![Large scale excavations are under way (summer 2003) near a large Byzantine Church. The large street running from the lower left (north) to the church in the middle of the image has been cleared. The massive northern wall of the church, about 10 ft. [3 m.]](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/fc/13/fc13400b2fd66887d1928786347cde5f.jpg?itok=-3C1SWZG "Large scale excavations are under way (summer 2003) near a large Byzantine Church. The large street running from the lower left (north) to the church in the middle of the image has been cleared. The massive northern wall of the church, about 10 ft. [3 m.]")
What is a worldview? Assuming I have one, is it Biblical to have a worldview? We will attemp in a short space and time to answer these questions.
Our worldview refers to our mental framework (or attitude) within which we, as individuals, or groups interpret the nature of reality, the nature and purpose of life, and the laws governing our relationships. (Zanna, M.P. and J.K. Rempel, “Attitudes: A New Look at an Old Concept, In D. Bar-Tels and A.W. Kruglanski, eds. The Social Psychology of Knowledge, Cambridge University Press, pgs. 315-34.)
A Christian’s worldview is Biblically based and shows he/she believes his primary reason for existence is to love and serve God. Whether anyone you talk to believes it or not, every living human exhibits some type of worldview. Your worldview is a combination of all you believe to be true and what you believe becomes the driving force behind every emotion, decision and action you make.
Therefore, it affects your response to every area of life: from philosophy to science, theology and anthropology to economics, law, politics, art and social order — everything. Our Biblical worldview is based on the inerrant and infallible Word of God. That means, for example, you take seriously the mandate in Romans 13 to honor the governing authorities by researching the candidates and issues, making voting a priority.
There are negative factors that can affect our worldview. We can all agree with I Thessalonians 4:3 and other Scriptures that command us to avoid sexual immorality, but how often do Christians fall into lust or premarital and extramarital sexual sin? Is it simply because they are weak when tempted. Or did it begin much earlier, with the seductive lies from our over sexualized society?
If you don’t really believe and live the truth of God, then your witness will often be confusing but crystal clear to an unbeliever. Most of us go through life not recognizing that our personal worldviews have been deeply affected by a very ungodly world. Through the media and other influences, the secularized American reconstructed view of history, law, politics, science, God and man affect our thinking more than the average person realizes.
We then are "taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8) However, by diligently learning and applying to trust in God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture’s non-biblical ideas.
If we capture and embrace more of God’s worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then we begin to make the right decisions and form the appropriate responses to questions on abortion, same-sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media choices. Because, in the end, it is our decisions and actions that reveal what we really believe.
Sources: Why Is a Christian Worldview Important?, Dr. Del Tackett, The Truth Project, 2010.
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