The Ten Windows of Your World View

Each of us has a world view. It is how we see the world. It is how we understand the world we live in. It is the ruler we use to measure new information that enters our realm. We develop our world view by viewing the world (Duh). Hopefully our world view expands and develops as we grow and develop. I love it when the ads for the local elections start appearing in the papers. Invariably someone will list as a qualification, "A life-long resident of this area." Like that is a good quality? Gee, let's elect someone with a very limited world view. And then we expect them to be forward thinking and innovative. NOT!

Our world view is fed, impacted and formulated by the information we ingest through our reading, what we hear and watch and our personal life experiences. We are not going to know and understand what we don't "know." We are limited by what information we have received and experienced. And this basis of a conundrum for most Christians I know.

Here is the problem as I see it. Most of us attend public schools and these schools function under, are driven by the philosophy of Secular Humanism. Secular Humanism is not the Official Religion of the school system but the reality is, Secular Humanism is the philosophy that is foundational to our educational system. If want to get an educator riled up tell them they are functioning in a system dominated by Secular Humanism. They will vehemently deny it. But it is still the truth. We are profoundly impacted by the religion of Secular Humanism. I call it a religion only because it was defined as a religion by the Supreme Court of our land. If is not a religion in "legal" terms but the Supreme Court defined it as a religion.¹ At the end of this article you will find a very short summation of several beliefs shared by most Secular Humanists.²

The problem comes when we mistake the cultural religion (SH) for Christianity. We don't know enough to tell the two apart. The other difficulty I observe arising in many people's lives is growing up being taught a world view immersed in Secular Humanism and then, later in life, starting to take Christianity seriously as more than a religion but as a way of life. We attempt to apply Christianity on top of what we already believe without seriously considering changing our world view. The result is conflict, discomfort, confusion and a resultant mishmash of a religion that really doesn't work. And then we wonder why so few people take Christianity seriously. And many of those who do try to live as a Christian find it to be basically unworkable.

I would encourage you to take an honest look at your world view. And see if it is a truly Christian world view. And by that I mean, is your world view a Biblical world view? I believe you will find it to be a challenging and eye opening exercise.

Take a look at these 10 Windows of a World View

1. The Window of the Purpose of the Church

Secular – To provide a place of fellowship and to meet the needs of my family and me.

Biblical – To introduce others to Christ and make them Disciples. "Go into all the world and make disciples."

2. The Window of Comfort

Secular – You seek comfort at all costs.

Biblical – God is more interested in your character than in your comfort. If you are comfortable, it is a good sign you are not where God wants you doing what God wants you to do.

3. The Window of Image

Secular – You expect the world to come to you. You are the center of your world. Life is a play and you are the main character.

Biblical – You are to go to the world. "Go into all the world and make disciples." "You are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria and to all the world." We exist to reach out to others.

4. The Window of Priorities

Secular – Your own priorities are more important than God's. Life decisions are made depending on what I want and what I want to do.

Biblical – You want God's will to be done above everything else.

5. The Window of Stewardship

Secular – You give because you should and to help meet the church's budget.

Biblical – You give back from God's blessings. "Bring to the storehouse of God your tithe."

6. The Window of Financing

Secular – You ask, "How much does it cost?"

Biblical – You believe God pays for what he orders – what He wants us to do.

7. The Window of Change

Secular – You are caught in traditionalism: the dead faith of the living.

Biblical – You are encouraged by tradition: the living faith of the dead. "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses."

8. The Window of Pastoral Leadership

Secular – You believe your pastor is hired to do ministry to and for you. The pastor is the paid Christian who does Christian things for you because you are busy living a normal life.

Biblical – You expect your pastor to train you for ministry. "We are the Body of Christ and each of you is a part of that Body."

9. The Window of Teamwork

Secular - You serve in the church because you have been drafted or elected.

Biblical – Your spiritual gifts empower you for God's work.

10. The Window of Faith

Secular – You believe God can't or won't. If there is a God, he or she is impotent.

Biblical – You know God can. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I strongly encourage you to take a look at your worldview. What is your window of: Purpose, Comfort, Image, Priorities, Stewardship, Financing, Change, Leadership, Teamwork, and Faith. Is yours a Biblical worldview or not? Perhaps it is a mixed worldview. If it is not Biblical, what, if anything, are you going to do to change it?

Until we change our minds… Our way of thinking, this religion of Christianity will remain just a religion – something we believe in our heads. If we attempt to take it to the level of "A Way of Life", it will never really work in the ins and outs of daily living. We must change our way of thinking. We must change our way of thinking. We must change our world view.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

¹In the 1961 Torcaso v. Watkins decision, Justice Hugo Black commented in a footnote, "Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God are Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others." Such footnotes, known as "dicta," are written to provide factual background to the legal principles in a decision. These dicta never have the force of law.

²A very short summation of Secular Humanism

•	Belief in Deity Not considered important. Many Humanists are atheists or agnostics. And several claim adherence to various religions.
•	Incarnations Same as above.
•	Origin of Universe and Life The scientific method is most respected as the means for revealing the mysteries of the origins of the universe and life.
•	After Death An afterlife or spiritual existence after death is not recognized.
•	Why Evil? No concept of "evil." Reasons for wrongdoing are explored through scientific methods, e.g. through study of sociology, psychology, criminology.
•	Salvation No concept of afterlife or spiritual liberation or salvation. Realizing ones personal potential and working for the betterment of humanity through ethical consciousness and social works are considered paramount, but from a naturalistic rather than supernatural standpoint.
•	Undeserved Suffering No spiritual reasons but rather a matter of human vulnerability to misfortune, illness, and victimization.
•	Contemporary Issues The American Humanist Association endorses elective abortion. Other contemporary views include working for equality for homosexuals, gender equality, a secular approach to divorce and remarriage, working to end poverty, promoting peace and nonviolence, and environmental protection.