As we have been considering different worldviews over the past few weeks, we must remember that a world view is how a person view and reacts to the environment, the culture, the happenings in the world around them. According to Dr James Sire (was a widely-respected Christian apologist, author, and lecturer) in his book, “The Universe Next Door” relates that:
"A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being." [1]
As I quote from Sire, he make special mention that a world view is a “fundamental orientation of the heart.” The “heart” in Scripture” relates to the very soul and spirit of an individual, the very base of emotion, desire and will, spirituality and intellect of a person. It is based on a set of assumptions. This assumptions are often called presuppositions because they involve pre-supposing that certain things are true. Herein is the problem, a presupposition may be true, partial true or entirely false.
As presuppositions go, most go unquestioned and examined, and accepted as a “given.” Once you assume something to be true, one will often stop wondering about its validity. We will make logical conclusions based on what we believe to be true. For example:
Before the fifteenth century, many navigators feared that you would fall off the edge of the earth if you sailed too far west. Why? Because their underlying assumption was that the earth was flat and therefore had an edge. Their logic was quite sound. But their conclusion was wrong because it was built upon a false presupposition. If your logic is sound, you will reach a correct conclusion, but only if your assumptions are correct. But if one or more of your starting assumptions are false, you can have airtight, foolproof reasoning and logic—but come up with a very wrong conclusion. [2]
As Christians, followers of Jesus, our world view should be based on the very Word of God, the Bible. But there are many who claim to have a Biblical worldview, yet they deny the essence of Scripture. We need to consider a very basic presupposition from Scripture, and I will take from one from the Old Testament and other from the New Testament
Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1–3
We came across a devotional book the other day, I will not mention the title or the author, but the author did have a Doctor in Ministry degree in Spiritual Directions from an unknown seminary. The book was all about God’s love. On the surface it sounded like a good book, but as you dig deeper, I found it full of Biblical error. Apparently, the author had a worldview that included the presupposition that natural science, as it is being proclaimed today, is true with current evolution theory regarded as facts, and the Bible must therefore be in error or rather speaking in allegories and metaphors.
He writes that God’s love drives the whole evolutionary process, from matter to life and life to more complex creatures capable of love. Nowhere, in all of Scripture, does the Word speak of God directing evolution. If he cannot get the basics about God in the beginning right, what else is he in error about?
We must be very careful what we read. Before I read a book, research the author, and I read the reviews from those I trust. And with everything else, when I do read, I judge it by the Word of God itself. Even among so-called Christians, many have presuppositions that are very much in error. The Bible is very clear about these errors. The scripture calls misplaced presupposition that are in error, deceptions.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Herein is the problem having a biblical worldview, it conflicts with the errors of the worldly presuppositions held by most. The fact is, much of the world cannot get past the first 4 words of Genesis 1:1.
Genesis 1:1a In the beginning God …
The Bible didn’t start out:
“In the beginning was the big bang;””
OR “In the beginning, the earth was without form and void.”
OR “In the beginning, when dinosaurs roamed the earth”
OR “In the beginning in a galaxy far, far, away”
The fact is, there was a beginning, and before there was a beginning there was God. Time itself is a creation of God. Time has a beginning and time will have an end.
He is the beginning and God is the end, and He exist outside of these constraints because he created it. And then the Word tells us:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God created. The word 'created" in Hebrew is "bara" This Hebrew verb throughout the OT is only used with God as it’s subject. The word never says anything about an object created from something, but rather it just says God created, God brings into existence something from nothing. Only God creates. And God created it all. The phrase “the heavens and the earth” is a Hebrew figure of speech for saying “everything.” Everything that has ever existed and will ever existed, owes its being to God. The rest of Genesis Chapter 1 is commentary on this simple statement of fact.
The implications are clear. Whether or not we admit it, we are absolutely and completely fully dependent on God, who created all; God as Creator, God as Sovereign Lord over His creation.
Also, by definition, God is absolutely and completely fully independent of us. God neither needs us nor is He in any way reliant on us. As God being the creator, He alone determines right and wrong. For something to be an offense to God, for God to take action, does not require our understanding or our agreement to make it so.
If God is creator of all things, including me, then I am answerable and accountable to Him. I owe Him and not Him me. That means God sets the standards, not me. God determines right and wrong, not me.
Herein lies the problem of the world. The world does not want to be answerable, or accountable to anyone or anything. Since God is Creator, He is the author of all truth. His words are eternal. If you cannot get past Genesis 1:1, the rest of the Bible would be worthless to you.
God’s existence is not dependent on our belief or the world’s belief. God’s name for Himself deals with His existence:
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Translators have a difficult time translating this phrase because it can be interpreted in so many ways:
I AM THE PRE-EXISTING ONE
I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE
I AM THAT I AM
God’s name proclaims His existence. We cannot begin to please God unless we sincerely believe His existence:
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
And the Bible has a word for those who do not believe:
Psalm 14:1a The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
The “Fool” in Biblical terms means more than just a person who lack good sense or sound judgment. “Fool” does not mean stupid. It means a moral degenerate, someone who is worthless and godless. those who are "fools" have deliberately chosen not to believe. The Bible tells us that God has very clearly made His existence known.
Romans 1:19–20 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
The Bible is clear. God will deal severely with those who do not acknowledge His being. This basic presupposition about God’s existence and God’s creation activity will govern all other presuppositions we have in our worldview.
But there is more, much more. A good percentage of the world will acknowledge there is a God, that He exist, and God created all there is. But we also have a God who can be known and has made that possible through His only begotten Son, Jesus. Much of the world will tolerate you speaking of God, but bring up the name of Jesus and you will be labeled a fanatic, a religious nut. But Jesus makes all the difference. And with our biblical worldview and a proper understanding of the Scriptures, we see that Jesus was in the beginning and Jesus was with God and Jesus was God.
John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Jesus is the Word that was and is God. In fact, all of creation came into existence by, though, and for Jesus.
Colossians 1:16–17 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Jesus is an integral part of time itself, for He says:
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
The fact remains, whether God is acknowledged or not, there is coming a day when all will proclaim Jesus as Lord.
Philippians 2:10–11 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You cannot have a proper Biblical worldview without Jesus. All of scripture points to Jesus. Jesus tells us:
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
Our worldview then, to be truly Biblical, our view would be all about Jesus. This is basic, this is the core of who and what we are as Christians and how we view the world and react to events around us. We need to be all about Jesus. Yet, do our actions portray what it is that we profess?
In today’s politically correct culture, the things of God are being put away as foolishness. We cannot acknowledge our spiritual heritage. We cannot mention the very word “God” in public, much less bring up the name of Jesus for fear of offending someone.
How many in public life, those up for election, will publicly profess Jesus as Lord and Savior. I don’t mean express a belief about Jesus or will quote Scripture, all done to win the vote of church goers, but profess Jesus as Lord and lead a life that is consistent with that profession of faith, making Godly decisions, not popular decisions.
The fact is, the word of God is offensive to many. But the very word of God ought to strike fear into the hearts of the unsaved. But God’s truth is actively rejected by the world.
Look at the hot button issues in our country today, abortion, same sex marriage, transgenderism, critical race theory, and the list goes on. Much of the thinking in our popular culture and in decisions handed down by our courts and legislation by our elected officials go directly against the word of God. And we as God’s people, if we speak publicly against many of this issue we will be labeled bigoted, homophobic, and accused of hate speak. The name of Jesus is offensive. But what did Jesus say?
Matthew 10:32–33 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Do we confess Jesus to the world? Yes, how we view the world is important. Do we live out those views. If our basic presuppositions are firm in our hearts, it will be part of all we say and do.
The question this morning is not whether you believe in a creator God, for the Scriptures tells us the even the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19). But do you have a saving belief in Jesus, in his atoning death on the cross, and fully dependent on His Spirit and know that you are answerable to Him. Are you willing to confess Jesus publicly before family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors? It is all about Jesus. Your worldview does matter.
[1] James W. Sire, The Universe next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, Sixth Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2020), 6. This book I personally highly recommend for the study of worldviews.
[2] Rod Parsley, Culturally Incorrect: How Clashing Worldviews Affect Your Future (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009). Another highly recommended book on worldviews.
