What is Worldview?

What is a worldview? The term is believed to be rather young in terms of American English. The definition might be as simple as the compound word itself “world” being the planet Earth which we all reside and “view” the interpretation of what is seen. Putting the two words together, worldview is simply, how one sees the world. This does not mean I see tree leaves as light green and you might think them dark green, this is of grander importance than how we describe chlorophyll concentration in leaves. Worldview is often in terms of one’s personal philosophy. Do we view the world as a cosmic accident in which there is no purpose or reason for life? Or do we view the world as a purposeful place, with a reason, and perhaps with a greater intelligence?

I commonly see one of two worldviews lived. The first, people are mere pawns of the world, at the mercy of an uncaring world and hoping to make it out with their own idea of happiness sought. The second, people see themselves as the masters of their world, they think they are in control of what is around them and they will never approach a greater power for which they must give account. Those worldviews are polar opposites from each other, as would be expected; for the middle ground would introduce some form of deism they ought to apply in the most ineffectual manner. One might recognize the emptiness of existence absent purpose but they cannot identify the proper filling. The other is lost but refuses to admit to being lost with pride. They sometimes will go so far that an admission of being lost is weakness, instead a mask is applied, with enough practice the mask is real enough and reality is ignored. There is also the rare occasion which I see a Christian worldview in practice which they see the world and its inhabitants in completely different terms entirely.

Who am I to make such observations? Do I claim to know all the answers and all the wisdom to know that people are lost or too proud to admit their misdirection? Hardly, I am but one person who recognizes that I too could have defined my life in that way. Furthermore, do I need all the answers and wisdom to know when something is wrong? I think God has given us the intuitive knowledge from Romans 1 that we can all know when something is not right, whether we have exchanged that knowledge for something else is the difference. I can offer only what knowledge and experience I have and what has been given to me by God. Between the two sources I can confidently discern when something is as it ought to be. It is not difficult to know when something is not right, but it can be difficult to know what is right.

A worldview differs from a personal philosophy in which people claim what they believe whereas a worldview is defined by how one lives. Worldview can also be described as the type of looking glass we see the world. A person with a Christian worldview ought to see the world far differently than a person with a naturalistic worldview. I don’t think worldview is a word to replace belief. I see it as an answer to the compartmentalization of thought that Americans have popularized. There is thought in terms of science, history and the empirical disciplines. There is also thought in terms of faith and religion, which for many are completely severed from the empirical disciplines. I explain this disconnect deeper in Losing Our Minds.

I am tempted to think the modern American word of worldview is closer to what Romans 10:8-10 is actually talking about when it says “believe”. When I have further cross referenced the context of “believe” in scripture it seems to imply more than a set of thoughts or mental agreement. I have come to the conclusion that “believe” as scripture describes must be followed through with an active lifestyle. In Acts 16:30-34, belief was followed by baptism. The calling for belief is mentioned in the Great Commission which Christ says,

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." -(Mark 16:16-18).

This passage is perhaps the only time Christ says to “believe” but it is not left as a mental agreement, it implies action. Being that I have not exorcised, spoken in tongues, snake handled, or cured the sick via laying on hands but I am still assured of my relationship with Christ I believe there is more to what Christ said. I don’t think those are the only specific actions which are the criteria for being known as a Child of God. I think the miracles performed by the disciples in Acts through the Holy Spirit were the manifestation of Christ’s authority. I also point to Matthew 7:22-23 to clarify it is not about works but the real relationship with Christ.

Worldview tends to affect our thinking in the realm of faith and politics. It is shocking how closely the two are related but how far so many try to separate them. Knowing what our looking glass ought to show us, how do those images match with our political beliefs? Being the conservative Republican that identify myself with, I cannot escape from the consistencies and inconsistencies represented by my political affiliation. Ultimately my political thoughts should be indistinguishable from my religious thoughts. How that all comes together is for another blog. Here are some topics to consider that I doubt we have all examined in correlation to our faith.

Should a Christian support abortion, capital punishment or homosexual marriage? Should a Christian support a capitalistic society, a communistic society, or theocratic society? Should a Christian be republican, democrat, or independent? Should Christians invest in animal rights, saving the ozone, or preserving endangered species? Should Christians support Affirmative Action, Welfare or Universal Healthcare? Should Christians attend public schools, be home schooled, or private schools? Before you answer any of these with a “yes” or “no” in your head I challenge you to consider how we can support our biased belief via scripture or how those topics do or do not align themselves with scripture. I dare not pronounce my preferences as Christian doctrine, nor my view of how Christians can best approach these issues as the only way we can consistency live our faith. I do ask which of these provide consistency with the Christian creeds and which provide direct conflict?