Two of the nation’s foremost experts on Christian worldview issues spent the Oct. 28-29 weekend inspiring many of the next generation to understand and live out their Christian faith.
Nancy Pearcey and Richard Land provided what Tony Beam called the “perfect blend of information and inspiration.”
Worldview – Tony Beam, left, NGU Christian Worldview Center director, answers a question posed by a student in the audience. Nancy Pearcey and Richard Land also participated in the question and answer session at the conclusion of the conference.“Nancy Pearcey gave factual information on Christian worldview,” said Beam, the director of North Greenville University’s Christian Worldview Center. “Dr. Land was able to provide the application of the information. It was like going from the classroom to a revival service, and we need both.”
Dozens of students and many from off-campus took advantage of the VisionQuest 2005 conference, which had as its goal “bringing biblical clarity to a blurred world.”
Pearcey, senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, author of “The Soul of Science” and co-author of “How Now Shall We Live?”, began by addressing many of the issues found in her award-winning book “Total Truth.” She noted in particular the value split that has occurred in modern-day culture, manifesting itself in debates over subjective versus objective truth.
Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Commission since 1988, advocated the need for Christians to be “salt and light,” referring to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5. He felt confident that those on the side of traditional values would win the current culture war. He pointed to statistics that show the younger generation to be much more conservative than any other age group.
On Saturday, Land expounded on his belief that a cultural shift back to conservative ideals is taking place. He cited both statistical and anecdotal evidence.
Pearcey asked attendees to evaluate competing worldviews on how they answer questions relating to “creation, the fall and redemption.” She maintained that every worldview must explain why we are here, why there is suffering and what we can do to fix the problems.
Beam closed the session by challenging Christians to stop “having conversations with ourselves” and go out into the culture.
In a question-and-answer session that followed, all three speakers answered questions on the next presidential election, a Christian’s role in education, the media and recommended books.
This spring, the CWC will sponsor a Christian Worldview Week with Ken Hemphill, former president of Southwestern Baptist Seminary and current national strategist for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Empowering Kingdom Growth initiative. For more information, contact Tony Beam at tbeam@ngc.edu or (864) 977-7280.