A Renewed Worldview

A Renewed Worldview

A sweeping change is making its way around the world in the form of ideas that are contrary to biblical truth. How should Christians respond to these troubling issues? Do you find that Christianity is increasingly becoming irrelevant to modern society? In this article, Daniel Lau examines this clash of worldviews, and provides suggestions on how we can engage the world for Christ.

What is a worldview?

First of all, let’s explore what a worldview is. A worldview can be defined as a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world. 1 Essentially, a worldview is the way we view our world and our place in it. It answers fundamental questions such as why are we here? What is the meaning and purpose of life? Is there a difference between right and wrong? Is there a God? The truth is we all have ideas that attempt to answer these questions.

1. James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 1988), p. 17.

Here’s another way of understanding what a worldview is: Imagine a tree and its different parts. We would usually draw a tree with its trunk, branches and leaves. However, what holds the tree up are its roots. Our worldview is like the roots of the tree – it is essential to our life and stability. We cannot see what is in the ground (our worldview), but we see the exposed parts (our actions). Ideas have consequences; each of us base our decisions and actions on a worldview. 2 The ideas that we readily receive from the friends we interact with, the movies we watch, or the Internet websites we visit, all contribute to our behaviour.

2. Noebel, David A.. Understanding the times. 2nd abridged and rev. ed. (Manitou Springs, CO: Summit Press, 2006), p.16.

The question therefore, is not whether we have a worldview, but what worldview we hold to. Christians believe that the biblical worldview is the most consistent and coherent, and provides a reliable framework for all of life. We believe that humans are made in the image of Christ and the Bible reveals God’s design and purpose for all of life. Consequently, once Christians begin to think biblically, they will naturally live according to its principles.

Why a blibical worldview?

Consider the following statistics:

1. Approximately 80% of youth who grew up in church fall victim to popular ideas of the modern world and renounce their faith by the time they graduate from college.

2. 85% of people outside the church perceive Christianity to be judgmental, hypocritical and anti-homosexual.

3. 57% of evangelical adults agreed with the statement “Many religions can lead to eternal life.” 3 We now live in a culture that is hostile to Christian ideals. Many people think Christians are ignorant, arrogant and intolerant. Churches around the world are increasingly succumbing to popular but unbiblical ideas. If Christians do not hold on to true biblical convictions, we will lose our ability to influence society for Christ.

3. Morrow, Jonathan. Think christianly: looking at the intersection of faith and culture. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2011), p.24-25.

Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church, identifies six dominant worldviews prevalent today: materialism, individualism, hedonism, pluralism, naturalism and humanism. 4 Unless you live in a cave, chances are you will possess traces of these worldviews. The task at hand is to identify beliefs that are contrary to Scripture and realign ourselves to a Biblical worldview.

4. Read Rick Warren’s article on the six competing worldviews at http://www.christiantoday.com/article/rick.warren.six. worldviews.youre.competing.against/13420.htm

Do you have a biblical worldview?

A 2009 survey conducted by the Barna Group sought to explore how many [adults] have what might be considered a “biblical worldview.” For the purposes of the survey, a person who possesses a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing in all of the statements (see box on the next page) that are derived from the Bible. A biblical worldview does not consist of only these statements, but they provide a basic theological framework from which Christians view all of life.

According to the Barna Group, results show that only less than a tenth of all American adults have a biblical worldview (9%). The study also indicated that a minority of people who describe themselves as “born again” 5 actually share this worldview (19%). 6 The study highlights several implications, but one troubling pattern to note is that although most Americans consider themselves to be Christians and profess to know the content of the Bible, very few of them demonstrate such knowledge through their actions. In short, the Bible has little bearing on how they view the

5. “Born again” Christians are defined as having made a personal to commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today and that they are certain that they will go to Heaven after they die only because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.

6. http://barna.org/research/barna-survey-examines-changes-in-worldview-among-christians-over-the-past-13-years/

Singaporean Christians may think that an American survey means little to them. However, Christianity in Singapore and America may have more in common with each other than we think. One similarity is that we are increasingly becoming 2nd and 3rd generation Christians who have inherited a culture of Christianity, but the gospel has not truly penetrated our hearts and minds. There are many Singaporeans who have had some form of Christian upbringing or education but stopped attending church by the time they enter the university or the workplace because they find the Christian faith irrelevant. How can the church address this problem?

What worldview do you hold? Do a simple survey to find out! Spend some time to read through and consider these statements. Do you agree with the following?

1. A person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works.

2. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.

3. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.

4. Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic.

5. The Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

6. Absolute moral truth exists.

How do we develop a biblical worldview?

If Christianity is true, then it speaks to all of life; it makes a comprehensive claim on reality. The task at hand therefore, is to develop a Christian understanding and response to every area of life: religion, politics, sexuality, entertainment etc. One way of developing a biblical worldview is to constantly think through what we believe as Christians. There are two extremes that we should guard ourselves against: unanswered questions and unquestioned answers.

Unanswered questions

If you have some burning or nagging questions about certain life issues or the Christian faith, do not ignore it or wait till later to address it. Search the Bible, speak to a church leader (e.g. Elder/Deacon), and discuss it in your bible study small group as soon as possible. The voices from secular sources are overwhelming: we spend only 2 hours in church each Sunday, but over 40 hours in the school/office and on the Internet. We can easily find popular “answers” but they are not necessarily correct ones. If Christians do not cultivate a discerning mind, we will be more likely to be influenced by popular ideas around us.

Unquestioned answers

If you have grown up in Sunday school, you would have heard numerous “rules” about Christianity. Sometimes, we simply repeat and believe what other Christians are saying without searching the Bible to find out if it is true. Be humble and question our biblical assumptions. When we do that, we will realize that some of our Christian assumptions are culturally grounded or personally motivated. We should also not be too quick to say: “Don’t argue with me. The Bible says that _______________ (fill in your unquestioned answer), so it must be true.” If we resist the temptation to say that, the world will not view Christians as arrogant, and will likely engage with us more willingly and honestly.

Have courage to defend and live out your biblical worldview

The church is now living in an age where worldviews play a pivotal role in our lives. Society is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian ideals. Christians must develop a robust and defensible worldview if we are to be the salt and light in a world darkened by destructive ideologies. The task of the church is to think critically and engage sensitively.

Sometimes, it takes a bit of courage and logic (e.g., law of non-contradiction) to defend our biblical worldview. When a person exclaims, “When it comes to matters of faith, you can’t be certain about anything.” You may reply, “Are you absolutely certain about that?” When an atheist professor teaches, “You should reject belief in God because you can’t know anything to be true unless it is scientifically verifiable, tested and proven”, you may politely say, “Is your statement or theory verifiable, tested and proven?” 7. Ask probing questions to find out what people believe in.

7. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/09/05/how-logic-can-help-save-a-college-students-faith/

Having a biblical worldview would at least equip you to discern a bad idea from a biblical one. However, a biblical worldview is only part of the solution; Christians also need good mentors and a vibrant community to help live out our biblical convictions. When Christians think biblically and live victoriously, the world will sit up and listen. May we be equipped to communicate effectively the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of our heavenly Father. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” - Romans 12:2.

“ The task at hand therefore, is to develop a Christian understanding and response to every area of life: religion, politics, sexuality, entertainment etc. One way of developing a biblical worldview is to constantly think through what we believe as Christians. ”