Introduction
The biblical worldview refers to a set of thoughts and beliefs that guide the manner in which Christians understand the world and relate to its numerous characteristic elements. Because Christianity has numerous denominations, the conception of the worldview among its adherents varies in certain elements (Duvall & Hays, 2008). This concept applies as a descriptive model of the world in the eyes of a Christian.
It has six major elements, namely eschatology, praxeology, epistemology, etiology, explanation of the world, as well as values. Eschatology refers to the branch of theology concerned with the things that characterize the ultimate destiny of humankind such as death and the final judgment (Huffman, 2012). Praxeology refers to the theological element that guides Christians on ways they can attain their goals. Etiology refers to the philosophical study of causation that enlightens Christians about their origin and the purpose for existence (Huffman, 2012). The biblical worldview provides a framework of the beliefs that shape the kind of relations that Christians have with themselves, the world, and with God.
The natural world
The biblical worldview provides Christians with the ethical values that guide their actions by referring to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity has been in existence for very many years, and its adherents have relied on the same worldview to make sense of life and its numerous realities (Hindson & Towns, 2015). One of the things that Christians learn and adhere to from the biblical worldview is that man was created to love and serve the supernatural being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, and omnipresent ruler of the universe (Huffman, 2012).
The biblical worldview has a number of essentials that provide the basis for judging the actions of human beings. It is important to note that Christians do things in a certain way because they are accustomed to a certain set of guidelines that define their expected mannerisms (Duvall & Hays, 2008). The biblical worldview forms the basis of the way Christians understand and relate to God. In addition, it provides the direction that Christians take with regard to essential concepts such as marriage, education, politics, economics, children, and the environment among others (Huffman, 2012).
One of the main essentials of the biblical worldview is the importance of making decisions based on the things that make one feel comfortable, happy, eliminate conflicts, increase productivity, and have a deeper connection with God (Hindson & Towns, 2015). Research has established that the biblical worldview has a huge impact on the behavior and beliefs of Christians because they tend to do things in a certain manner (Duvall & Hays, 2008).
Human identity
Over the years, Christians have based their human identity of the biblical worldview. All their decisions, actions, and thoughts develop from the way the Bible teaches about handling the realities of life and relating to God (MacArthur, Hughes, & Mayhue, 2009). Christians identify themselves as a fallen generation because of the mistakes made by Adam. This makes them believe that human beings are prone to committing sins. According to the biblical worldview, human beings cannot be perfect and should seek forgiveness whenever they do something wrong (Hindson & Towns, 2015). Human beings also identify as weak and vulnerable to hunger for power.
Due to the fact that God gave human beings authority over all the other creations, they have developed an inclination towards having power to the extent of engaging in corruption in a bid to fulfill their heart desires. The human identity also develops from the belief that Jesus is the only source of redemption for humankind (MacArthur et al., 2009). Human beings are weak and deceitful, thus making them susceptible to condemnation from God. This element drives Christians to promote Jesus as the avenue through which they can be turned into worthwhile creatures.
Human relationships
The biblical worldview has a lot of influence on the way Christians relate. Human relations are built on the different worldviews that people have with regard to the purpose of their existence, their belief in the reality of God, and the desire to achieve eternal life (Huffman, 2012).
Certain elements of the biblical worldview determine the nature of human relations. One of the most influential elements is the belief that an absolute God exists. This element teaches Christians that God is self-sufficient and has the ability to meet the needs of all human beings. This element encourages Christians to treat each in a deserving manner because the promise of eternal life will only be enjoyed by the people that will fulfill the God’s commandment of loving one another (MacArthur et al., 2009). The second element that influences human relationships is the belief that man is created in the image of God.
This element teaches Christians about their ethical responsibility of respecting fellow human beings because they are all equal and worthy in the eyes of God (Huffman, 2012). The mutual respect, shared among human beings is heightened by the fact that God gave man dominion over all his other creations. Christians gain a lot of confidence from this element with regard to relying on their friends and family to help them deal with the numerous life challenges (MacArthur et al., 2009).
Culture
The biblical worldview has influenced Christians to build a culture around the concept of prayer and dependency. According to the Bible, God is the sole provider for his creation (Hindson, 2003). This means that all human beings depend on God to receive all their basic and recreational needs. The good thing about God’s love and mercy for humankind is the fact that he loves everyone equally regardless of the good or bad things they might have done.
This element has influenced Christians to develop a culture around prayers through which they thank God for his faithfulness, ask him for forgiveness, and request him to continue providing for their needs (Huffman, 2012). Christians have also developed a culture around living by the teachings of the Bible, which represents the word of God and his commandment with human beings. The Bible provides the truths, values, and standards by which Christians live their life. The biblical worldview dictates the culture of human beings around crucial life concepts such as family, salvation, sin, ethics, endurance, and the holy trinity (Hindson, 2003).
The living culture promoted by Christians largely develops from the will of God to human beings as stipulated in the Bible. For example, one of God’s wills for human kind is procreation in order to fill the world. This forms the basis of the family culture that Christians have promoted over the years. Christians also argue that governments across the world ought to be formed based on the biblical worldview because it clearly promotes a culture of good governance, attainment of the common good, and respect for humanity (Huffman, 2012).
Conclusion
One of the most attractive elements about the biblical worldview is a common point reference through the Bible. Unlike the other worldviews that develop their identity and culture from the events that characterize daily activities, the biblical worldview has a more solid base. However, due to the weak and selfish nature of humankind, the biblical worldview is very susceptible to dilution by the earthly desires. For example, the Bible teaches a lot about evils such as sexual immorality and prostitution. However, it is very easy to identify cases of Christians who have committed these sins without showing any remorse for their actions. Human beings are extremely weak when they come face-to-face with temptation, thus the need to make the biblical worldview more purposeful through living by the will of God.
References
Duvall, J.S., & Hays, J.D. (2008). Journey into God’s Word. San Francisco, CA: Zondervan.
Hindson, E., & Towns, E.L. (2015). Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. New York, NY: B&H Publishing Group.
Hindson, E.E. (2003). Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament Heroes. New York, NY: AMG Publishers.
Huffman, D.S. (2012). Christian Contours: How a Biblical Worldview Shapes the Mind and Heart. Sacramento, CA: Kregel Academic.
MacArthur, J., Hughes, J.A., & Mayhue, R.L. (2009). Think Biblically: Recovering a Christian Worldview. Los Angels, CA: Crossway Books.