What is a worldview? A worldview is the framework of understanding by which one relates to the world around him. It has been defined as a "lens through which one views the world." A worldview, whether one realizes it our not, forms the basis of our core beliefs and values. It is the grid by which we sift each and every item of new knowledge we encounter and thus, it influences us in profound but often subtle ways. We are often not consciously aware of how our worldview affects our thinking processes. We encounter all types of information and situations which we must process in the course of our daily lives. How we comprehend these situations and respond to them is all reflected in our worldview. Our worldview is closely related to our core values and what we believe in, what we place our faith in. It is the faith system upon which we build our lives. Every decision one makes will ultimately "bow" to one's worldview.
Everyone has a worldview whether they realize it or not. All people live by some sort of faith—be it in money, science, themselves (often referred to as self-reliant American individualism), or government. Each of these is fleeting and can change in a very short time. Money gets lost, scientific theories rise and fall, people make mistakes of judgment, governments barely get anything right and are often corrupt and controlled by special interests. Surely, a valid worldview must be based on something much more permanent, much more solid than a theory or the flimsy foundation of current philosophical thinking.
Every worldview has to answer THREE major questions:
1 - What is the highest good and ULTIMATE reality?
2 -What is wrong with the world?
3 - What is the prescription for putting it right?
As an example, a modern secular worldview of the Occupy Wall Street crowd might answer those questions like this: The highest good is my own happiness; The world problem is my lack of money and my huge college loans; The solution is the government redistribution of wealth.
An atheist scientist might answer those questions like this: The highest good is science; The problem is lack of knowledge; The solution is more education.
Does anyone think that any amount of education is going to solve the problems of humanity like wars, robberies, murders and rapes? We have never been more educated than now and the 20th century has produced more murders and senseless killing that all of the prior centuries combined. Our increased knowledge has only led to better and more efficient means of killing! Human nature has not changed with increased education and never will. The problem clearly lies with something other than a lack of education.
Each worldview has problem and challenges that it needs to defend, and a coherent and defensible worldview needs to be consistent.
Jesus had a biblical worldview. He viewed the world as being created by an omnipotent Creator God who was the Ultimate Reality; hence, the universe consisted of God and everything he created, including the spiritual world of angels and demons. The problem with the world was mankind's sin and he was the antidote. Reconciliation with the Creator God and a changed heart for each person was the answer.
A non-biblical worldview is typically very self-centered, as exemplified above. It typically begins with the notion that I AM AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE and that I am the highest good and my happiness is the ultimate reality. This is, in fact, the BIG LIE foisted upon this generation and just about every other generation in modern times. It is constantly reinforced by the culture, by our own selfish natures (which denies our own guilt) and by commercial advertising. It is all about ME!!
What a coincidence that the Bible says our three worst enemies are "the world, the flesh (our selfish venial natures) and the devil." If I am the center of the universe and my happiness is the highest good, then all of my decisions in life are based on that LIE! How I live my life is reflected in that core belief, which is how a worldview operates. It controls our thinking without us realizing it. It is fundamental to how we live and how we view the world around us. Does the world exist for my good pleasure or for God's good pleasure? You had better get that one right because there is going to be a final grade!
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall. When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." Matthew 7:24-29
Today's blog was an excerpt from Reflections from Dan, a publication of the Historical Bible Society, copywrite 2011 by Daniel P. Buttafuoco.
What is your world view? At Upper Room Christian School our world view, our prospective, our point of reference is the world as being created by an omnipotent Creator God who was the Ultimate Reality; hence, the universe consisted of God and everything he created, including the spiritual world of angels and demons. The problem with the world was mankind's sin and he was the antidote. Reconciliation with the Creator God and a changed heart for each person was the answer.
Grace and Peace,
Ed
