Nobody is completely or genuinely objective. Did you know that every bit of information or data that comes to our mind through different senses is actually processed or filtered by our brain that is filled with pre-existing ideas? Even though sometimes we claim that our views are fully objective and are free of subjectivity, it’s important for us to understand that our ideas are never fully objective. In fact each of us carries a mental model or a subjective representation of our world that largely dictates how we think and respond. Since our minds are not blank slates, our claims of objectivity are pretty shallow and often untrue. As we develop each of us also develops his/her personal worldview which in turn shapes our future.
James Robison in his book “The absolutes” says “The term worldview, translated from the German word Weltanschauung, means “life perspective” or “way of seeing.” It refers to the way we look at the world. Everyone has a worldview. It is the means by which we interpret the situations and circumstances around us. It is what enables us to process the information that comes to us through our senses. It determines our basic outlook on life and faith.”
“A worldview is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world” – Del Tackett
Del Tackett, executive vice president of Focus on the Family says “A worldview is the framework from which we view reality and make sense of life and the world…Whether conscious or subconscious, every person has some type of worldview. A personal worldview is a combination of all you believe to be true, and what you believe becomes the driving force behind every emotion, decision and action. Therefore, it affects your response to every area of life: from philosophy to science, theology and anthropology to economics, law, politics, art and social order – everything.”
“A worldview is a map or reality; and like any map, it may fit what is actually there, or it may be grossly misleading.” – James Sire
The term worldview often scares people because they associate worldview as something only philosophers and intellectuals have. Everyone who is alive, breathing, thinking and making decisions has a world view whether they recognize it or not. Having a world view or not is not a choice, whether we have the right world view or not is what each of us need to evaluate and develop our convictions. We are all responsible to develop a worldview that does not shift with time, and this is only possible when we shape our worldview (train our minds) by something eternal as God’s word.
George Barna’s research shows that only four percent of Americans have a biblical worldview. What’s more alarming than that is the fact that only nine percent of the so called born-again believers in America are reported to have a Christian worldview. This shows that not every Christian (even born-again Christian) has a Christian worldview. The research clearly shows that very few Christians really take time to develop a Christian or a biblical worldview. Salvation is a free gift of God, but a Christian worldview is something we as Christians should develop as we grow. James Sire says “A worldview is a map or reality; and like any map, it may fit what is actually there, or it may be grossly misleading. The map is not the world itself, of course, only an image of it, more or less accurate in some places, distorted in others. Still, all of us carry around such a map in our mental makeup and we act upon it.”
Worldviews are not static or eternal; they are constantly being shaped by what we feed our brains with. It is interesting that many of us both young and old spend a lot of hours watching and listening to secular media and then wonder how our views have become so liberal. Christian worldviews are constantly challenged and mocked by media. We are bombarded with unbiblical worldviews through films, TV shows, music, magazines and academic scholars. I am not suggesting that we should run away from the secular world, but we are responsible to make choices so that our worldview is shaped more by the Bible than by the media. If we are not actively shaping a Christian worldview, remember that we are unconsciously becoming “captives to hollow and deceptive philosophies” (Col 2:8) that will shape our future. Our worldview not only determines our personal thinking and actions, it has the power to determine what transpires in the family, at our work place and also in our society. Developing a Christian worldview is not just a private or personal choice; it is the responsibility of every Christian, therefore train your brain to discern, don’t just fill your brain with trash.
Worldviews are not static or eternal; they are constantly being shaped by what we feed our brains with.
– – Author: Rev. Francis Burgula – –
