What is a Worldview?

A worldview is not so much what you do, it is how you think. It is not your actions, but your assumptions. Not what you consider right, but what you consider normal. It is not a question of sin versus good deeds, but of sinfulness versus goodness. It is the core of who you are; it is the soul, not the body. A Christian worldview starts with the recognition that you are not the same person you were as an unbeliever, and your God is not the same god. A Christian worldview means claiming your salvation and planning for its consummation. It means taking God's vision for the future and making it your own. It means applying your new identity to every aspect of your thinking and actions.

The clearest division, at least in my mind, between the Christian and non-Christian worldview is with respect to the world. Is the world full of mostly good people doing mostly good things and trying to get the most good out of life? Or is it the front lines of a cosmic battle, with people being pawns? Are things mostly right with the world, or is it marred and broken and beyond hope of easy restoration? Is it a satisfactory destination, comfortable and sufficient, or are we pilgrims on a journey, subject to trials, and not meant to be satisfied with anything earthy? Are morals relative, with the good mostly outweighing the evil, or is the whole earth desperately wicked and morally bankrupt and utterly valueless before God?

Whose standard do you use to measure the world and determine what is right? Do you use your own, and compare everything to yourself? Then whatever you do is right, and whatever benefits you is good. Most people don't go this far, at least not consciously. Their standard is popular opinion, the norm, whatever goes. If it's accepted, it's right, and if others think it beneficial it's good. Some people limit themselves to a political or religious standard, and judge everything based on their cause. They at least recognize that the highest end is not themselves. But what if you tried to use God's standard, as set forth in the Bible?

The apostle Paul says, after talking about avoiding temptations to idolatry and everything unedifying, "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved (1 Cor 10:31-33)." Peter devotes his entire first epistle to explaining how to live with the gospel and our trials always in view, and when asked "to what end", he answers, "so that in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever (1 Pet 4:11)."

Basically, what it comes down to is this: God exerts dominion over everything in the world, and claims everything as his own—except men's hearts. Those he desires as a gift. The problem is, we can't seem to give them to him. So the ones he wants, he had to come and take. From God's perspective, that taking was effectually accomplished in Jesus' death and resurrection. But from the Christian's perspective, it lasts their whole life. And it is often painful, being dragged from the opinion that "It's all about me" to "It's all about God."

There is nothing in all of creation, no cubic millimeter of space, no moment of time, over which God does not say "This is mine." (Paraphrasing Abraham Kuyper.) That means there is no morally neutral ground. There is no decision in life in which being a Christian is irrelevant. There is no harmless entertainment. There is no excuse for wasting time. God desires the absolute best out of us, and he will get it one day; but for now, any falling short is a sin of omission. And as if it were not enough that every failing must be borne by Christ or you forever, God allows us to have eternal impacts on the people around us as well.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea (Matt 18:6). And by sinning against a brother and wounding his conscience when it is weak you sin against Christ (1 Cor 8:13). Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves (Rom 14:22). Whatever is not from faith is sin (Rom 14:23). Even our best actions are dirty rags (Isa 64:6). Apart from me, you can do nothing (John 15:5). Redeem the time, for the days are evil (Eph 5:16). Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3:17).

A Christian worldview must be constantly put into practice. You have the truth—live it.