Developing A Biblical Worldview Series

From Rod Parsley, author of “Culturally Incorrect: How Clashing Worldviews Affect Your Future” tells us:

“One of the main reasons the evangelical church is faring so poorly in the current clash of cultures is that so few followers of Christ actually have a fully biblical worldview. The majority of believers today carry around a hodgepodge of biblical and non-biblical assumptions. We’ve retained a core of biblical presuppositions while uncritically picking up others from the dominant anti-biblical culture." [1]

In this technological modern culture we live in today, we find we are being bombarded by information and political ideologies, and assorted worldviews from all over, all the time.

We can compare our minds to a computer. The output of a computer is only as good as the data that is loaded in. In computer jargon, they have the term, “GIGO” meaning “Garbage in, Garbage out.” The same is pretty much true for the human mind. What do we put into our minds?

Sheriff’s deputies investigating the theft of an SUV in central Florida were surprised to discover the suspect had a lot more experience than they thought. Deputies found the stolen 1998 Dodge Durango parked in the driveway of a home, and inside they found the suspected thief playing the popular video game “Grand Theft Auto.” Arguably one of the more violent first person shooter video games out there played by many teens-Talk about “GIGO! Authorities arrested 30-year-old Michael Ray Ekes and charged him with grand theft auto, burglary, and drug possession. When they arrested Ekes, a check of his records indicated that he had just gotten out of jail on bond on another charge of auto theft. We do the things we think about.[2]

What is in your mind? We only respond and do what has been programed inside of us. It is easy to say we have a Biblical worldview but do we really. How do we get a Biblical worldview? We must not forget that out worldview affects us in the way we view and the we react to the world around us. For most of us [including me] we need a basic reprogramming of our minds. Paul tells us:

2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ ...

Taking every thought captive? I don’t know about you, but that is much easier said than done. Just how do we do that? Well the Bible tells us how we are to develop a Biblical Worldview.

Romans 12:1–2 Philippians 3:12–14

If we are to develop a biblical mindset, a biblical worldview, we must begin to do things differently. A biblical worldview does not come by accident. It requires intentionality.[3]

For most of us, living the Christian life, practicing Christian values , is not all that difficult considering the company we keep. Think about it, we live in in a pretty conservative area and most of our friends are Christian or at least espouse Christian values.

According to Fred Smith, author of the book “Developing a Biblical Worldview: Seeing Things God’s Way,”, He says; "It is easy to be pro-life and to condemn the pro-abortion crowd—if all that means is voting a certain way on Election Day every two years or so. It is easy to avoid drinking when our friends do not drink, and the only options we have at a party are soda or iced tea. There is nothing wrong with this, as far as it goes. Be aware, however, that when one’s friends are all nondrinkers, and antiabortion, and pro-traditional marriage, it is no great struggle to live the same way. We easily slip into being content with mere respectability rather than living radically for Christ. [4]

Jesus tells us:

Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

As we read through the sermon on the mount, we see Jesus teaching about what is in our hearts, what is our motivation, what is our thinking? It does gets down to heart. What is in our heart? Paul tell us:

Romans 12:2a And do not be conformed to this world …

So also in our day, we can be respectable, good citizens, even better than most, and yet still be “conformed to this age.” Jesus calls us to a righteousness that “exceeds the righteousness” of the respectable crowd in our time.[5]

So how is that done?

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Because of God’s mercies (that we read about from the end of Romans 11), Paul says “Therefore.” He is drawing a conclusion and is now making application. We are to offer ourselves as a sacrifice, a living sacrifice. In other places, we are referred as priests, we believe in the priesthood of the believer. Peter tells us: