How to Think Like a Christian
3 Steps for Navigating Hard Questions
Do you agree or disagree with these statements? How would you answer when someone asks you these difficult questions: Sin is subjective, people only sin because of their environment, I can choose to not sin, and deep down -- people are basically good.
Thinking biblically about hard cultural questions requires: 1. Grounding your perspective in Scripture, 2. Precisely defining key terms, and 3. Critically unpacking ambiguous language while challenging vague assumptions.
1. Ground Your Thinking in the Bible First
Your first thought should always be: What does the Bible say about this issue? That is always the best place to start. From there, ask yourself what the world says, and how God's Word speaks to that perspective. Understanding general worldly viewpoints allows you to address them directly with biblical truth.
2. Always Define Your Terms
When dealing with tough questions—especially from non-Christians—you must define your key words before trying to answer. For example, in a statement like "I can choose not to sin," you need to break down the specifics:
Define the concept: What actually is sin?
Define the environment: Are we talking about choices made within the home, or out in the world?
Define the person: Are we talking about a Christian or a non-Christian? A strong believer, or a weak one?
3. Unpack Ambiguous Language
Consider today's question, which goes straight to the heart of the doctrine of total depravity: "Deep down, people are basically good." To analyze this, you have to challenge the fuzzy phrasing:
"Deep down": Do you mean in a person's soul? When they are alone and nobody is watching? Or as an individual stripped away from family and social expectations?
"Basically good": Does that mean you never sin? Or does it mean that if God weighs your actions on a scale, your good deeds outweigh your bad ones?
"Sin" (revisited): If sin only means physical acts like murder, then I've never sinned. But if Jesus teaches that using hateful words is equivalent to murder in the heart, then I've failed completely.
If you want to think like a Christian when hard questions come to you from the world, these are the main steps to practice.