldview:

Origins:

Colossians 1: 15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created , in  heaven  and  on  earth, visible  and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or rulers or authorities- all  things were created  through him and for him.

Purpose:

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Morality:

Matthew 22:37-39 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Afterlife:

John 3:16-17 “For  God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” 

Main Idea: Christianity is the only worldview worthy of building your life on because it is intellectually credible and existentially satisfying.


Continuing the Conversation

1. What’s the biggest question about Christianity pertaining to the origins question (how did we get here?)?

2. What’s the biggest question about Christianity pertaining to the purpose question (why are we here?)?

3. What’s the biggest question about Christianity pertaining to the morality question (how should we live?)?

4. What’s the biggest question about Christianity pertaining to the afterlife question (what happens when we die?)?

6. Which questions challenge you the most as you navigate your faith on a day-to-day basis?