In The Beginning - A Basic Presupposition Series

As we have been considering different worldviews over the past few weeks, we must remember that a world view is how a person view and reacts to the environment, the culture, the happenings in the world around them. According to Dr James Sire (was a widely-respected Christian apologist, author, and lecturer) in his book, “The Universe Next Door” relates that:

"A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being." [1]

As I quote from Sire, he make special mention that a world view is a “fundamental orientation of the heart.” The “heart” in Scripture” relates to the very soul and spirit of an individual, the very base of emotion, desire and will, spirituality and intellect of a person. It is based on a set of assumptions. This assumptions are often called presuppositions because they involve pre-supposing that certain things are true. Herein is the problem, a presupposition may be true, partial true or entirely false.

As presuppositions go, most go unquestioned and examined, and accepted as a “given.” Once you assume something to be true, one will often stop wondering about its validity. We will make logical conclusions based on what we believe to be true. For example:

Before the fifteenth century, many navigators feared that you would fall off the edge of the earth if you sailed too far west. Why? Because their underlying assumption was that the earth was flat and therefore had an edge. Their logic was quite sound. But their conclusion was wrong because it was built upon a false presupposition. If your logic is sound, you will reach a correct conclusion, but only if your assumptions are correct. But if one or more of your starting assumptions are false, you can have airtight, foolproof reasoning and logic—but come up with a very wrong conclusion. [2]

As Christians, followers of Jesus, our world view should be based on the very Word of God, the Bible. But there are many who claim to have a Biblical worldview, yet they deny the essence of Scripture. We need to consider a very basic presupposition from Scripture, and I will take from one from the Old Testament and other from the New Testament

Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1–3

We came across a devotional book the other day, I will not mention the title or the author, but the author did have a Doctor in Ministry degree in Spiritual Directions from an unknown seminary. The book was all about God’s love. On the surface it sounded like a good book, but as you dig deeper, I found it full of Biblical error. Apparently, the author had a worldview that included the presupposition that natural science, as it is being proclaimed today, is true with current evolution theory regarded as facts, and the Bible must therefore be in error or rather speaking in allegories and metaphors.

He writes that God’s love drives the whole evolutionary process, from matter to life and life to more complex creatures capable of love. Nowhere, in all of Scripture, does the Word speak of God directing evolution. If he cannot get the basics about God in the beginning right, what else is he in error about?

We must be very careful what we read. Before I read a book, research the author, and I read the reviews from those I trust. And with everything else, when I do read, I judge it by the Word of God itself. Even among so-called Christians, many have presuppositions that are very much in error. The Bible is very clear about these errors. The scripture calls misplaced presupposition that are in error, deceptions.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Herein is the problem having a biblical worldview, it conflicts with the errors of the worldly presuppositions held by most. The fact is, much of the world cannot get past the first 4 words of Genesis 1:1.

Genesis 1:1a In the beginning God …

The Bible didn’t start out:

“In the beginning was the big bang;””

OR “In the beginning, the earth was without form and void.”

OR “In the beginning, when dinosaurs roamed the earth”

OR “In the beginning in a galaxy far, far, away”

The fact is, there was a beginning, and before there was a beginning there was God. Time itself is a creation of God. Time has a beginning and time will have an end.