Introduction to Biblical Worldview

There are 8 billion people on the planet and every one of them has a worldview. A worldview is a set of beliefs about life that determines how we live. It is the set of beliefs, assumptions, and values that determine how a person lives.

I want to spend some time in these blog posts discovering what the Biblical worldview (or Christian worldview) beliefs, assumptions, and values are and allow this to shape the way we see the world. The Biblical worldview is summarized in four words: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration. This is the place we begin today as an overview:

Creation: This is how the world ought to be. Genesis 1 and 2 describe the God’s creation story.  Eden is the garden where God placed Adam. In Eden everything in life was as God intended it to be (flourishing with God, peace with God, purpose in God, and prosperity of soul & spirit & body).  The relationship with God, relationship with others and relationship with creation was perfect. 

God called Adam & Eve to rule and reign and to care for every sphere of life.  Their cultural mandate was to: be fruitful and multiply ~ filling what was empty, bringing life, form and function, purpose and design.  There is such freedom in the goodness of God. 

The question of life answered in the creation story for each of us is this: How did I get here? What is my purpose?  God created each person and therefore each one is stamped with his image and has dignity and value. God is glorified when we demonstrate to the world how marriage, family, work, friendships ought to be.

Fall: This is where we are now~ rebellion to God. Genesis 3 introduces sin to the story.  And sin bent and twisted creation.  Mankind moved from Edenism (living in paradise with God) to Hedonism (pursuit of what makes me happy). 

Genesis 3 gives us God’s response to mankind’s sin. Thorns will now pollute every aspect of God’s creation. Disobedience and rebellion, living apart from God’s perfect rule, guilt, shame, blame, fear, bondage describe life.  All creation is under a curse.

The question of life answered in the fall part of our story is this: What went wrong? Why is there evil and suffering? Because of sin entering creation, all relationships were broken ~ relationship with God, relationship with others and relationship with creation.

Redemption: In Genesis 3, God already tells of his plan for redemption. Romans 3:25, “God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” Jesus’ blood paid the price so that we may be redeemed and brought back into the Eden storyline.  And as Jesus redeems us, he makes us agents of redemption for anyone who believes (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). 

Believers are agents of redemption, raising up culture-changing lovers of God to help bring Eden back, in part.  Isaiah 58 gives us a vision for these culture-changing agents: to build up the age-old foundations (raise them up), repair the broken walls; rebuild ancient ruins; loose the chains of injustice; set the oppressed free, to break every yoke! We pray, let heaven invade earth (Matthew 6:9-13).

Jesus invited his friends to be those who would reconcile people to God! “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” Matthew 28:18-20.

The question of life answered in this part of our story is this: What is the solution? Where do I find hope?  Jesus is the answer to that question. The cross changes everything!  Jesus has redeemed us from our captivity to the enemy. And on this earth as redeemed people, we partner with Jesus.

Restoration: This is how the world will be! Jesus conquered sin and death. We have hope in the living God who will restore all things and create a new heaven and earth where he reigns forever with no more pain or suffering or sadness.  God didn’t just save us from something; he also saved us for something ~ to resume the call for which we were originally created~ to bring God glory in all we do.

Jesus is bringing back Eden! The end of the story is that God makes all things new. It is the culmination of all things (Revelation 21 & 22). Keep this in mind. God is not finished yet.  The years on earth are our internships that prepare us for eternity.

Jonathan Edwards prayed, “Stamp eternity on my eyes”.

The question of life answered in this great restorative part of our story is this: What happens when I die (at the end of my story on earth)? What is my future?

Parents and teachers, this is the story we need to tell our children. They need to know the narrative from God’s perspective ~ this is the only worldview that is true.  All others are built on shifting sand. 

The Bible, written over 1600 years consistently communicates with God's “story” ~ it transcends time and culture, so all people can understand it. It is the TRUE story which gives the explanation of how things are.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Does my way of looking at the world correspond to the world as is according to God in the Bible?
2. What authority has shaped my beliefs?
3. Do I live as though I believe God’s narrative about life: Creation|Fall|Redemption|Restoration?