Most of us never sat down to write the specifics of our worldview. Still, they say we all have one. Some are absolute, line-for-line duplicates of the prevailing philosophies of life and world concepts. Others are like much of American social thought today: a little of this and a little of that. Still, our worldview is the lens through which we decipher and interpret life. Much of the confusion about our perplexing times results from the inter-play of these broad components that help us define and practice life realities. Our varied responses to the death of George Floyd, and many others for that matter, derive from our understanding of basic rights, privileges, law, human decency, response to authority , and many everyday life functions.
Observers and research organizations typically identify six basic non-Christian worldviews. An article at Ligonier Ministries by James Anderson mentions these six:
naturalism; postmodernism; pantheism; pluralism; Islam; and moralistic therapeutic deism. If you would like to read the article for the broad specifics of each worldview click here. Please note that the definitions are simplified. You can Google them all for more detail.
Since around the fourth century the Western world has been dominated by a Christian worldview. Once again there are slight variations in what this biblical worldview means. But, most interpretations include thoughts about our Providential God, absolute truth, the sinless life of Jesus Christ, God's redemptive plan and purpose for life, the reality of evil in the person of Satan, the accuracy of Scripture, and Christian responsibility to share the biblical truth of salvation with others. Following the tenets of Scripture and faith are elemental to this view of life. The Apostle Paul wrote---
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to
human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to
Christ.
Colossians 2:8, ESV
The instruction is to deny man-made philosophies and ideals because they change with human thought, the whims of man. The biblical, or Christian worldview, is believed to be unchanging and sure for all time.
If you've read this blog over time you know that I hold a Christian worldview. Several important issues in this worldview speak to the confusion of a nation in clash mode, the recent dynamics that have caused such troubling times. Very briefly they are---
The Sanctity of human life and the value of every human being.
The biblical commands that we submit to governing authorities and pray for those in governing leadership.
The biblical instruction about avoiding destructive behaviors resulting from hatred, anger, envy, vengeance, duplicity, unhealthy talk, and many other evidences of evil.
The biblical expectation that humans honor God in their actions and words.
The Scriptural duty of humans to obey God.
These are rudimentary considerations. Please forgive my exclusion of some matters that have either slipped through my memory systems or my estimation of what is most important. Most of these worldview thoughts and the items listed are the source of confusion about what has been happening in our nation in the aftermath of George Floyd's killing. It's way above my pay grade, as they say.
This Christian worldview compels me and all other Christians to address the human fallacies that have contributed to these perplexing times. We have been commissioned to influence our times. It is demanded by our Christian worldview. Jesus said---
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be
restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under
people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor
do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to
all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may
' see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5: 13-16, ESV
Christian friends, now is the time to let our salt season and our lights shine. May it be especially true as our worldviews collide.
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