Blogging "A Clear View": Introduction to Worldview

This post is the first in a series of blogging Keith Ogorek's "A Clear View."

Everyone has a worldview. Constructed of our beliefs, our worldview is the lens through which we see the world. As a Christian, it is my goal to have a sound worldview based firmly on biblical principles. More than that, I want to be able to understand other people's worldviews, in order to influence them and bring them to Christ.

Because, after all, what's the point of having knowledge if we don't use it? Keith Ogorek makes a very good point:

If we simply study worldview to increase our knowledge, but fail to use that knowledge to communicate the reality of the Christian life at every point of culture we touch, there is the potential for us to live in an "intellectual gated community."

Believers in Christ are called to go boldly and spread the Gospel. We are not to live double lives, and keep our "everyday" selves separate from our "church" selves. If our identity is truly in Christ, than we should allow -- no, we should emphatically desire to blend our church lives with our everyday lives, and influence the secular culture. 

Therefore, knowing our own worldview, and having an understanding of the worldviews of others, simply isn't enough. Simply having that knowledge would only give us the capacity to label others, depending on their worldview. Yet if we truly love people as God has called us to, we won't merely label them; we'll use our knowledge of worldviews to help them understand the beauty of the Gospel. 

So what, exactly, is a worldview made up of? 

a worldview = "a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold consciously or subconsciously about the basic makeup of our world." (James Sire)

According to Ogorek, there are three major components that form a person's worldview:

1) the person's view of God

does He exist?

what are His attributes?

can we know Him?

2) the person's view of Man

good vs. evil

fate vs. free will

immortal vs. mortal

who or what his Man's authority?

3) the person's view of Existence

origin and end

good vs. evil

material worlds vs. immaterial worlds

how do we know knowledge?

how do we know truth?

How we view each one of these three things -- God, Man, and Existence -- determines our worldview. And our views in each of these three areas will influence our views on the other two.

Ultimately, our "Life Picture" is the application of our worldview:

"A Life Picture is the perspective or conviction we have about the common things of life that is informed and influenced by our worldview." (Keith Ogorek)

Our "Life Picture" is how we view everyday issues, such as money, family, work, music, sports, leisure, etc. We develop our "Life Picture" through our worldview, so a person's Life Picture is a window into their worldview. We can often determine a person's worldview based off of their Life Picture -- something important to remember when evangelizing.

So let's talk about individual worldviews:

I think that one's experiences and education are what make a worldview personal and dynamic.  While more than one person might have the same worldview, their individual experiences and thoughts are what brought them to it, and that's what will determine how passionate they are on certain points and less emphatic on others. Each situation is unique. 

As for how one develops a worldview in the first place -- I believe that everything influences one's worldview, and contributes to its formation. The books we read, the songs we hear, the movies we see. How others act, whether it be in person or through the television. How others talk, whether they be our friends and family and pastor and coworkers or a radio personality. Words, spoken and written. Pictures, moving or still. Everything.

I think the question that has the most influence in shaping a person's worldview is the question, "Does God exist?" While singularly believing in His existence or denying it does not form a complete worldview, how we view God will influence all of our beliefs. For example, a belief in God will allow us to answer the question, "Who or what is Man's authority?," and help us determine how the origin and end of the universe has come and will come to pass. 

As for the Life Picture, I personally believe "leisure" is the most important issue. What we do in our leisure time is, I think, the most telling of our worldview and mindset.  How much leisure time do we have? Do we spend so much time working, in pursuit of wealth, that we have very little time left for leisure? And the leisure time that we do have -- Do we spend it with family? Do we spend it in prayer and God's Word? Do we spend it doing selfish things?

Our worldview influences everything we do, and everything we do and observe influences our worldview. 

At the end of the introduction, Ogorek leaves his readers with some questions to consider. Questions that I think would be good to ponder every night, as we reflect back on the previous day, and prepare ourselves for tomorrow:

"Would the non-Christians you come in contact with know you are a Christian? If so, why? If not, why?"

love isn't just for valentine's day.

"For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day with reds and pinks? Because hearts are red? 

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13)

Red stands for blood. Blood that was shed for us, blood that was drawn by a crown of thorns, and nails driven through a pair of holy hands and holy feet. 

"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Love is not roses and chocolate and candlelit dinners. Love is not hearts cut out of red construction paper and little candies with sweet messages imprinted on them. These things--these material things--are used to symbolize our love for each other, and there's nothing wrong with that, but lately it seems they have taken the place of love itself. 

Love is more than a feeling. Humans' emotions swell and fade, come and go. Emotions fail, and as we know from 1 Corinthians 13, love never fails. While we can definitely feel love and affection, love is so much more than an emotion.

Love is dedicating ourselves to persevere through our emotions, through any situation, so that when we no longer feel "attracted to" or when we feel angry or hurt or unwanted by someone we love, we stick by them all the same. Love is sacrificing your own wants, desires, and ambitions for someone else, even when it hurts.  Even when they don't deserve it. Especially when they don't deserve it.

Love is sacrifice. Love is a verb. Love is something you do.

Love is cleaning the house for your mom, not to score "awesome daughter/son points," not for personal gain, but because you sincerely want to make things easier for her. Love is helping your little siblings even when they're bugging you like crazy. Love is walking with your friend through a tough time even when it's hard for you. Love is praying for an enemy. Love is sacrificing your time, your desires, your possessions, your blood for someone else. Love is dying in the place of another. 

God is love. Jesus dying for us is love. 

Dying for someone is so much more than just a feeling. 

True love -- God's love -- is worth everything, and more. 

Share God's love with someone today. 

{1 Corinthians 13}