The Christian Life

A Christian Worldview

In my last post, I wrote of a basic worldview and made the case that we all view the world through our unique worldview. In this post, I would like to present the tenets of a Christian worldview.

Depending on what you are reading these days, a Christian worldview can be explained in a number of ways, but for our purposes currently I would like to stay simple. There are really only two main basic tenets of the Christian worldview: God exists, and God has spoken.What does this mean? Simply put, God is the reason for all that exists. Apart from Him, there is nothing and without Him there would be nothing. The two tenets have a causal relationship as God spoke creation into existence.

Any worldview classified as a Christian worldview must flow from four essential elements; without these elements the worldview can not and should not be considered Christian. They are Creation - Fall - Redemption - Consummation. This is the flow of history that is still being written by a Holy God. Viewing all of history through this lens means you believe that God's creative and redemptive providence is responsible for all that we see, hear and feel.

There are five primary characteristics of a worldview that encapsulate our thoughts on all things. Those five areas are: Metaphysics or the origin of all things, Core Values, Culture, Ethics and Theology. These areas are referenced in other terms but, for the most part, all the thoughts you will think and the things you will believe will fall into one of these five categories.These five areas must reflect your belief in the four elements of a Christian worldview. Now, here is the really important part! In my opinion, the Christian worldview is the only worldview that can be lived out consistently across these four elements and five characteristics.

The next time you talk to someone about the Christian worldview and they offer you an alternative worldview ask them if they can live their worldview out consistently... they will not be able to do it. The Christian can and will until the return of the King when all will know the Truth. Blessings! 

Worldview

This past week our school was allowed to pilot a program on worldview from a local Christian college, which reminded me about the importance of worldview. There are many great books on worldview, but one of the best, in my opinion, is Creation Regained by Albert M. Wolters. My views over the next few paragraphs are from this book.

Wolters gives us our best definition of worldview; he defines it as "the comprehensive framework of one's basic beliefs about things." Simply put, worldview is the way we look at the world, and we all look at the world through our worldview. What role does a worldview play in your life? Wolters believes a worldview serves as a guide to our entire life. He writes, "it functions like a compass or a road map." Our worldview shapes the way we look at events and the way we respond to events. Our opinions, political and the like, are all rooted in worldview.

As Christians, we must be a people rooted in worldview. Wolters is clear in his book, "our worldview must be shaped and tested by Scripture." We are people of the Word and that Word must permeate our being in such a complete way that our worldviews are reflective of that Word. Worldviews expose who you are and what you believe. You can not say God's word is infallible and then believe something contrary to scripture. True worldviews have a consistency that can only be found in people of the Word.

Many of us tend to confuse worldview and let it leak into the fields of philosophy and theology thinking one or both are required to build a worldview. Wolters offers advice here in writing,

"A worldview is a matter of the shared everyday experience of humankind, an inescapable component of all human knowing, and as such it is nonscientific, or rather (since scientific knowing is always dependent on the intuitive knowing of our everyday experience) prescientific, in nature. It belongs to an order of cognition more basic than that of science or theory."

A worldview is who you are and not what you know. Who you are will be revealed in the choices you make, in the opinions you have and in the priorities of your life. A Christian worldview reveals Christ, plain and simple. Look for more on this subject of worldview in the future. Blessings!

Books!

Well, we are firmly in the new year, and its time to write about one of my favorite subjects... books. Every new year I like to examine a new list of books to read. Christian Educator's Journal has a nice article on books. Click here to read one author's list of the top ten books every educator should read.

Here are a few of my favorites.

1. The Bible by God (Who else?)
I believe everyone can benefit from reading the Bible.

2. Wisdom and Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn and Charlies Evans.
A great book that blends the philosophy and practicality of education.

3. Culture and Race by Thomas Sowell
I am almost finished with this one, but it is already one of my favorites. It is well written with sound theory backed by solid research.

4. Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Everyone should read this book once a year.

5. God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis
I read at least half of it every sixth months.


6. Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant
I understand it the more I read it.


7. The House of Seven Gable by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I fell in love with this book in high school, and it continues to be one of my favorites.

8. The Confessions by St. Augustine
Continues to be a classic and a favorite.

9. Piety and Philosophy by Richard Riesen
This books continues to be one I reference year after year.

10. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
My favorite of his three top sellers ( I also recommend The Tipping Point and Blink also).

There you have it, another list of books on which to spend your money. Happy reading!