Do You Have a Biblical Worldview?
How most Americans see God and the Bible,
and why having the right worldview
is so important to your eternal destiny.
There are many acronyms for BIBLE, but the most popular appears to be âBasic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.â Another ends with âBefore Living Eternally,â which reminds us that there are two places where everyone will eventually live: heaven or hell. Our beliefs and behaviors will ultimately determine our eternal destiny.
âBiblical Worldviewâ Defined
A biblical worldview, also called a Christian worldview, is based on the belief that the Bible is infallible and that it gives us a philosophical framework of beliefs through which we view the world and interact with it. It is the belief that God determines absolute truth, is the creator of everything in heaven and earth, and is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. He is eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He has revealed himself through Creation, the Bible, and the person of Jesus Christ.
âA biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do. Someone with a biblical worldview believes his primary reason for existence is to love and serve God.â â from an article by Focus on the Family
A search for âwhat is a biblical worldviewâ will turn up more articles than you can find time to read, but you should understand it since what you believe will determine your eternal home. This article, âWhy Does My Worldview Matter?â offers a keen perspective on the importance of the worldview you hold and discusses three other worldviews you should understand since you will be dealing with people who hold those views. They are Secularism/Naturalism, Spiritual/Pluralism, and Postmodernism/Relativism.
If you hold a biblical worldview, then you should be able to defend your biblical worldview beliefs. If youâre âon the fenceâ about this topic, this article, âResearch Identifies the Best Starting Point for Developing a Biblical Worldviewâ will be stimulating reading.
How the Pandemic Changed the
Worldview of Americans
George Barna, founder of The Barna Group, has researched cultural trends and the Christian Church since 1984. He is also the Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center. The first national study of Americansâ worldview since the COVID-19 lockdowns shows that the incidence of biblical worldview has fallen to a mere 4%âa drop of one-third from the 6% recorded just three years earlier.Â
This research article, âBiblical Worldview among U.S. Adults Drops 33% Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic,â states that the 6% benchmark measure recorded in January 2020 may prove to be the high-water mark of biblical worldview among American adults for the foreseeable future. Says Barna, âThe bulk of the American adult populationâ82%âfalls into the âWorld Citizenâ category, described as people âwho may embrace a few biblical principles but generally believe and behave in ways that are distinct from biblical teaching.â According to the report, this group has grown substantially from the 69% registered in 2020.
This article by Barna tells how the faith of Americans has shifted since the start of the pandemic. Adds Barna, âBehavior stems from what we thinkâour attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions. Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life. Weâre often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance.âÂ
For other research articles on how the pandemic affected Americansâ faith and worldviews, visit Georgebarna.com.
Other Viewpoints
âEvil is all around us, making it obvious that we are in the midst of a culture war, one that is spiritual in nature, one attacking the heart and soul of our nation. This problem canât be solved by political means, but only through the prayers of righteous people who have put their faith in the God who created us.â
â Pastor Jack Hibbs with Charlie Kirk, from âThe New Tower of Babelâ Part II.â
âGod is sovereign. God can do what he pleases, with whomever He chooses, whenever He wishes.â â Pastor Greg Laurie, Harvest.org
First published as Barbara's Personal MUSINGS About Life, February 2024.
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