Problems with the "Biblical Worldview"

As was reported here earlier, a recent Barna survey found that few Americans had what Barna considered a "Biblical Worldview." A basic assumption underlying the purposes of the survey seemed to be the idea that not having a Biblical Worldview would lead to a person being less moral and having more difficulty making the correct moral decisions. That, however, is questionable - even from a Christian perspective.

Marv Knox writes for The Baptist Standard:

First, this definition of biblical worldview is rational rather than relational, and it can lead to a stifling legalism. The criteria are theologically broad and can be affirmed mentally. But they are practically narrow and do not necessarily lead to biblically based decision-making in all phases of life. ... Second, the list of moral failures focuses primarily on sins of the flesh--internal or personal behaviors--rather than a more comprehensive range of ethical issues. This is a rather common evangelical blind spot.

Third, Barna's emphasis fails to address what we might call applied Christianity or everyday ethics. Most Baptists aren't challenged so much by sexual deviance, drunkenness or debauchery as by the ordinary decisions of their lives. Sins of harsh speech in their homes, over-consumption induced by greed, gluttony in restaurants and vindictive responses to annoying neighbors and coworkers plague their lives more than illicit sex.

Now, Knox doesn't disagree with Barna, but he does seem to think that Barna is making mistakes that far too many evangelicals regularly make: focusing on particular sins of commission and particular faith affirmations rather than other things which are far more important in most people's regular lives. I'm not actually surprised by this - it's really not that unusual for people to focus on problems that are on the "outside" because that allows them to ignore the inconvenient problems "inside." Focusing on outside enemies is a great means for rallying people together; focusing on internal enemies is divisive and leaves bad feelings.

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