Day 1: What is a Worldview?

Have you ever been confronted with the question of what Christianity is and found it difficult to articulate in a structured and substantial manner? 1 Peter 3:15 calls upon all Christians to be prepared to give a reasoned defense of the Christian worldview. But what is a worldview? Let's find out.

The term “worldview” is used to describe a core set of values and principles through which the world is understood. It is essentially the way a person understands reality and not something constrained within a religious setting alone. Everyone has a worldview and our worldview affects everything we do even if we are not aware of it. Atheism itself is a worldview which should be treated just like other worldviews and examined. Every worldview must answer some fundamental questions like: Where did we come from? Is there meaning and purpose to our lives? How do you distinguish between right and wrong? What’s wrong with the world? What happens when one dies? Clinical Psychologist Jordan Peterson says:

“The deepest questions are religious questions and the Bible is the best answer that we have. If you don’t like that, well, fine. Do better. Good luck.”

The Judeo-Christian worldview is unique in addressing these tough questions of life when compared to other contrasting worldviews, such as Naturalism, Pantheism (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism), and Islam. Naturalism is the view that only the natural world exists. In Hinduism, there is a pantheon of deities, and the material world itself is part of Brahma, which is the ultimate reality. Each of these worldviews must be subjected to critical examination to determine for yourself which view stands the test of reality. A robust worldview will match our experience with the world, be coherent, and give an explanation of the world around us. It’s important that we understand the Christian worldview and the contrasting worldviews, as it will equip us in evangelizing when we articulate the gospel to an unbeliever. As we move on to the next few days we will find out how the Christian worldview is unique in answering these fundamental questions.

Application:

Take a moment today to reflect on your own worldview. See what answers you can come up with. As we commence this journey, let us remember that our worldview matters. How you live and what you do with your lives depend on it. Let us trust in the Lord to guide us in understanding the big questions of life and His eternal truths.