Biblical Worldview
A Biblical Worldview by Terry L Thompson
Worldviews are so much a part of our lives that we see and hear them daily, whether we recognize them or not. For example, movies, television, music, magazines, newspapers, government, education, science, art, and all other aspects of culture are affected by worldviews.
Everyone has a worldview. Whether or not we realize it, we all have certain presuppositions and biases that affect the way we view all of life and reality. Our worldview is formed by our education, our upbringing, the culture we live in, the books we read, the media and movies we absorb, church we attend, etc. All of us see ourselves and our world through a particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and values. These operate as a filter or grid through which we process all information. For many people their worldview is simply something they have absorbed by osmosis from their surrounding cultural influences. They have never thought strategically about what they believe and wouldn't be able to give a rational defense of their beliefs to others. An individual’s worldview is his or her basis for answering such questions as:
Who am I?
Where did I come from?
Where am I going?
What is true and what is false?
How should I conduct my life, or act?
Does God exist and if so what is my response to Him?
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000 describes world·view as: 1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. 2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. A variety of definitions have been offered by numerous authors. For example, James Sire asserts that "A worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world." Phillips and Brown state that "A worldview is, first of all, an explanation and interpretation of the world and second, an application of this view to life. In simpler terms, our worldview is a view of the world and a view for the world." Walsh and Middleton provide what we think is the most succinct and understandable explanation: "A world view provides a model of the world which guides its adherents in the world."
Jerry Solomon, former Director of Field Ministries and Mind Games Coordinator for Probe Ministries states: “A worldview should pass certain tests. First, it should be rational. It should not ask us to believe contradictory things. Second, it should be supported by evidence. It should be consistent with what we observe. Third, it should give a satisfying comprehensive explanation of reality. It should be able to explain why things are the way they are. Fourth, it should provide a satisfactory basis for living. It should not leave us feeling compelled to borrow elements of another worldview in order to live in this world.”
In addition to putting worldviews to these tests, we should also see that worldviews have common components. These components are self-evident. It is important to keep these in mind as you establish your own worldview, and as you share with others. There are four of them.
First, something exists. This may sound obvious, but it really is an important foundational element of worldview building since some will try to deny it. But a denial is self- defeating because all people experience cause and effect. The universe is rational; it is predictable.
Second, all people have absolutes. Again, many will try to deny this, but to deny it is to assert it. All of us seek an infinite reference point. For some it is God; for others it is the state, or love, or power, and for some this reference point is themselves or man.
Third, two contradictory statements cannot both be right. This is a primary law of logic that is continually denied. Ideally speaking, only one worldview can correctly mirror reality. This cannot be overemphasized in light of the prominent belief that tolerance is the ultimate virtue. To say that someone is wrong is labeled intolerant or narrow-minded.
Fourth, all people exercise faith. All of us presuppose certain things to be true without absolute proof. These are inferences or assumptions upon which a belief is based.
When we dialogue with people who have opposing worldviews, an understanding of these common components can help us listen more patiently, and they can guide us to make our case more wisely.
A biblical worldview begins with God in Genesis, chapter one and verse one. This passage is the core of the biblical worldview. First, it states that since God created the heaven and the earth, He existed prior to that creation (and the verse only speaks of one God). Second, the universe had a beginning, and that beginning was the creation of God. Third, that since God created the heaven and the earth, He must be either, or both, superior to and sovereign over His creation. A Biblical worldview is viewing the world, the beginning of the world, people in the world, the problems in the world, governments in the world, issues in the world, solutions for the problems in the world, and the future of the world -- through God’s Word.
For the Christian, this filter or grid is shaped by the truths taught in the Bible. The Bible, of course, has a beginning and an end. For the Bible-believing Christian, who knows who and what he is, should realize the meaning of life (i.e., “the whole duty of man”) is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). He knows that life on this physical plane is not all there is to living. By faith, he understands there is life beyond the grave, and this, he realizes, is associated with Christ Jesus (1 John 5:11). "For it was IN HIM that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers or authorities; ALL things were created and exist through Him, and in and for Him."(Col.1:16). "Making known to us the mystery of His will- of His plan- of His purpose.” And it is this: In accordance with His good pleasure which He had previously purposed and set forth IN HIM, He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and CONSUMMATE them IN CHRIST, both things in heaven and things on the earth."(Eph.1:9-10) These verses really do represent the purpose and plan of God from Genesis to Revelation, which is this; the Revelation of Jesus Christ! He really IS Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Completion... by using the word 'completion' instead of the word 'end', we get a glimpse of God’s design. In Greek it is telos and it is the root word for the word teleios found in Eph.4:13, speaking of the 'teleios' Perfect Man, "...that WE might arrive at mature manhood, the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection..."(Amplified Bible). Some read Gen1:26-27 as the telling of an historical event; it should be read as a prophetic proclamation of God's purpose in the earth... "So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male AND female He created them." This was not truly fulfilled in the first Adam, it is fulfilled in the Last Adam- Jesus Christ the Head, and the Second Man the lord (the word lord is kurios in Greek, meaning supreme in authority, used 42 times in the New Testament as a human title of honor, NOT speaking specifically of the Lord Jesus Christ) descending from heaven- the teleios Perfect Man of Eph.4:13. THIS is the man (male AND female, for IN Christ there is neither male nor female) that God blessed and said "Be fruitful, multiply, and FILL the earth and subdue it..."(Gen.1:28); and that is exactly what is happening as all things are being consummated in Christ, as the kingdoms of this world ARE becoming the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ, as the earth is being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. We read in Genesis how all things were consummated in water and only that which was in the ark lived; of course the ark is a type of Christ. "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away... one will be taken, one will be left..."(Mt.24:37-40); "...in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into My barn."(Matt.13:30). The 'time of the harvest' represents the Feast of Tabernacles which the church has entered into in Christ now and I believe that 'as the days of Noah' all things are progressively being consummated IN Christ, this time with FIRE as the water. This is a SPIRITUAL FIRE, just like the waters of flooding in Noah's time, will cover the earth with "...the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."(Hab.2:14).
Just as the days of Noah's time, only that which was in The Ark lived; only the wheat was gathered into the Barn, the rest "perished". 2 Cor. 2:15-16 says, "For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one we are the savor of DEATH unto DEATH, and in the other the savor of LIFE unto LIFE...". The word translated as ‘perish’ is apollumi in Greek and it means to destroy fully... death unto death is the second death spoken of in Rev.20:14 and 21:8, "...this is the second death, the lake of FIRE." You see, to be CONSUMMATED in Christ will mean Life to one and destruction to another; only that which is of Christ will remain, the rest to be taken and destroyed. All are reconciled in Christ through mercy or judgment.
This “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3) is based on our heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20). Hence, we should view ourself as a stranger or pilgrim while here on this earth (Hebrews 11:3; 1 Peter 2:11). Instead of storing up his treasures “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20), the Christian is developing the “mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5) in order to fulfill the Dominion Mandate, as he learns to humbly put others before himself (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6) and gladly bears their burdens (Galatians 6:2).
God’s blueprint for mankind is a unity of total truth. The pieces of God’s worldview are made to fit together like pieces of a puzzle—they are interlocking and interdependent. To hold to a unified biblical worldview that incorporates every part of God’s blueprint is never an accident; it is always the result of systematic training.
In order to be fully grasped; biblical worldview must be diligently taught. The benefits far outweigh the cost—Christians trained in biblical worldview develop the resolve to view all of life through the biblical grid and bring all of life under the lordship of Christ. God has called us not only to personal faith; but also to a biblical worldview that has the power to transform our world.
