Last Updated on October 4, 2024 by Sarah McCubbin
One of the most important questions that is often overlooked is, “What is my worldview? and “Do I have a Biblical worldview?” This simple question captures what our beliefs are as individuals and also points to source of our identity which of course affects many other areas of life including relationships, faith and life choices.
Growing up, my education was a mix of homeschooling, public and private schooling. I went to college as several universities….both public, private and private Christian. And in that time, I may have heard the word “worldview” but I never connected with that idea. I never asked, “What is my personal worldview?”
Whether we talk about our worldviews or not, we all have one. And that is the reason it is absolutely essential that parents learn how to cultivate and teach worldview. It truly affects every area of life.
When conflict happens in relationships in life or in the world, at its root is almost always an individual’s worldview difference. To ignore it is to ignore the elephant in the room!
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Table of Contents
What Is the Definition of a Worldview?
A worldview is a set of beliefs or a lens through which human beings perceive and interpret the world. It provides answers to life’s biggest questions and shapes how individuals see their own existence, purpose, and the nature of human life. Worldviews are influenced by a variety of factors, including culture, upbringing, personal experiences, and religious teachings. Essentially, a worldview is the driving force behind how we understand reality, morality, and meaning in everyday life. James Sire describes it as a comprehensive life system that gives us a way of life by answering the deepest questions of human existence.
What Is a Biblical Worldview vs. a Christian Worldview?
To take that definition further, a biblical worldview is the lens through which followers of Jesus interpret the world based on biblical truth and the teachings of the Bible. It is rooted in the absolute truth of God’s Word, guiding human beings to live in a way that aligns with God’s creation and His purpose for mankind. This worldview acknowledges the presence of sin, the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as key components of understanding the world today. It upholds God’s truth as the only way to interpret the substance of the world and find eternal life.
On the other hand, a Christian worldview may sometimes be more broadly defined, shaped by various Christian traditions and church leaders, not always grounded strictly in the Bible. It often includes the influence of Christian faith and culture, and while it shares many of the core beliefs with a biblical worldview, it may reflect different interpretations based on denominational beliefs or traditions. George Barna and David Noebel have examined how these perspectives can impact Christian schools and young people as they develop their own worldview.
Ways A Biblical Worldview Can Be Taught
One of the biggest challenges to teaching worldview lies in the fact that most adults haven’t studied or discussed this topic themselves. It is hard to teach what you don’t know! There are a variety of tools and techniques for actually teaching the topic, but in order to teach, parents and teachers need solid resources to support deep conversations about life and how we decide WHAT we believe.
The most common way that parents and Bible teachers present worldview is a one sided method where Bible lessons are taught but the beliefs of other religions or people are never really analyzed through the lense of the Word of God. In other words, our students tend to learn the “right answers” but they don’t learn to critically analyze those beliefs or the beliefs of others. And when their beliefs are challenged, many young people do not know how to find answers or how to wrestle with hard questions.
Worldview seems like a loaded theological topic but it can be basic and have so many practical applications.
Rinse Wash Repeat Method of Teaching Worldview
Once worldview clicked for me, I realized just how simple it was to teach. As problems or issues in culture pop up in life, parents can follow these steps to have conversations about worldview in every area of our lives.
- Ask: What is the Problem? – Identify the problem or difference of opinion that is being had.
- Ask: What Does the Bible Say About This Problem?
- Look: Open up the Bible with our kids and teens and see what the Bible says about the problem.
- Look: What Is The Other Person believing? Is what they believe in the Bible or somewhere else?
- Apply: Take What You Learned and Talk About How to Live It Out Biblically…and Do It!
- Repeat: When the Next Problem Comes…Repeat.
Of course, this is a slight over simplification but this pattern of taking problems and beliefs and examining them in light of the Word of God can become a habit that is quick and easy to apply in daily life. As followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit to help guide us in all truth. Sometimes we don’t have the answers quickly. Sometimes the problems are nuanced. But the solution is always the same…seeking answers in God’s word and not in the wisdom of this world.
Resources For Teaching Worldview
In order to teach worldview, it is helpful to have a few reference resources on hand. Of course, you will want to have a Bible on hand to look up different topics. I recommend using a concordance and Bible dictionary as well.
When exploring various religion’s worldviews, it’s crucial to have a resource that is both user-friendly and sufficiently detailed to capture the key beliefs and teachings of each faith. One such resource is Master Books Comparative Religions: Practical Apologetics for the Real World, a curriculum that excels at this balance.
This curriculum utilizes the series World Religions and Cults: Counterfeits of Christianity as its core text. Designed to give students a thorough understanding of global religious systems, it also emphasizes how these belief systems differ from Biblical Christianity. With its three-volume approach, this series serves as a critical tool for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of various faiths from a Biblical perspective.
Written from a non-denominational Biblical standpoint, the course particularly highlights differences among Christian traditions, different religions around the world and many different spiritual philosophies that believe and operate out of in daily life.
Master Books World Religion Curriculum: Faith based Apologetics Guide
What Are Examples of Worldviews?
In the world today, there are many different worldviews that offer diverse answers to life’s big questions. Some examples include:
- Secular Worldview: Rooted in human reasoning and scientific understanding, this worldview often rejects the supernatural and relies solely on human history and natural explanations. The ramifications of a secular worldview can lead to a rejection of absolute truth, making morality subjective and life’s purpose undefined.
- Christian Worldview: This worldview is founded on the teachings of the Bible, focusing on the gospel of Jesus, the resurrection, and a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It emphasizes a godly life lived in alignment with biblical principles.
- Postmodern Worldview: Postmodernism rejects the idea of absolute truth, embracing a philosophy where every individual creates their own truth and meaning. This often leads to a deceptive philosophy that clashes with biblical teaching.
- Islamic Worldview: Rooted in the teachings of the Quran, this worldview focuses on submission to Allah and follows the beliefs outlined in Islam regarding man’s relations with God and the world.
- New Age Worldview: Emphasizing spiritual growth and the pursuit of enlightenment, the New Age worldview incorporates beliefs from various religious traditions, often emphasizing human potential and a sense of god within oneself.
Common Topics In The News and Culture That Relate to Worldview
In our fast paced culture, we are constantly being bombarded by all kinds of topics where our worldview will dictate our response. When people talk about things like human dignity or world peace, their definition will be influenced by their beliefs. Similarly, topics related to gender identity, gun control…even minimum wage laws can all be influenced by our worldview.
When we engage our teens on the topic of worldview, the issues of the day can taken through a filter that is bigger than ourselves. That filter isn’t based on a denomination, a political party, an author or even parents…it is taken through the filter of the Word of God. And THIS becomes so powerful for our teens to understand that what they believe affects how they live and that should be based on stable truth and not something that changes.
One of the things I have really enjoyed about Master Books Comparative Religions: Practical Apologetics for the Real World is that it offers a way to generate some of these conversations about real world topics BEFORE they pop up in the news. It prepares your kids to have conversations that they will likely have at some point in the future but does so in a way that slows the process down enough for them to absorb what they are learning.
Practical Tips For Teaching Worldview
As I mentioned before, teaching Worldview doesn’t have to always be a course. It can be woven into every day life by intentional adults who want to have meaningful interactions with kids and teens.
- Biblical Teaching: Teaching the truth of God’s Word and incorporating biblical principles into every subject helps students see the big picture and how God’s creation impacts all aspects of life. Bible verses and the teachings of the Bible form the foundation of a biblical worldview.
- Critical Thinking and Big Questions: Encouraging students to ask life’s biggest questions and explore the nature of human life from a Christian vantage point helps them develop a thoughtful worldview. They should consider the ramifications of a secular worldview and how it contrasts with a Christian view of God.
- Spiritual Growth and Personal Relationship: Teaching young people about the importance of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the presence of God in everyday life fosters a deeper sense of God and strengthens their own worldview.
- Engaging with Culture: Christian students should be equipped to navigate the challenges of Western culture, especially where deceptive philosophy and false prophets abound. This involves understanding different views and how to maintain a biblical lens in a world influenced by secularism.
- Mentorship and Christian Community: Church leaders, parents, and teachers all play a vital role in mentoring young people as they pass through various stages of their lives. Summit Ministries, the Family Research Council, and other organizations offer resources to help young people grow in their Christian faith and navigate the accompanying challenges of life.
While the idea of having a worldview may seem like an unfamiliar topic, at it’s heart, it is truly about what a person believes about God, how they came to exist and their purpose in the world. Those are big questions. For many people, their worldview is shaped by their life experiences, what they learned as children or how they cope with big problems in life.
Many people have a worldview that is based on what they feel or what they think but has no solid foundation in truth. Others have a worldview that is carefully formed to give a meaningful response to the problems that face the human race. It may be intentional but it is again not based on truth or a relationship with the God of the Bible.
Biblical Christians are those who have developed a worldview based on the truth in the Word of God. While By nurturing a sense of God’s presence and teaching that God’s truth is the only way—young people can develop a solid, biblical worldview that will guide them throughout their lives.
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! Socially awkward growing up, she loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership.
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