Christian Worldview

A 'worldview' is an individual's perspective that is used to understand our environment and the world around us and how we process and understand our experiences.

The Dictionary.com defines worldview as: “The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world.”

A ‘worldview’ is an individual’s perspective that is used to understand our environment and the world around us and how we process and understand our experiences.

We all have different worldviews based on our environment, our upbringing and other factors that come into play. Everybody has a worldview in which they process their positions or beliefs about events, their life’s experiences and the world around them. A person raised by liberal parents likely has a different worldview than a person raised by strict conservative parents. Worldviews change or evolve as we develop our own beliefs and outlook.

As new creatures in Christ, we have been given a new nature. Yet our old nature wars with our new nature. Each Christian has a background that is unique to him or her as no two people grew up in the same environment. When a person becomes a new creature in Christ, they do not become a Christian in a vacuum. All thoughts, beliefs or experiences, do not magically disappear at the moment one is saved.

However, one’s view of the world must change as this world becomes increasingly sinful.  Christians have, unfortunately, become accepting of the world’s ‘worldview.’ Christians are increasingly trying to fit into the world around them and adopting a worldview that should not be in the Christian’s life.

I was driving to work one day and saw a van in front of me. It was a Christian ministry van reaching out to kids who were in trouble. On the van it had a sign on it which stated “Jesus is my homeboy and heaven is my hood.” To say the least, I was shocked at the irreverence paid to our Holy God who gave His life to save sinners. This ministry, instead of adopting God’s worldview of holiness, thought they could reach kids better than His way by taking God and making Him a ‘homeboy’ and making heaven a ‘hood.’ God is Holy, just and perfect.  I also read about a church that tried to reach teenagers by serving the Holy Communion using coke & pizza as the elements.

God is Holy and should be treated by Christians with reverence, awe, worship and respect. Our views should be shaped by His word alone and we should not incorporate the world’s views or practices.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. (1Ch 13:10 ESV)

God struck Uzzah because he touched the ark. Uzzah’s motivation was good, at least in the sight of humans.  Uzzah did not want the ark fall to the ground so he reached out to steady it. Yet, God’s anger was kindled and He struck him dead.  We may say that Uzzah’s motivation was good but that is in the sense of human’s perception.  God thought different.

Christians should have their sensibilities shocked at sinful behavior. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Christians and churches do not obey God’s word as to how to treat a sinning Christian. Instead of shunning them as scripture demands when they will not repent, we accept them back with open arms. Corporately, Christians have not adopted God’s word as their worldview. Corporately, Christians want to fit in and be accepted by the world. We change our worship services to accommodate the world by incorporating modern day rock and roll type of music with Christian words to the beat. Christians get tattoos and turn around and say we are under grace as a means to justify a sinful act.  Unlike the puritans of days gone by, corporately Christians are not mortified by sin. Corporately, Christians are not mortified by dumbing down God to fit our culture.

Instead, Christians should look at scripture and see how God is so holy that Moses was only allowed to view His back and that Moses had to remove the sandals from his feet as the ground became Holy at the burning bush. The God of the Bible is not to be worshiped to the beat of rock and roll music. The God of the Bible is not to be treated other than with reverence and veneration.

God has not changed; it is man that has changed. God has not adapted to our culture, it is Christians that have adapted to today’s culture. Instead of being a holy set apart people, corporately Christians have incorporated today’s culture into their worldview and it is increasingly difficult to determine Christians versus non Christians.

it is time to return to the Bible to define our worldview, our perspective on our environment and the world around us and stop dumbing down God to fit their view and treat and revere God as our Creator who is Holy, one to be worshiped in awe and respect.  A Christian’s position must be different than the world.