Worldview

We all have a worldview.

“Great blessings belong to those who don't listen to evil advice, who don't live like sinners,

and who don't join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the LORD'S teachings

and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted

by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall.

Everything they do is successful.” Salm 1:1-3

“A worldview is a set of assumptions held consciously or unconsciously

in faith about the basic makeup of the world and how the world works”

What is an assumption?

The idea from which a person reasons and establishes his beliefs. It's the idea upon which their conclusions are based.

Our presuppositions shape the way we see things and our lifestyle.

A false worldview will affect our understanding of the world we live in, our ability to share the gospel and see transformation in the lives of the saved.

IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

“For as he thinks within himself, so is he…” Prov. 23:7

Ideas - Actions - Habits - Character - Destiny

"Ideas can be more powerful than weapons" Cuba

In all areas of life, ideas have very profound consequences.

The 4 corners for obtaining evidence

Revelation - Reason - Others - Experience

Three Main Worldviews:

Animism - Secularism - Biblical Teism

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Animism

• It has its roots in the Far East and the religions of popular or folk culture of the world

• Spirits gave life to everything and everything moves towards a unity of spirit

• The real world is invisible; the truth is hidden and irrational; everything is a mystery.

Secularism

• The modern or "scientific" perspective of the world

• It sees reality as fundamentally physical

• Life is seen as the result of the interaction of matter and energy, time and chance.

• Truth is what the senses can perceive.

• Morality is relative. Values arise from social consensus.

Biblical Teism

* Biblical Theism has its roots in the Ancient East (Israel)

* The fundamental reality is personal and relational

* God exists. He created a universe of physical and spiritual dimensions

The truth, revealed by God, is objective and can be known by man

* God’s love and character establish absolute moral values

• An infinite and personal God.

• God created man and the world.

• God transcends the world and at the same time is immanent in it.

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ANIMISM

The truth is:

• Mystical, spiritual, not material

• Not knowable in an objective way

• Not concrete or tangible

• Subjective

• How I feel

God is:

• Impersonal spirits

• Powerful forces

• Non-relational

• They must be pleased with sacrifices

• They control everything

• They are responsible for all the evil

• and all the good

• They are without reason

Man is:

• Controlled by outside forces.

• Caused, passive.

• Not responsible.

• A victim.

• Has no more value than nature.

• There's no basis for how to treat others.

Creation:

• The physical world is not important.

• Reality is only spiritual.

• No one owns property.

• The spirits control the land.

• Work is a curse.

• There is no stewardship of the land.

• Wealth is luck.

• When one wins, has to lose the other.

Government:

• The external controls the internal.

• The government is responsible for everything.

• The Chief or Boss must provide.

• Impressions rule them more than the intellect.

• Guided by emotion, not reason.

• Anarchy.

SECULARISM

Truth:

• Truth is only matter

• Reality is what I can objectively feel or study.

• Morality is relative

• Faith and Reason are opposites

God:

• It doesn't exist.

• The world came from evolution.

• God is superstition.

• Man is God.

• Reality is based on matter, not the spiritual or a Supreme Being.

Man:

• It is a product of his heritage, environment, and education.

• They can be re-programmed.

• Man is an animal.

• He must satisfy his carnal desires without guilt.

• It is natural.

• He has value for what he does.

• His existence is by chance.

• They are nothing but molecules.

Creation:

• Resources are limited and must be redistributed equally.

• Overpopulation causes hunger and poverty.

• The abundance of some causes the lack of others.

• Man is the center of the universe.

Government:

• The government must control man and the economy.

• Justice is equality.

• The government must ensure that everyone receives the same.

• The means are justified by the end.

• Government is responsible for providing for its people.

• Tyranny.

BIBLICAL TEISM

Truth:

• It's spiritual and material.

• It is objective and can be experienced subjectively.

• It is a correct description of reality.

• It's to be discovered, not invented.

• The truth is constant and knowable.

God:

• He is infinite and eternal, but He is also personal.

• He is relational, knowable, rational, and loving.

• He seeks the maximum well-being of all.

• He is the creator of everything, owns everything and reigns over everything.

• God is separate from His creation.

• God sacrificed Himself to redeem man.

Man:

• It is made in the image of God.

• It's finite.

• It has purpose and design.

• It has great value.

• It is responsible for its actions.

• It can form character.

• Man needs to be redeemed.

• He needs to respond to God.

• He can know the truth and be free.

Creation:

• You can create wealth with ideas, character and opportunity.

• Man must be the steward of creation.

• God’s property must be earned and cared for.

• You can give wisely and be a blessing to others.

Government:

• The internal must rule the external, for the love of God and truth.

• The moral law is based on our design.

• It is a description of love.

• The purpose of civil government is to protect people and to bring order.

• Man is free under the Lordship of Christ.

• Freedom with order.