At one point in my walk with God, I (Dawn) found my worldview wanting. In this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, I want to invite you to take a moment to examine your own worldview.
"Christianity is like a flashlight," Andy Bannister said. "People judge a worldview by how well it
lights things up. And by how well it works."
Andy Bannister is Canadian Director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and the author of The Atheist Who Didn't Exist, a book that dissects some of the popular arguments advanced by "media-savy atheists."
Few would question the first part of his quote. We are, after all, told to be lights in the world in order to bring glory to our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:14-16).
But Andy also stressed the importance of a worldview that holds up under scrutiny. I've been increasingly concerned that many Christians today don't have a worldview that "works."
What I mean by that is, when the world watches us, do people see us content in our confidence in the Lord, or constantly struggling to believe.
(If we're struggling, we likely have misplaced trust.)
What I mean by that is, do people see us compartmentalizing our faith or enjoying a worldview that satisfies all of our life—we find our emotional, mental, physical, spiritual needs met in Christ.
(If not, what have we substituted for Him who is our life?)
What I mean by that is, do we have a worldview that "delivers on its promises."
(If our worldview doesn't deliver, it's not God's fault.)
Our youth, in particular, are casting off the "religion" of their parents because they don't see its relevance for today.
Parents, many of our kids have grown up seeing a worldview that doesn't work. Or at least, they didn't understand how it works because we have muddied the truth.
A Christian worldview is more than transferable concepts and a neatly packaged Christian philosophy.
A Christian worldview should accurately reflect who Christ is and who we are in Him.
Del Tackett defined Christian Worldview in these terms for Focus on the Family:
"A worldview is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world." And "A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God."
Perhaps biblical worldview is a better term than Christian worldview, because there are so many in Christianity today who are diluting and redefining biblical truth. These non-biblical ideas come from various "voices" in the culture (film, books, etc.) and often get incorporated into our worldviews. Maybe we aren't even conscious of the changes in the way we're thinking and believing.
There are many options for worldviews in our world (Marxism, Pagan Mysticism, Islam, Scientology, etc.), but Christians must have a truly biblical worldview if they want to lead their children into God's transforming truth (Romans 12:2).
It matters, too, if we want people to see the difference God's Word makes in our lives.
We can say, "I'm a Christian, so I have a Christian worldview"—and be totally deceived.
But an authentic, born-again believer walking with God in a biblical worldview will spread a fragrance of life in the world! (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
So we need to ask ourselves two questions:
1. Is my belief system founded and grounded in the Bible—the Word of God?
Or is it simply my personal interpretation of reality?
2. Does my worldview "work"?
Does it hold up in today's culture because it is God-inspired timeless truth that gives me stability and strength—no matter my circumstances?
Jesus, the Son of God and the Living Word, says He is the truth (John 1:1, 14; 14:6). We need to be sure our worldview reflects Him in every way.
Would your neighbors say your worldview "works"? Is it a truly biblical worldview? Do you need to UPGRADE your worldview?
Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God(with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. She is the Director of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in MInistry (NEWIM San Diego). She and her husband Bob have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.
Graphic adapted,