What is a Worldview?

As a Christian, we must think hard about Jesus Christ in order to know him, to defend our faith and to make Christ known in this world.

A Worldview is a conceptual lens (pair of glasses) through which we see, understand, and interpret the world and our place within it.

German - Welt = World + Anschuung = view or outlookImmanuel Kant - in describing an individual sensory perception of the world 

German philosophy 18-19th century 

The roots of Worldview is in Philosophy. 

Yes philosophy! Thinking hard about something

Philosophy is a way of thinking about the world, the universe, and society. 

“Everybody operates upon a philosophy of life, a worldview that defines for them the way the world works and how they know things and how they ought to behave. So Philosophy is ultimately a practical reality for all of us. In this sense, everyone is a philosopher; some are just more aware of it than others.” - Brian Godawa (Intro to Christian Worldview -ICW)

The Divine Worldview

How does God see the world?

Begin and end here: just three truth as we orient ourselves.

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Col.1:15-16

Jesus Christ is God and we exist for him. What is the implication on all of life? 

Jesus is the active cause of creation (agent, power,. instrument)

Jesus is the goal of all creation

Jesus Christ is God and we exist for him. What is the implication on all of life? 

Jesus Christ is God and we exist for him.

What is the implication on all of life? We must think hard about who Jesus is and what he’s done and what hes promised to do.

Ex: Youtube: 3min clips wont do it.

How does Jesus see us?

Genesis 1:26 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

“All truth is God’s truth” Arthur Holmes

What you believe about truth tells you in part your worldview

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

A Christian Worldview pursues God’s perspective on the world, for his perspective is true, reliable and trustworthy. (ICW, 2) 

Our goal:To know Him

-

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Our goal resembles a child’s devoted desire to become like his heavenly Father. (ICW, 2)

- The goal: To know Him

John 17:3 ESV

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

How do I Engage Someone of an opposing Worldview?

To defend and to make Christ known

A case study from

Acts 17:16–21 ESV

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Tell the story first

Hoe does peoples lostness affect you? V. 16

He was provoked - upset - emotional - passive =came on him

urged him on… to do what?

v.17 to reason with Jews and Gentiles

Reasoned = converse, discuss. to argue = where we get ‘“dialog”

Jews = temple

Gentiles = center city - v18

epicurean &Stoics - engaged in conversation

Epicureans: atheists - simple pleasures and avoid pain was the goal. very individualistic - reason is insufficient

Stoics: The good life, then, is one in which reason, not passion, rules, and peace of mind and harmony with nature consequently prevail.

Materialist.

Stiff upper lip and live this life with courage

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Stoics, Stoicism

For them, death was a rationally inevitable fate to be accepted with equanimity, though ultimately without hope.

The good life, then, is one in which reason, not passion, rules, and peace of mind and harmony with nature consequently prevail.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Stoics, Stoicism. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 2000). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

First rule of apologetics: be observant in the culture

Look for a bridge of agreement -

Acts 17:22–23 ESV

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

religious people who worship - unknown god - v22-23

Creation - v.24-

Acts 17:24 ESV

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

clarity-

We are made know him and seek him

Logically if God is sovereign, all knowing, independent uncreated creator of all thenm

confronts untruth Made in Gods image (offspring lang)

Fall/Sin - v. 30-31

Redemption - v. 31-

Ongoing conversation - V32-33

Some believed - Some Laughed - Some wanted to have another conversation

Why is it important to have a biblical Worldview?

Guards against being misled - postmoderrn worldview - naturalistic materialism

So What?

Why is Worldview critical for our lives?

Worldview is critical because we can be misled

Both in church and is world

Especially college

The privatizing of our faith - Facts & values divide

Worldview is critical because the great commission is critical

We are ambassadors of a foreign kingdom.

to be an ambassador:

we must understand the culture we are sent to

We must defend the worldview thru the grid of creation, fall, redemption