Below I discuss seven reasons why Christians, in particular, ought to think worldview-ish-ly. This list is not exhaustive, but should, nevertheless, give a variety of reasons for thought and discussion.
Evangelism and
Missions
One central aspect of the Christian faith is the Great
Commission. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives his followers the task of “making
disciples,” which includes “baptizing” and “teaching.” However, making disciples
is not always an easy task. For one, people come from a variety of backgrounds,
which often include various assumptions about the world, differing cultural
norms, and linguistic barriers. Further, there are often significant ideological
differences between individuals. When engaging people in dialogue, it is important to
understand where one’s interlocutor is coming from, not merely on the cultural
or linguistic levels, but also theologically and ideologically. Having a basic understanding of, not only one’s own worldview assumptions, but
the worldview assumptions of others, will help foster fruitful and engaging
dialogue.
Christian
Apologetics
Christian apologetics is closely tied to evangelism, and may need to be taken up before doing evangelism.
Apologetics is the task of providing evidence for and a defense of the
Christian faith. In 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are commanded to give a “defense”
(apologia) of their hope. Yet, their
responses should be done out of “gentleness and respect.” Similarly, in Paul’s
second letter to the Corinthians, believers are exhorted to “demolish arguments
and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor
10:5, NIV). Paul’s point, here, is not that Christians ought to shoot down
peoples arguments in order to boast, “I’m right and you’re wrong.” Rather, Paul
wanted his readers to be able to “take captive every thought to make it obedient
to Christ” (2 Cor 10:5, NIV). He wanted them to have right beliefs, avoiding deceptive
teaching and the distortion and corruption of God’s Word (cf. 2 Cor 4:2). The
task of Christian apologetics requires that believers know, not only what they
believe, but also why they believe what they do. When people from other faiths
or belief systems have questions, the Christian grounded in a well thought out
worldview has the ability to provide a rational answer for her faith.
False Teaching
As noted above, Christians are to avoid
deceptive teaching and the distortion of God’s Word. Whole books of the Bible
have been written to warn believers against false teaching (2 Peter, 1 & 2
John, and Jude). Moreover, both Jesus and Paul warn against such teachers (cf. Matt
7:15-20; 1 Tim 4:1-2; 2 Tim 2:16-18; 3:13; 4:3-4). Jesus describes such false teachers
as coming in “sheep’s clothing,” but who are really “ferocious wolves” (Matt
7:15, NIV). The way that believers are to know them is by their “fruits,” or,
in other words, by what they teach (7:16-20). In the book of Colossians, Paul
warns his recipients to watch for “hollow and deceptive philosophy.” Paul is
not saying, as some falsely misinterpret him, that Christians ought to
avoid philosophy altogether. Rather, the problem is “hollow and deceptive
philosophy” that is essentially grounded in human and worldly wisdom, and not in
Christ, who is the source of all wisdom, truth, and knowledge (Col 2:2-3, 8; Jn
14:6). Having a clear grasp of one’s
worldview protects believers from falling into deceptive philosophies and the
traps of false teachers.
Personal
Enrichment
Humans are the only creatures who have the capacity to
learn, know, and understand the world. Not only do humans have the capacity to
think, but even the ability to reflect on their capacity
for learning, knowing, and understanding is part of the human make-up.
Christians believe that God created humans in his image and likeness. Because
humans are made in the image and likeness of God, we can grasp and understand the world that God has made. We may not fully comprehend it, with all of its complexities, due to our limited cognitive abilities and because of the noetic effects of sin, but this does not mean we can know nothing about it. Further, Christians believe that God has made the world rational and knowable, since God is the source of all wisdom,
knowledge, and truth (Ps 19:1-4; Jn 14:6; Rom 1:20; Col 2:2-3). Exploring
creation and knowing things about the world is part of how God made humans.
Such human capacities are part of God’s good creation.Through special revelation (Jesus and the Bible) and general revelation (God's truth found in creation) we can learn about God and the good world that He's created.
Ambassadors of
Reconciliation
Another reason for thinking worldview-ish-ly has to do
with the Christian calling of being ambassadors of reconciliation. Sin has corrupted our ability to know God and to understand the world in which
we live. God has chosen to use the church, through the power of the Holy
Spirit, and by means of Christ’s work on the cross and through His
resurrection, as an instrument of bringing about reconciliation to the world.
Sin has broken down relationships between humanity and God, human individuals
and human society, and humanity and creation. Knowing one’s worldview helps a
person gain a clearer understanding of the human condition and ways God wants
to bring about restoration and reconciliation to all things (2 Cor 5:17-21; Col 1:19-22).
Coherence to Life
Sin has fractured and fragmented the way in which we view
the world. Thinking worldview-ish-ly helps us to make sense of life, bringing
about greater coherence and cohesion to a fragmented view of reality. For
Christians, God has given us his Spirit and His word to help us make sense of
our fragmented views. Christians believe that God is the source all truth. All
truth is God’s truth. There is no truth that is to be found in the world that
is not grounded in God as its source. It is through the lens of God’s special
revelation (the Bible and Jesus), by the means of the Spirit who teaches us (1
Jn 2:27), that we come to more fully understand God’s general revelation (truth
found in creation).
Spiritual
Discipline
As J. P. Moreland points out, study is a spiritual
discipline. [1] When we study, whether learning about our own worldview or the
worldviews of other, we are actively engaging in spiritual discipline. Christians
are commanded to love God with all they have, including their minds (Mk 12:30).
Moreover, believers are challenged to take every thought captive for Christ (2
Cor 10:5). In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul warns Christians against conforming
“to the pattern of this world”; instead, they are to “be transformed by the
renewing” of their minds (Rom 12:2, NIV). According to Paul, the goal of
renewing one’s mind is transformation, which should be ultimately represented
in the offering one’s body as a living sacrifice as a spiritual act of worship
to God (Rom 12:1-2).
[1] J. P. Moreland, “Philosophy,” in Opening the American Mind: The Integration
of Biblical Truth in the Curriculum of the University (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Book House, 1991), 53.
