I got glasses for the first time three years ago. Growing up, I had great vision and never had any need for glasses. But in high school, I started noticing that it was getting more and more difficult for me to see things like information written on classroom whiteboards, sermon notes on the screen at church, and street signs when I was driving. I went to an optometrist, and sure enough, I needed glasses. When I put on my first pair of glasses, everything was so clear and bright, and it was almost like I was seeing a whole new world.
A person’s worldview is a lot like a pair of glasses. One’s worldview is the lens through which they view the world. Just like different eyeglasses prescriptions or sunglasses tints will alter how you see the world around you, different worldviews will alter what you believe about the world. Whether they realize or not, everyone has a worldview. Everyone, even those who claim to be non-religious, holds a set of beliefs that determine how they see the world. And every person’s worldview answers seven key questions about the world – the question of origins, the question of identity, the question of purpose, the question of morality, the question of the problem, the question of the solution, and the question of destiny.
It is important for believers to hold a Christian worldview, to answer these questions in a way that agrees with Scripture and glorifies God. If we don’t, we can easily fall into belief systems that are sinful and worldly and built on lies. Therefore, we must search the Word of God to figure out what a Christian worldview looks like and how it answers these seven key questions.
The Question of Origins
Where did we come from? How did this world come to be? The Bible tell us that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He created everything, even the things that we can’t see (Colossians 1:16). He didn’t use a big bang or evolving microorganisms. Instead, God simply spoke things into existence (Hebrews 11:3, Psalm 33:6). He created the universe in six days (not billions of years), and He created human beings on the sixth day (Exodus 20:11, Genesis 1:27).
The Question of Identity
Who are we? What makes us different or unique? The Creation narrative makes it clear that human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). No other creature was created in this way. This means that each and every human life, no matter their age, gender, race, or status, has inherent value. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, for God formed us and knitted us together (Psalm 139:13-14). And God has a purpose for each of us, even before we are born (Jeremiah 1:5).
The Question of Purpose
What is our purpose? What things are we supposed to do throughout our lives? The very first humans were given two major purposes – be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28). We were created to be in relationship with God and with each other (Genesis 2:18) and to do good works on this earth (Ephesians 2:10). Our duty is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13), and the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).
The Question of Morality
What is good? How do we determine what is right and what is wrong? The God who created us is perfectly righteous and good, and He determines what is good and right (Psalm 34:8, 119:137). We can discover what God declares as good and right by reading and studying the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God. All of Scripture is profitable for training us in righteousness and equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Question of the Problem
What is the problem in our world? What has gone wrong? Clearly, things are not perfect in this world. We live in a world with horrible injustices, catastrophic natural disasters, and people who clearly do not follow the commandments laid out in God’s Word. Our problem is sin. When the first two human beings disobeyed God, sin entered the world (Genesis 3). Someone commits sin when they fail to obey God’s commands or when they do what God calls wrong (James 4:17). Everybody sins and falls short of God’s standard of holiness and righteousness because we have all inherited a sin nature (Romans 3:23, Psalm 51:5). And because of our sin against God, we deserve eternal separation from Him (Romans 6:23a).
The Question of the Solution
What is the solution? How can the problem of the world be solved? It is impossible for us to save ourselves, but God graciously and mercifully provided a way for us to be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life on this earth, die as a sacrifice for our sins, and be resurrected to give us new, eternal life (John 3:16). All we have to do to be forgiven of our sins and receive this eternal life is to repent from our sins and to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior (1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10). There is no other way to be saved from our sin (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only Way (John 14:6).
The Question of Destiny
What happens to us when we die? Is there an afterlife? There is an afterlife after we die, and we will go to one of two places (Hebrews 9:27). Those who remain unrepentant and reject Jesus will receive eternal punishment in hell (John 3:36, Matthew 25:46). Hell is a real place that is away from the presence of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It has been described as a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50). On the other hand, those who do repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will receive eternal life in heaven (John 3:16, 5:24). Heaven is also a real place where believers will forever be in the presence and glory of God. In heaven, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:3-4). Sin and death will be forever defeated, and we will enjoy unhindered fellowship and everlasting life with our Creator.
The Christian Worldview
This is the Christian worldview. God created everything in the entire universe, including you and me. We were created in His image and for a purpose. We are called to obey God and do what is right and good, and we learn what is right and good by reading and studying the Bible. The problem in this world is sin, and the only solution for this problem is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who reject this solution will spend eternity separated from God in hell. But those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity with God in heaven.
If your worldview differs from any of these points, if you believe the universe came to be through evolution, if you believe all human lives aren’t equally valuable, if you believe the Bible isn’t the Word of God, if you believe the main problem in this world is something other than sin, if you believe the solution to the problem of the world is something other than Jesus, if you believe there is no hell, or if you believe that there’s a way to heaven outside of Jesus, then you do not have a biblical worldview. You do not have a Christian worldview. And I encourage you to repent and to seek the truth.
If your worldview agrees with the points above, if you have a truly biblical and Christian worldview, stand firm and be strong. The world will hate you for what you believe and try to convince you that your beliefs are wrong. But you can trust that what the Bible says is true and you can be at peace, for Jesus is coming back soon to rid the world of all sin and evil.
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33, ESV
