The Christian Worldview
(Photo by Calvin Hanson on Unsplash)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Everyone has a worldview; what a person assumes to be true. Your worldview is how you interpret reality. It is a set of fundamental beliefs about life and death, God, the world, people, history, knowledge, and faith. Your worldview will determine how you evaluate things, make decisions, and give meaning to your life. A worldview is individual, but also communal in that we will be drawn to those with the same worldview as we have.
HOW A WORLDVIEW IS FORMED
People are influenced mainly by their surroundings and what information they receive. A child is likely to believe what their parents believe, but at some point realize they must determine for themselves what they think is true. It becomes much more difficult when one has been brainwashed or indoctrinated and is not allowed to have thoughts of their own. But aside from that, and assuming you are a person who thinks for yourself, you will be influenced by what you fill your mind with: what you listen to, what you read, what you watch, and who you associate with.
MOVING FROM ONE WORLDVIEW TO ANOTHER
In the world, how a person moves from one worldview to another can be a complicated process, especially when they are emotionally tied to who they think they are. But when there is a "sufficient combination of compelling evidence, emotional completion, and an adequate sense of future security," (Foster Gamble) that person will allow themselves to change their mind. They have counted the cost, and determine the "new" worldview is worth the discomfort they are experiencing. I know someone who would probably agree that when they moved from the Christian worldview into a secular worldview, the process was difficult. So, what is the Christian worldview?
THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
What one believes about God, Jesus, sin, and salvation are essential to the Christian worldview. At its core, the Christian worldview believes in the God of the Bible, His Son Jesus, and what Jesus did for humanity. Because of sin, people are lost and separated from God. Jesus came to earth to save humanity, not condemn them. He died on the cross and shed His blood as the perfect sacrifice. But Jesus didn't stay dead; He rose from the grave on the third day and is alive. Only Christianity makes the truth claim that their Savior is alive. Christians use the Bible as their standard, rather than the world. That is not to say, the world's system has no value, but when what the world says differs from what the Bible says, the Christian worldview sides with the Bible.
IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
The Christian worldview says I will not live for the things the world lives for: riches, status, or sex. I will not be controlled by my desires but will understand what God wants (Eph 5:17) and live to please Him (1 Thess 4:1). I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me (2 Tim 1:14), and I will strive to live a godly life through the divine power of God (2 Peter 1:3). I live in the world, but I will not let the things of the world that are opposed to God have too much influence over me, but I will be transformed by the renewing of my mind (Rom 12:2). I will trust God with my needs.
CONCLUSION
One cannot truly have a Christian worldview apart from God. When a child has a Christian worldview because of what his or her parents believe, but never makes it their own, they will change their mind at some point. When a person hears about Jesus, they will only accept what they hear to be true by the grace of God. Intellect alone will not be enough. Faith is a big part of the Christian worldview, but faith is a part of any worldview. All people assume the things they believe to be objectively or subjectively true, and in that assumption, they are exercising faith in their beliefs or presuppositions.
Sources:
Wesley Hurd: Me and My Worldview
J. Warner: Christian Worldview: What Does It Mean to Be "In the World," but "Not of the World"?