The Real War of Worldviews!

Recently, I was exposed to something that truly shows how powerful worldviews are.  I say all the time that what you believe about the past impacts the way that you live your life.  What I saw clearly shows the impact of believing that man is nothing more than just another animal, and that we’re just the product of millions of years of random, chance processes that eventually turned “nothing” into “everything that we see.”  (By the way, if you get a chance to watch my talk on “Something From Nothing: And You Think We Have A Problem!” Check it out; we have nothing to be ashamed of! You’ll be shocked at how bad the explanation is for how something came from nothing!)
I was exposed to the following teachings:
 

• The only way to save earth from itself is to kill at least half of the human population.
• That dying is a privilege because by our death we’re saving the planet.
• That our lives are meaningless.
• That our world would become a paradise if we would just get rid of half the people who live here.
• That salvation is having “full bellies” and “clear skies.”

 
I know what you’re thinking, so I thought I’d share our fictional conversation below:
You:  “Oh, it’s Princeton University’s Dr. Peter Singer!  He’s the guy who urged doctors to start testing on “brain damaged humans” instead of chimpanzees because brain damaged humans are of less worth than chimps.”
Me:  “Nope, not him.”
You:  “Oooh, it was Karen Meade who said that it’s ok to kill a disabled baby as long as it’s in the best interest of the family as a whole!”
Me:  “Sorry, not her either.”
You:  “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me, it’s E.O. Wilson who called humans, “a lucky accident of primate evolution” and who thinks we need to get rid of half of the humans that are on earth if we’re to survive!”
Me:  “Wrong again!”
You:  “Then it must be the Texas Distinguished Scientist of 2006 from the University of Texas, Dr Eric Pianka who at a meeting of the Texas Academy of Science said that 90% of his fellow human beings must die in order to save the planet!”
Me:  “He actually said that?”
You:   “Yeah, and in order to make his point he even had a slide showing a row of human skulls, with flashing red lights in the eye sockets of one of them.  He even praised the Ebola virus for its efficiency at killing humans.”
Me:  “Ummm, not him either.”
You:  “Who is it then?”
Me:  “I thought you’d never ask.  It was the movie, Avengers: Infinity War.
Yes, this movie has already generated over 1 billion dollars in revenue, (I had to spell that out because I’m not sure how many zeros that is!!) and that’s exactly what it teaches.  Watch:
 

• The only way to save earth from itself is to kill of at least half of the human population.

 
The villain Thanos’s “adopted” daughter Gamora said: “The entire time I knew Thanos, he only ever had one goal: To bring balance to the Universe by wiping out half of all life. He used to kill people planet by planet, massacre by massacre. – Including my own.”
 

• That dying is a privilege because by our death we’re saving the planet.

 
One of Thanos’s henchman, Ebony Maw, announces to people before they are killed: “Hear me… and rejoice. You have had the privilege of being saved by the Great Titan. You may think this is suffering. No. It is salvation. Universal scales tipped toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile for even in death you have become Children of Thanos.”
 

• That our lives are meaningless.

 
The same henchman says:  “Hear me, and rejoice! You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to…”
He’s then interrupted by Iron Man before he can finish!!
 

• That our world would become a paradise if we would just get rid of half the people who live here. and that salvation is having “full bellies” and “clear skies.”

 
A conversation between Gamora and Thanos:
Gamora: “I hated this room, this ship… I hated my life.”
Thanos: “You told me that, too. Everyday. For almost twenty years.”
Gamora:  “I was a child when you took me.”
Thanos:  “I saved you.”
Gamora:  “No. We were happy on my home planet.”
Thanos:  “Going to bed hungry? Scrounging for scraps? Your planet was on the brink of collapse. I’m the one who stopped that. You know what’s happened since then?  The children born, have known nothing but full bellies and clear skies. It’s a paradise.”
Gamora:  “Because you murdered half the planet.”
Thanos:  “A small price to pay for salvation.”
By the way, just in case you’re not sure.  That’s a totally opposite message from what Christ tells us in his Word.
In the movie, Thanos is the villain.  The Avengers are trying to stop him from destroying half of all life which his worldview tells him is the only way to “save” life.  Sadly, if there is no God, there’s nothing wrong with that worldview and he may actually be right!
 
But God and His Word give us a clearer picture of the past and more importantly, the future.  This world is NOT going to become a paradise, it’s going to be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10) and replaced by a paradise (Revelation 21:24) for those who repent and receive the free gift of eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8)
 
You are NOT worthless, you’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and death is the enemy, (1 Corinthians 15:26) not a “privilege.”  Death is the consequence of our rebelling against a Holy God (Romans 6:23) who did not want us to suffer, but instead gave us a perfect place to life. (Genesis 1:31)  But, because He loves us so much He gave us the opportunity to receive or reject a relationship with Him. (Joshua 24:15)
 
I’m not going to lie, visually, the movie was amazing to watch.  It’s next to impossible to know what’s real and what’s not when watching a movie today.  Unfortunately, the message is not as amazing as the technology. If you’re going to watch, watch with critical eye’s and use the messages in there to show there is another way!
 
Let me end with this, are YOU an “Avenger?”  I’m not talking about the comic book, super power wielding, spandex wearing type.  (I wouldn’t look good in spandex so I’m sure glad we don’t have to wear that!)
 
No, I’m talking about a real world, sold out, Stay Bold T-shirt wearing, born again believer that’s willing to engage those who are distorting and misrepresenting truth!  (Ok, you don’t have to wear one of our t-shirts, but please Stay Bold!) If you’re not in the battle, you will be because it’s NOT going away.  Get prepared and . . .
 
Stay Bold!