Building a biblical worldview – part 3 This is the third post on Isaac Watts’ famous hymn “Joy to the World,” which is based on Psalm 98. The lyrics of this Christmas carol teach a biblical worldview. This carol should serve as yearly reminder of how God wants his people to think about the world they inhabit. The first component of this worldview has to do with the joyful anticipation of Christ’s rule. The second component encourages us to delight in the ongoing reign of our Savior. This third element tells us where the problems in our life and culture come from. We see this in the carol’s third verse: No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest […]
Apologetics
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The second verse of “Joy to the World” builds on the theme of the first verse, where Isaac Watts anticipates the coming king. Now he exults in the reign of Christ. This also allows us to add the next foundation stone in constructing a biblical worldview based on this hymn. This truth is simple, yet profound – Jesus reigns, it is good. Here is the second verse: Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy… All that is good, noble, and excellent in life stems from the glory and goodness of God, not from any other source. If Jesus reigns, joy is the response […]
Earlier today various ceremonies took place across the United States to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. These ceremonies culminated in a moment of silence to a god of the people’s choosing. If a participant in these ceremonies didn’t believe in God or in a god, that was okay too. For them, silence is only a gateway to oblivion and the politically correct ceremony would not offend their belief in nothingness. As a matter of fact, the moment of silence means that no one should be offended. Rather than acknowledge the existence of God, we just pretend he does not exist, or if he does exist, that he won’t be bothered that we just choose […]
Your children will live in a very different world than the one that greeted you when you were twenty-one. It is a world that views public opinion as its moral compass. The media interprets the changing winds of the public polls. Personal fulfillment (read lust) is the engine that drives the culture you children will inhabit. Biblical Christianity is equated with hatred in this world. While God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and church are easily dismissed, Jesus Christ, the Savior, is a real problem in your children’s world. The very person of Christ means that redemption is necessary and yet, it beyond our reach. Some embrace the theme of the Linkin Park hit, “What I’ve done.” […]
The recent actions of the Supreme Court regarding marriage are troubling. Even though the court acted in defiance of God’s word, God is not threatened or worried. We must remember that our eyes only reveal part of what is real. The most impressive aspects of reality are those that are unseen. Your children need to know that what we can see pales in comparison to the reality that we cannot see. If your children’s view of reality is limited to what they can see, they are in serious danger. Man’s arrogance is only part of the picture. As we read pubic opinion polls, as we see election results, as we experience the actions of congress and the courts, as we […]
One of our readers asks an important question regarding a recent post. This question deserves a separate post to answer it. Perhaps others of you have asked the same question or have had it asked of you by friends, family members or others. Here is the question David asked: “I wonder how words from a man turn into the word of god. Still have a very difficult time grasping this concept.” David thanks for asking this question. To begin with your first sentence, you ask how the word of man can turn into the word of God. If this was what really happened, man’s words turning into God’s words, then it would make no sense to rely […]
He rules the world with truth and grace. Verse four of “Joy to the World” completes the biblical worldview contained in this Christmas hymn. This last verse is a dynamic testimony to the power of the gospel. The King who was anticipated in the first verse, celebrated for his rule in the second verse, and viewed as the Savior of this sin-cursed world in third, now is depicted as the One who will bring a just judgment to this broken world. Are you discouraged by the corruption in the world? You need not despair at the apparent inequities of life! What a wonderful peace flows from the reality that King Jesus rules with truth and grace. The awesome might of […]
Far as the Curse Is Found This is the third post on Isaac Watts’ famous hymn “Joy to the World,” which is based on Psalm 98. It is my belief that the lyrics of this hymn reflect a biblical worldview, a worldview that brings honor to God in all that we do. The first part of this worldview has to do with the joyful anticipation of Christ’s rule. The second part encourages us to delight in the ongoing reign of our Savior. This third element of the worldview acknowledges that there is much wrong with the world. Here is the third verse:
The Savior Reigns The second verse of “Joy to the World” builds on the theme of the first verse, where Isaac Watts anticipates the coming king. Now he exults in the current reign of Christ. This also allows us to add the next foundation stone in constructing a biblical worldview based on this hymn. This truth is simple, yet profound – if Jesus is reigning, it is a good thing. Here is the second verse:
Forging a biblical worldview for your family Worldview can be an intimidating topic to discuss, let alone teach to your children. But this does not have to be the case. Sometimes concepts are presented so clearly and are so easily grasped that it is easy to miss the importance of the presentation. Such is the case with the Christmas carol, “Joy to the World.” In this light, we will take a look at each of the hymn’s four verses and see how they combine to offer a compelling worldview that brings honor to God. The first verse focuses on the blessing that Jesus Christ has come to be our King.