Christian Worldview, Research Paper Example

The difference between general revelation and special revelation has been a topic discussed between both evangelical scientists and theologians. They believe that God has exposed Himself in these two books, the general revelation and special revelation. The notion that God has exposed Himself in two separate books was first spoken by Francis Bacon in 1605. He did not side with either general revelation or special revelation. (Kulikovsky, 2005)  He indicated that God gave the human life two different versions of revelations of truth and that each of these are both dependable. He explained that special revelation as the “Bible and “authoritative in all matters relating to spiritual truth, salvation, ethics, mortality and Christian living (Kulikovsky, 2005)”.  General revelation was explained as “authoritative in all matters relating to the natural world (Kulikovsky, 2005)”.  Although these two revelations differ in definition, they both give the same “consistent God of truth (Kulikovsky, 2005)”.  A good comparison between the two revelations was delivered by the Baptist theologian Bernard Ramm. He stated, “God cannot contradict His speech in Nature by His speech in Scripture.  If the Author of Nature and Scripture is the same God, then the two books of God must eventually recite the same story (Kulikovsky, 2005)”.

“The gift of word of wisdom is the supernatural ability to discern and apply the Word of God (Rugh)”.  This was used during the time before the New Testament and the people did not have the written word like we do today.   Individuals and groups connected with the words of God through either general or special revelation. Individuals and groups discern revelation by ignoring or not believing in the Word of God or by discerning the person or preacher who is teaching the Word of God. Instead of discerning what is being taught, people as an individual or in a group should evaluate what is taught or spoken to them and look to the Word of God for the truth or within his revelation.

The reality of spirit versus matter is a question that often reaches the surface of many individuals.  In fact, it can be an incompressible thought for many. How does the spiritual word of God relate to the scientific theories or facts of the physical Earth?   In addition, it is often of struggle with people when they think of how life can be hard at times or how there can be a God if there is so much negativity in the World. Furthermore, people have brought the notion that there must not be a God if there is so much pain and suffering in the World. The relationship between matter and spirit is the understanding that a non-physical entity interacts with, affects and ultimately oversees physical beings. One of the great beliefs of God through his revelation is that humanity is not just a physical object in nature; it is brought with mind and spiritual energy from God. Believing in the interconnection between matter and spirit is believing that God is actively engaging in our physical lives and ultimately controlling our destiny.  For instance, Halvorson states that “The properties of a material substance do not vary, but the nature of life is its variability. Living matter has the potential of variability as a product of both its design and its presence of life animation in that matter. Life animation is activation, from God, of properly organized matter. It gives that matter both living vitality and reproductive spark”.

The Bible teaches us that we are made of spirit, soul and body.  It is best to think of the body being ruled by our spirit. We can understand this in the way in which God created Adam. The Bible states that God created Adam from the Earth and that he brought him to life through air, which was the breath of life. As written in Genesis 2:7 (Yahwehs Assembly, 2007), “Then Yahweh formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man become a living being [soul]”.

The Bible indicates that humans were created in the image of God. Many are confused on this theory or notion. What does it mean that humans were created in the image of God?  Sire (1976) describes as good response to this question. He states, “Man is created in the image of God…man was created good, but through the Fall of image of God became defaced, though not so ruined as not to be capable of restoration; through the work of Christ God redeemed man and began to process of restoring man to goodness, though any given man may choose to reject that redemption”.

Theologians often take the view of image of God and humanity understating this through the ideas of wholeness. For instance, the theologian Currie (2009) talks about Paul and his Theology of Wholeness and indicates a verse from 1 Corinthians, “A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it”.

Another point of view on wholeness is indicated from the woman theologian Elisabeth Moltmenn-Wendel. Robbins (2003) describes Motlmenn-Wendel’s theory on wholeness. She states that “woman’s strength now remains within her and does not continuously flow out of her, whereas Jesus’ strength flows out of him as he was aware that power had gone of him. She is empowered to claim her body, herself, her wholeness as Jesus’ healing energies affected her claim”.

The theological view of the fall of man had a huge impact on humanity and relationships between humans, nature and God. The beginning of the fall of man is described in Genesis. Adam and Eve are in a beautiful garden and eat the forbidden fruit and then the first sin has been committed. This results in the destruction of the original harmony that existed between nature, humans and God and the beginning of sin.

Many theologians have different views on the fall. For instance, theologian Jay McDaniel (1998) explains the fall as sin and suffering existing in nature the results of disobedience to divine will. He also explains that the fall of man and the relationship between nature and God existed before humans entered the planet. He believes that there was not any time when Earth was free from violence.  McDaniel uses an example of the food chain, where a grey whale killed by orcas is valuable to other creatures in that it supplies food to other organisms. He therefore believes that there was always sin and always and predator-prey relationship existing before Adam and Eve. He also believed that organisms would experience an increase in pain as they increased in pleasure.

Other theologians believe the fall as the problem to our ecological crisis. For instance, Rosmary Radford Ruether (2000) indicates the fall directly related to fallen nature in the neglect of our Earth and its living organisms. Therefore the fall can be related to not only the human to God relationship, but to nature as well. The Earth, being the most important, as it is the where humanity exists. In addition, it is through sin how Earth in constantly being destroyed. The fall of man therefore is an expression of sin for all humanity and the beginning of the fall of our Earth.

The Christian view on redemption is taught through the Bible. Christians believe that the Bible teaches us that Jesus came into the world to redeem man through His death and resurrection (Haines).  In John 2:19, Jesus states, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”. The Jews thought literally of his statement. They did not understand the underlying meaning. They thought that they were supposed to destroy their temple in which took 46 years to build; however, Jesus was speaking about his body. Jesus was referring to Himself and how he was to die for sin and humanity and that he would be raised from the dead three days later. That he was going to give his life to redeem his life for the sin humanity has made.

The image of Christ after he redeemed himself for human sin can be looked at through spiritual formation. Spiritual formation can be defined as “the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others (Mulholland, 1993)”.  Personal formation therefore deals indirectly with spiritual formation. Personal formation is how one handles spirituality and prayers in their life, as well as their personality, character and vocation to God.  Our society is forever changing and the values that were taught also change. Therefore, teachers in today’s society must model and teach both spiritual and personal formation for the future leaders of our World, as these contributions will ultimately affect the personal formation of our young people.

The role of free will as part of personal formation is also important in theology, especially in Christianity.  Some individuals become confused on this topic as free will means for one to make their own decisions. However, Christians believe that God has a plan for us and knows the choices in which we will make, thereby determining the choices for us. How can there be free will then?  (Wikipedia, 2000)  Humans have free will; however, it is through God which we look to make the right decisions. He gives us our free will to construe our character and build a personal formation.

References

Adapted from Gil Rugh. A Review of the (Nine) Temporary Spiritual Gifts*.  Indian Hills

Community Church, Lincoln, NE.  Retrieved December 4, 2011 from: http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/char/areview.htm

Currie, C. Rev. July 26, 2009. A sermon delivered by the Rev. Chuck Currie. Parkrose

Community United Church of Christ. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from : http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/files/pauls-theology-of-wholeness-1.pdf

Kulikovsky, A.S. 2005. Scripture and general revelation.   TJ. 19(2):23-28.

Haines,   2000. 2. Jesus Brought Redemption. Biblical Viewpoints Publications. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from: http://www.bibleviews.com/r2.html

Halvorson, C. God and the Human Condition: Source of Mind and Spirit, and Overcontroller of

Civilization. “Introduction to the Urantia Book” Overview of Day 9 of the Course. Retrieved December 4, 2011 from: http://www.perfectinghorizons.org/ByChrisHalvorson/godhuman.pdf

McDaniel, J. 1998. Can Animal Suffering be Reconciled with Belief in an All-Loving God? In Andrew Linzey and Dorothy Yamamoto, eds.  Animals on the Agenda: Questions About Animals for Theology and Ethics. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. pp 168.

Mulholland, R. M. Jr.  1993.  Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press.

Radford Ruether, R. 2000. Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-being of Earth and Humans. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp98-112.

Robbins, M.A. Th.D. 2003. Healing and Wholeness: Biblical Reflections. APCE Advocate. 28(3).

Sire, J. W.  1976. The Universe Next Door.  Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press.

Yahweh’s Assembly. 2007. Retrieved on December 4, 2011 from: http://www.yaiy.org/literature/pdf/The%20Spirit%20Realm.pdf

Wikipedia. 2000. Free Will in Theology. Retrieved on December 4, 2001 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will_in_theology