In my apologetics class this quarter, we have to answer some biblical worldview questions. Here is my response:
Our worldview is a set of beliefs by which we filter all information that we encounter. It drives our decisions, sets our goals, and defines our success. Many Christians can’t put their worldview into words. I believe that is an area where Satan can get a stronghold and make you ineffective in evangelism. In order to be an effective voice for the Kingdom, you must be able to articulate the truths of the Bible and how they affect your life.
As an administrator in a Christian school, we are always evaluating how we are doing training our students to develop a biblical worldview. It is exciting to ask these questions to a freshman and then to check back in with them when they are a senior to see how God is working in their hearts and minds.
How do we find happiness? I believe that true happiness is found in running hard after Christ and the things that He has set before us. I think of Hebrews 12: 1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The idea of finishing the race marked out for me means that God is pleased with me and that would make me happy.
J.P. Moreland, author of Love the Lord with All Your Mind, says, “But from Moses, Solomon, Jesus, Plato, Aristotle, up to the Declaration of Independence, happiness meant “a life of wisdom, virtue and character.” The difference is glaring. But more importantly, according to Jesus of Nazareth and common sense, one gains more pleasurable satisfaction by largely forgetting about it, giving one’s life to others, and seeking wisdom, virtue and character. You gain your life as you lose it for God’s honor and other people’s good. Pleasurable satisfaction is a poor goal, but a great byproduct of a more important goal—becoming good at life.”
How do we find wholeness? John 15:5-8 speaks of wholeness and being complete, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” I know that growing up I tried to fill my life with good grades, sports, friends, and other things that would get the world’s approval. However, those things always left me feeling like I was still missing something. It wasn’t until June 23, 1994 when I asked Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior that I really understood what it meant to be whole.
What goals are really worthy of pursuing? I think the number one goal for me to pursue with my life is to do whatever it takes to make the name of Christ famous. John 3:30 says, “He must become greater; I must become less.” That is totally contrary to what the world would have us to believe, but this world is temporal and Christ is eternal. I want to be eternal. In Truth Decay, Douglas Groothuis says “Truth decays in large part because those who should be truth-tellers and truth-bearers are too frequently shirking their divinely appointed duties, through cowardice or ignorance or both.” If I am not passionately sharing God’s glory with those far from Him, then I am part of the reason they are being pushed away.
What is life “for”? I believe that before Christ, our life is all about serving ourselves and getting all we can get. I think that God allows that for a short time so that we can see how hollow that pursuit is. We reach a certain time where we are convicted that the sin in our life and our separation from God requires us to make a choice. Do we want to continue to pursue our own human destinations and let that be the total fulfillment of our lives? Or, do we want to abandon ourselves and our pursuits in favor of joining what God is doing all around us and what He has been up to since the beginning of time. Louie Giglio wrote a book called i am not, but i know I AM. In it he talks about this choice. He says that we can either let God be a character in the small story of our lives or we can choose to play a role in the greater story of God and His glory. I believe that the purpose of life for a Christian is to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) I believe we are also called to the words in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”