Definition of a Worldview: A worldview is a set of beliefs about the most important issues in life. It enables us to interpret reality. Our worldview is our map by which we navigate through what we learn in order to make sense of the world around us. Everybody has a worldview and believes theirs is correct. A religious belief, such as Christianity, is an example of a worldview. How important is the truth of your worldview? Here are 3 reasons why it is important to follow a true worldview.
1. If your worldview is false, what is observed in the real world will run counter to your view. For example some people believe that everyone is born morally good or neutral. These individuals have a hard time explaining why it seems every person born is either rotten to the core or has some ugliness in his or her life. Or why our children go through the terrible twos. On the other hand, the Christian worldview believes a person is born with a propensity to sin and will continue to do moral wrongs throughout his or her life. This belief seems to match what we observe in our world today. All we have to do is pick up a newspaper and read the front page news to see what recent evils were committed. Daily moral wrongs are done all over the world. An honest look at our own heart will reveal we are far from moral perfection or neutrality. In the area of morality Christianity maintains a view that seems to match the world as we experience it; while other worldviews struggle to explain why there is so much evil in the world.
2. A faulty view of the world will lead to faulty conclusions. If you believe in the basic goodness of all mankind you will conclude if a child turns out to be rotten, the child is simply a victim of bad parenting, horrible living conditions, or racial prejudice. Since you believe children are born “good” your explanation has to blame someone. Personal responsibility is no longer viable. Whereas Christianity, without ignoring the child’s environment, still holds the individual responsible for his or her actions. Christianity teaches people make morally free will choices. We cannot blame our actions on our upbringing.
3. A false worldview will force a person to rationalize information. If according to his worldview mankind is born “good” then he will look for information that will confirm this view. If he finds information counter to his view he will either reinterpret it or reject it altogether. If the evidence is strongly against his worldview then the individual is forced to rationalize an explanation. Christians also filter information through their worldview and either accept or reject it. And this is what we should do; if our worldview is true then we reject the false and accept only true information. A true worldview doesn’t have to rationalize why the information doesn’t fit.
It is extremely important to make sure the worldview you follow is true. Over the next few weeks I am going to make a case for the truth of the Christian worldview and at the same time look at a few competing belief systems and show why I believe they are false.
