In 1991, President George H. W. Bush appointed Del Tackett — now president of the Focus Leadership Institute — as the director of technical plans at the White House for the National Security Council. During this time of serving as the White House’s liaison to federal agencies, Del often noticed three murals — memorials to America’s foundations — in the Capitol’s rotunda. The first was the landing of Columbus, the second the Christian baptism of Pocahontas, and the third the Pilgrims as they paused for prayer on their leaky ship Speedwell with the Bible open, eyes uplifted to heaven.
Del saw other signposts of faith: the inscription “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” above the CIA headquarters, the stone tablet of the Ten Commandments in the Supreme Court and the many Bible verses on the Library of Congress and on the steps of the Washington Monument.
One evening, Del stood in the state dining room in the White House and read the prayer that John Adams had carved into the marble over the fireplace. Everywhere Del looked a story was being told about America’s foundation; it was a story he knew but had not heard acknowledged in Washington — an overwhelming testimony to the presence and leadership of Almighty God in the lives of those who founded America.
Del realized the founding men and women knew God was sovereign over all of life. They saw a larger story, understanding that underneath their individual lives was a deeper foundation, a deeper meaning, a deeper purpose. Del thought, These men and women knew God was real. In everything they acknowledged God’s influence and involvement.
“My eyes were opened, and I hungered to know what a true Christian worldview was,” Del says. I spent years in biblical study and realized that a biblical worldview applies every aspect of life.” He also realized many Christians did not understand this truth.
What about today?
The chilling reality in America today: Christians view reality, truth and life not much differently from the culture around them, according to research from George Barna. As a result, Christians don’t live much differently from their neighbors who do not know Christ. Divorce rates are similar, addictive behaviors are the same, and Christians struggle to find the answers to the same questions about significance and meaning in life.
To counteract this mentality, while still working in Washington, Del started teaching in churches what he’d been learning about faith. He taught that the truth of the Bible is applicable to every area of a person’s life, to every sphere of society, to every aspect of creation. When he completed his assignment in Washington, Del moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., and started New Geneva Seminary along with a small group of other Christian leaders.
The desire to teach Christian worldview motivated us to found New Geneva,” Del says. “Our vision was to establish a seminary that was worldview oriented, producing leaders who would relate faith to all of life. As we did this, we were amazed at what happened in the lives of our students.”
Today Del is working on Focus on the Family’s The Truth Project, and he serves as the president of the Focus Leadership Institute, which emphasizes Christian worldview to its students.
The Truth Project” is a DVD seminar that imparts truth and reintroduces believers to the context of Christianity in all its purity and power (see sidebar for details). On this project and in his teaching, Del covers three main truths that many Christians miss:
- Living from a Christian worldview means that what you do aligns with what is true, and the Scriptures are the ultimate authority on Truth.
- God’s Truth lays a design for every area of life. Whether for economics, history, politics, family or church, God has given us a design, governed by His nature and Truth, that we are to follow. When we follow His design, we can discern what is good and right and holy. When we don’t, suffering and immorality result.
- The process of transformation occurs through the renewing of our mind, and in that process we learn to discern between good and evil. As Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
“When people awaken to the reality of who God is, they come to understand that God has spoken into every area of life,” Del says. “They also see how they have mixed Truth with the world’s the lies. “As a result, Christians develop discernment to live life without mixture.”
With this education, people gain confidence that there are answers to all the important life questions. “They may not know all the answers, but they understand that God, as our Father, has not simply dropped us off on earth; He’s given us the answers.”
As more Christians realize the importance of living by a biblical worldview, Del believes Christians will have the opportunity to make a difference in the most important place of all — the hearts and minds of the people they care about.
