Winning the War of Worldviews with Our Students
Tim Cantrell is president of Shepherd’s Seminary Africa (South Africa), where he lectures on theology and preaching. He also serves as pastor-teacher at Antioch Bible Church in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 1998, my wife and I were sent to South Africa as missionaries to serve university students. We both benefitted from godly parents, strong churches, and a Christian university. We yearned to pass on what had been entrusted to us: the life-changing power of a biblical worldview, living all of life under the lordship of Christ.[1] Twenty-five years later, our commitment is stronger than ever to serve local South African churches by equipping young people with a biblical worldview. Our beloved congregation in Johannesburg, Antioch Bible Church, has shared this burden with us. Below is a reflection on why worldview matters and how we equip students.
Why Worldview Matters
The only way to impact our world for Christ is if we as Christians live, think, and even die for our faith. To do this, we must “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind[s]” (Rom 12:2 NASB). Every believer receives this worldview mandate: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Col 2:8). For, God “put all things in subjection under [Jesus’s] feet” (Eph 1:22). That means, in the words of Abraham Kuyper, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’ ”[2] Every atom and molecule in the universe, every tragedy, and every triumph in history serves Christ’s purposes for the certain fulfillment of His Great Commission (1:21, 23) to the praise of the Father’s glory (1:6, 12, 14, 17–18). Therefore, God’s Word is the standard by which we must measure all truth claims (John 17:17). This is the Christian worldview.
One day, King Jesus will return to this earth, put His foot on the neck of every last enemy, and set up His visible, earthly kingdom (Rev 19). But in the present age, Christ has ordained that Satan be allowed a competing kingdom under which most of the world is subjected (2 Cor 4:4). This worldly realm thinks and acts in stark contrast to Christ’s kingdom—in other words, a clash of worldviews. The Satanic dominion is not passive; it actively and aggressively seeks to educate and disciple (to “conform” and “take captive”) university students (Rom 12:2; Col 2:8). That is why Christians must seize every opportunity to help our young men and women unlearn the ways of Satan’s kingdom and learn the ways of Christ’s kingdom. Worldview matters.
How We Equip Students
The Lord has granted Antioch Bible Church many opportunities for shifting, sharpening, or completely changing the worldview of university students towards Christ. Here are but a few examples and testimonies of our faithful Lord at work.
Many opportunities center around outreach events in urban and multi-ethnic settings. Our bi-annual biblical worldview conference is one example when believers, young and old, gather and think biblically on contemporary issues.[3] God has reached hundreds of students across the region through the worldview conferences. We have also hosted public debates so believers can see apologists defending the faith against both Islam and “progressive” worldviews. We host local speakers to address cultural issues,[4] and a speaker from a neighboring country addressed “Why I Believe the Bible” to a packed lecture hall at a nearby, secular university.
In addition to large events, our ministry maintains a presence at a nearby campus. We hold a weekly Bible study there, evangelizing and discipling students, offering them rides to church, and giving them biblical worldview literature. As a result of these efforts, many students have been saved and baptized and have joined our church or other faithful churches. Some students returned to their home cities across Africa and beyond to serve Christ.
Antioch Bible Church also encourages families to disciple students. Families invite students into their homes for meals. Many students have never seen a happy Christian marriage, daily family worship led by a godly father, or a post-sermon application discussion around Sunday lunch. My wife and I rented rooms in our home to several students who joined us for meals, family worship, and life together. This kind of life-on-life discipleship has an incredibly enduring impact on students and their Christian worldview.
Other relational investments from church members include employment, social groups, and service. Those who own businesses employ and provide internships for students that result in on-the-job discipling. Others do monthly book clubs and include university students, training them to read good Christian literature and to discuss issues with a biblical approach. We urge all students to join weekly small groups and take part in the life of the church, and to ask good questions of more mature believers. Some students join our church’s “Salt and Light Ministry,” which provides a pro-life voice against abortion and counseling for expectant mothers.
Antioch also uses formal worldview instruction. Students may sit in on seminary theology classes. Last year, we held a monthly church viewing of the classic series by Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?,[5] followed by discussions. One former student launched a ministry, alongside two other sister churches in the area, which is now a thrice-annual Saturday seminar for equipping young adults in the Christian life and worldview.
Conclusion
The enemy does not rest. The need to disciple students in the biblical worldview is urgent. We praise God for these powerful tools, healthy churches, and godly homes for evangelizing, discipling, and equipping Christian students. Winning the war of worldviews at this critical stage in their lives means raising up a new generation of effective gospel witnesses for Christ. May our Lord enable us to reach and renew many more young minds for the advance of His saving kingdom in this captive, perishing world.
[1] Cf. my doctoral dissertation, Tim Cantrell, “Building Mature Churches in Africa” (PhD diss., Potchefstroom University, 2004), 134–36.
[2] Abraham Kuyper, “Sphere Sovereignty,” in Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader, ed. James D. Bratt (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 488.
[3] My godly father helped launch this ministry back in 2006 and has been a big encouragement in this endeavor. As a retired veterinarian and lay leader in the church, he is passionate about biblical worldview.
[4] For example, we hosted Choolwe Mbetwa, author of Why Africa is Poor (2018).
[5]How Should We Then Live? A Ten Part Series, directed by John Gonser and Mel White, written and produced by Francis A. Schaeffer (Gospel Films, 1977).