The classical example

For sometime now I have been working in the field of transformational learning called b4Worldview. The idea is that in the past 15 years or so the Christian Worldview "industry" has either the wrong mission or the wrong strategy for their mission. If their mission is to merely inform Christians of better ways to understand and debate cultural issues, then they are providing benefit to some who have that interest, but they are missing the mission of impacting many others and thus transforming the culture toward Biblical principles. If their mission is to transform, then the strategy is flawed. Here is a classical example:

 This morning I was reading the daily Break Point post from The Colson Center on Christian Worldview. The title was ""Born this way' is shaky science: The truth comes out." The article was basically refuting scientific evidence that transgender identity is a birth condition. The problem is not in their debate over scientific evidence, the error is that they are assuming science is the authority for truth. In other words, they are fighting science with science. They wish to "convince" people of a Kingdom truth using a carnal core assumption. This in itself is error. This can and will never work.

There are basically two core assumptions about the authority of truth. The carnal assumption is that knowledge observed about an object can determine what is true about the object. That is the basis for science. The kingdom core assumption is that the originator of an object is the authority on truth about the object. If our mission is to impact our world with Godly principles, we can never do it using worldly core assumptions. I am not dismissing science as worthless in all aspects of life. I am just saying we must become effective at presenting and arguing for Kingdom assumptions.

The issue with core assumptions is that they are the patterns of thought we trust, but never question, and have no interest in proving.

  Science cannot prove that science is the authority for truth. 

In fact, scientific inquiry can show evidence why science cannot be the authority for truth. So, the debate over the right core assumption about the source of truth is not a scientific debate. When we attempt to convey Kingdom truths using carnal core assumptions, we lose the very war we are fighting.

Now, before you begin to assume that I am off in la-la land and "poo-pooing" science, let me remind you I have two advanced degrees in scientific fields of study. I founded a commercial data mining company to apply science to the consumer products industry. I have effectively used science my entire life. BUT, the purpose of science is to provide probabilities of certain cause and effect relationships within the physical world. There are many good uses for science. BUT there are both limitations and futility in science.

One limitation is that science can never include all influences on an outcome. So we rarely if ever see 100% probability of a cause and effect. For instance, science found that if water is put to a temp of 32 degrees F, it will become ice. Well, not exactly true. Not if the water is moving or flowing. Suppose science could take into account the relationship between speed of movement and temp and reach the conclusion that water moving at X speed will freeze at Y temp. OK, but what if there is another influence on water, like an infra red light that effects the molecules in a way other than temp. If this influence keeps water from freezing at any temp, then what is true about water turning to ice? This never ends. There is always the next discovery about an object. Further, science only can observe the observable. So science is limited to knowledge about the physical world. Limitations of science create a form of futility. Science can provide us some benefit, but in no way can science become the authority of truth.

If we are to provide Christians with the armor of God, not discounting the presence of the Holy Spirit, then we must arm them with effective defense of the Kingdom core assumptions. There are several important Kingdom core assumptions, but the one that is vital in Christian Worldview is - the authority of truth about something is the originator of that something. We gain knowledge of truth by both what we observe about an object and what is revealed to us by the originator. It is interesting that the root word for truth is "to disclose". We must learn how to put AUTHOR back into the meaning of AUTHORity. Transforming core assumptions transforms individuals, which then transforms cultures and societies.

The truth about sexual identity is not dependent on the power of science, but in the word of the One who created us. What does He say about our identity? That then, my friends, is the key question about truth ....

Pondering core assumptions is a very good thing to do and is the mission of b4Worldview !!