I have heard the term Worldview many times lately. It seems to me like it is one of those terms that the meaning changes with circumstances. It changes it’s meaning as situations arise. As I usually do when contemplating something, I searched for input on Google. Below is a list of questions that I found when searching for the definition of “Worldview”.
Eight basic Worldview questions-
- What is prime reality–the really real?
- What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
- What is a human being?
- What happens to a person at death?
- Why is it possible to know anything at all?
- How do we know what is right and wrong?
- What is the meaning of human history?
The Six BIG Philosophical Questions-
- What is a person?
- What is a meaningful life?
- What is beauty?
- What are good and evil?
- What is a just society?
- What can be known?
The Four Great Questions of Life-
- Who Am I?
- Where Did I Come From?
- What Is My Purpose?
- Where Am I Going?
Then I searched for “Christian Worldview” and found this statement-
“The central premise of the Christian Worldview is a belief in an absolute, eternal God. Christians believe that God created the universe and human beings.”
I realized the answers to all the questions I listed above are found in the Bible. I reflected back to my pre-Christian days and remembered how confusing life was. I was living for myself and creating my own answers to those questions. My answers often cause chaos and pain in the lives around me.
Because I like clear definition of words, I broke the term down to “world” and “view”. The world is everything and everyone around me. View is defined as “the ability to see something”. The word “ability” jumped out to me.
2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.”
That is where all the questions above come from. The inability to “see the glorious light of the Good News”. However, those that “do believe” are given the ability to have “eyes to see”. So, for me to have a Christian Worldview will depend on which “lens” I see any issue through. Do I look for guidance from Scripture or do I use my own feelings and opinions.
A problem I see in the Church today is that people read statements like the one above that Paul wrote and are happy they are different from unbelievers, and instead of “fleshing out” the meaning, they leave it as theory. How does the gift of having “eyes to see” guide us in our day-to-day? Only through studying and then following the guidance of Scripture.
I believe a good example is my finances. Who’s are they? Are they all mine? Am I called to tithe, and if so, is 10% of my finances for the Kingdom and 90% is all mine? Or am I a steward of the finances God has given me through the ability He gave me to earn them? If so, my finances are 100% His and my role is to be a good steward of what He has given me.
Think of the parable of the man going on a journey and entrusting his wealth to three of his servants in Matthew 25:14-30. When the man returned from his journey, he found two of the servants had invested his wealth wisely and one did not. He blessed the two with more and took away from the third servant what he originally gave him. God’s plan has been an unfolding journey since the Garden of Eden. Those that “invest” their life God’s way are blessed. Those that do not “invest” God’s way will lose everything.
If I recognize even the abilities I have been given to earn finances are a gift from God, I will find it easier to ask Him how He wants me to use my gifts He gave me to build into His Kingdom. For example, He certainly knows we need to care for our family. Building into our children is a major part of our journey with Him. That does not stop when they leave home. We love spending time with grandkids and helping them see Jesus through our lives. Knowing that everything is actually His makes life choices easier. Jesus said “follow Me” 32 times in the Gospels. I think He meant it.
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
We are stewards of three major areas of our lives: time, talent, and treasure. My prayer is that I can clearly “hear” God’s guidance in all three areas and how to use all He has given me to fit into His Worldview.
Christian Life Coach 