A Christian worldview is an all-encompassing view of reality.
In fact, every human has a worldview or way they perceive the world and events around them.
But believers have an important decision about our Christian worldview. Are we willing to understand and embrace all of its elements?
The term “worldview” may be new to you, so before delving into specifics, let’s consider that a worldview is how we interpret the world around us. A worldview works like a filter or a grid.
- It takes in the data of life.
- It molds how we interpret and think about that data.
- Then from, these interpretations and thoughts, it generates decisions.
- And these decisions lead to our actions.
As you can imagine, all this data processing and decision-making are unconscious.
However, if we are struggling with our faith or life in general, there is something we can do. Specifically, we can examine what we “really believe.”
I. 6 Areas of a Worldview “GO HOME”
And determining what we believe brings us to the six areas that make up a worldview. And these six areas correspond to the mnemonic, “GO HOME”:
- God (Theology): Who is God, and what is His nature?
- Origin (Cosmology): Where did the universe and humankind arise?
- Humanity (Anthropology): What are humans’ origin, nature, and destiny?
- Ought (Morality): Who determines what is good versus evil and right versus wrong?
- Meaning: What is the meaning and purpose of the universe and humanity?
- End (Destiny): What happens after this life?
You may feel a bit overwhelmed at this point, so let’s consider a puzzle as an illustration of a worldview.
II. A Worldview is Like A Puzzle
My wife bought a jigsaw puzzle of old-time Disney posters a few years ago. But she soon realized that a one-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle has a lot of little pieces!
For over a month, those jigsaw pieces took up our entire dining room table that seats eight. I tried to help, but it took me forever to find two pieces to fit.
So how was she able to complete it?
Firstly, because she is very patient. But secondly and more importantly, because she had something to guide her. And that reference was the image on the cover of the box. In this case, it showed her how all the pieces fit together. And without that cover, she had no hope of finishing the puzzle.
By analogy, if you want a worldview that makes sense.
- Then in the first place, you need the final picture on the top of the box (coherent).
- After that, you need all the pieces to be present in the box (comprehensive).
- And finally, all the pieces need to fit together perfectly (cohesive)
Now consider a different scenario. What if you had to put together a jigsaw puzzle using random pieces from different puzzles? And you weren’t given any pictures for reference. It would be impossible.
I am pointing out that you cannot put unchristian beliefs into the Christian worldview. They won’t work.
Take a moment and reflect on your current situation. Do your life and beliefs sometimes feel like one thousand random pieces? And they are all scattered in front of you. And no one gave you the cover?
In that case, let’s consider what the Christian worldview has to say about six areas of belief.
1. “G” GOD: The Christian Worldview About God
First, your understanding of who God is and what he’s like is the most critical question you will ever answer.
Unquestionably the Christian worldview is unique. Specifically, there is only one God (monotheism) who exists in a Trinity of three Persons:
- Father
- Son (Jesus)
- Holy Spirit
Each Person shares one divine nature. In other words, this is the “Three-in-one,” “Tri-unity,” or “Trinity” of the Christian God.
Further, Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is both fully God and fully human.
In reality, both the Trinity and Jesus’ two natures are mysteries. In other words, we can never fully comprehend them. But by using analogies, we can understand them well enough to show they are not contradictory.
The Christian God has specific attributes. That is to say, he is:
- An eternal Spirit (John 4:24; cf., Exod. 3:14)
- Infinite (Matt. 5:48)
- Omnipotent (all-powerful) (Job 42:2)
- Omnipresent (all-present) (Ps. 139:7-12)
- Omniscient (all-knowing) (Job 38:39; Rom. 11:33–36)
- Immutable (unchangeable) (James 1:17)
- Sovereign (in control over all) (Exod. 20:2-3)
Moreover, God performs miracles. However, the universe operates in a regular and orderly way. These are the “laws of nature” (i.e., physics, biology, chemistry). God can do miracles in his creation. For instance, the virgin conception and resurrection of Jesus.
To put it differently, God exists transcendently (beyond) and immanently (within) the universe. And in the same way, he is the sustaining Cause of everything (Col. 1:17).
2. “O” ORIGIN: Where Did Everything Come From? A Christian Perspective
Second, God created the universe ex nihilo. To rephrase it more simply, God created everything out of nothing. Moreover, he created human beings in his image (Gen. 1-2).
3. “H” HUMANITY: The Christian Worldview of Humanity
Third, God created humans in his image (Gen. 1:26–27) so we could fellowship with him. Therefore, we have a special place in creation.
Above all, we live to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31), knowing him and following his ways. And as we trust in him and follow his Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16), we become more like Jesus (Rom. 8:28-29).
Due to our unique place in creation, every human life is sacred (Gen. 9:6). Since God alone can give life, only he can take life.
In other words, no human has the right to take their own life or end an innocent’s life. Further, there can be no ethnic bigotry (Acts 17:25–27) or prejudice toward one person over another.
4. “O” OUGHT: The Christian Worldview About Ought (Morality)
Fourth, as God’s image-bearers (Gen. 1:27), we are moral beings. And as a result, we innately know the difference between right vs. wrong and good vs. evil. This intuitive understanding known by all humans is the “moral law” (Rom. 1:18-20; 2:14).
But as Christians, we have the Bible (Matt. 22:36-40) and the Holy Spirit to guide us. And the Bible explicitly lays down principles for our life.
Of course, God’s unchanging nature and will are the basis for this absolute moral standard. And his laws always take precedence over human laws.
5. “M” MEANING: Do Our Lives Have any Meaning?
Fifth, finding true meaning in life starts with establishing a relationship with God. And that begins by repenting and placing your faith in Jesus. Then you can have eternal life (Acts 2:38).
Our true meaning can only occur after conversion. We are to love God with all we are and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40).
We will find our greatest joy in intimately knowing (John 17:3), worshipping (Rom. 12:1-3), and serving God and others (Mark 10:45).
6. “E” END: The Christian Explanation of our End (Destiny)
Sixth, God will triumph over all evil at the end of time and usher in a new heaven and earth. Jesus will judge every person who has ever lived. And we will either live away from God (in hell) or with God (in heaven) forever.
The Christian worldview is undeniably clear. In effect, our eternal fate depends on our relationship with Christ (2 Cor. 5:1-21). Accordingly, those who trust in Jesus will live forever with him (John 3:16).
III. Christianity Makes All the Difference in the World: What is Your Next Step?
In light of these answers to the six areas of a worldview, what have you decided?
Every one of us is on a spiritual journey. But many people are lost because they never had a roadmap or made wrong turns. If that is your situation, you need to know that there is good news. You don’t have to stay off course.
I am returning to the jigsaw puzzle as an illustration. The top of the jigsaw puzzle box is like Christianity. It provides proper perspective by having all the correct answers to the six areas of a worldview.
In sum, if you are a Christian, study and embrace the beliefs discussed in these six areas. As you do, you will become more intimate with God.
And as a result of that intimacy, you will see him putting the pieces of your life together perfectly.
If you are not a Christian becoming a member of God’s family is available to you. You must genuinely recognize yourself as a sinner and repent of your sins. Then you will be saved by sincerely placing your faith in Jesus as your Lord (Rom 10:9-10).
