Understanding Christian Worldview

Understanding Christian Worldview

Angela Stewart

Grand Canyon University

25th August 2019

Understanding Christian Worldview

Christian worldview highlights the framework of idea and beliefs that Christians uses to interpret the world and interact with it. Generally, the term worldview refers to belief-systems and life perspectives. Worldview acts as a means of guiding life, a compass to help the people reflect the world seeks to offer a perspective concerning the origin, value, implication and destination of mankind and the world. Christian worldview assists the Christians to get a comprehensive understanding of God, the entire world, and the relationship between God, the world (Theron & Lotter, 2009). According to McCormack (200) Christian worldview is a reminder of what God has done for the universe, what God is doing, and what God will continue doing. The Christian worldview attempts to answer questions dealing with the nature and character of God, nature of the universe, nature of humanity, implications of death, basis of human knowledge, basis of ethics, and the implications of human history.

God

The Christian worldview acknowledges the existence of God, who has always been there and has acted and spoken to the universe.^[a] The Bible introduces the presence of God by indicating that, “In the beginning, God…” (Genesis 1:1). From this scripture, the nature of God can be deduced to highlight that He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing, omnibenevolent (all-good), and Holy (Cowan, 2014). The Christian worldview indicates about the existence of God, living in three different forms, which are Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit). This belief is affirmed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 as he indicates that “for use there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus.” God is further believed to be ^[b]above transcendent, which implies that He is above his creation. The Christian worldview further holds that God is the creator of the universe. This is affirmed in Genesis 1:1, which indicates that in the beginning, God created heaven and earth. According to Cowan (2014), this is highlighted to imply that God is not part of the world but rather existed even before the world came to be. In Acts 17:24-27, Paul pointed out that it was God who made the world and all the things therein. It is therefore evident that the Christian worldview points to the existence of God, who was there before the universe, and created and sustains the universe.^[c] 

Humanity

The Christian worldview offers a means of understanding more about humanity, with the emphasis placed on human nature and the purpose of human beings. The Christian worldview’s basic assertion on human nature indicated that; human traces their origin from God, are created in the image of God, and that was created to rule another God’s creation. In Genesis 1:27, it is indicated that God created us in His image and likeness. According to Dockery (2019) the concept of “image of God” seeks to assist the human beings relate with one another by providing the understanding that other people are a reflection of the image of God. Koterski (2012) highlights that Christian worldview seeks to promote the dignity of every person, by asserting that they everybody is created in the image and likeness of God, and therefore considered to be bearers of some moral rights. The Christian worldview indicates that humans were created with the intention of controlling the rest of God’s creation. In Genesis 1:28, God’s purpose for humankind is outlined as, “Be fruitful, and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.” Despite being created in the image of God, human beings brought problems to themselves. The root cause of these problems is the entrance of sin into the world. The fall of man happened after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, after which death to the world.

Jesus

The Christian worldview considers Jesus as the Son of God and the second of the Holy Trinity. A major foundation of the Christian worldview is the foundational truth that holds that the life and death of Jesus, was great evidence of the divine love. Jesus came to the universe in the form of man for the salvation of humankind, through his death on the cross. The Christian worldview indicates that the death of Jesus on the cross was an incomprehensible valuable sacrifice meant to deliver the sinful humans and restore them from estrangement to attaining full fellowship and inheritance of eternal kingdom. It is indicated that Jesus Christ’s role mainly included the atonement for sin and redemption of mankind (Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2, Hebrew 2:17). Jesus played reconciliatory role between God and sinful humankind. The separation between God and humanity that had been severed by the entrance of sin into the world was restored and healed through death and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The resurrection of Jesus provided a basis for establishment of Jesus’ Lordship and deity and brought assurance about the salvation of sinners. Therefore, according to Christian worldview, Jesus was the son of God and whose role was to bring salvation for mankind.

Restoration

Despite the human have a life full of problems due to their sinful nature the Christian worldview offers some solution to human problems. The Christian worldview holds that Christ’s death on the cross offered a solution to the human problems by paving way for the forgiveness of sins and restoration of good relationship with God. It was sin that alienated humanity from God, self, and others. It is indicated that the penalty of our sins is death but Jesus made the sacrifice for humanity as evident in Hebrews 9:26. In 1 John 4:10 it is indicated that the death of Jesus was a propitiation for our sin and through that saved humanity from under the condemnation of God, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sons.” In 2 Corinthians, it is indicated that God through His son Christ reconciled us to himself. As per week 5 reading’s it is highlighted that salvation is a gift granted by God’s free grace and received by faith. This is emphasized in Ephesians 2:8, that states that by grace you have been saved through faith; and not by yourselves, it is a gift of God. Christians believe that the transformation of mankind happens through renewing of mind. This is highlighted in Romans 12:2 that states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind.” Christians believe that while may not transform themselves to that image of God but can rather put the image into action.