What Is a Worldview?

In an information-saturated culture words have a funny way of being diluted. That is, words can be used in many different ways but never clearly defined. The result is that we end up using words and not really knowing precisely what they mean! The term “worldview” is one such term. This is a powerful concept and thus, it is worth taking some time to get a better grasp of what it means. 

A worldview is simply the conceptual lens through which someone sees and interprets reality. Think of it like putting on a pair of colored glasses. If you put on a pair of blue-tinted glasses, you will see everything in blue. Or think of it like a map. A map tells you how to get from one place to another. But this can only work if the map matches the way things are. Or think of it like a puzzle. A puzzle ultimately forms a larger picture, but this can only work if you have the right puzzle pieces. As worldviews involve interpretation, they necessarily involve beliefs about what reality is like. Each time you interpret something, this involves your beliefs about that thing. For example, as you read this sentence you are interpreting its meaning. But your interpretation of its meaning relies on your beliefs about the English language; the ability of words themselves to communicate meaning. In light of this dynamic, a worldview can be defined as a way of seeing, governed by a way of believing. The simple point is this: what we believe about the world determines how we live in the world. Thus, worldviews are vitally important.    

To give one further example, take the question of God. Questions about God are the most central and important questions. Does God exist? If so, who is God? What is He like? Is He involved in the universe He created? What does it take to be made right with God? Does God answer prayer? If so, how do I pray and what should my expectations be for prayer? How is the Biblical concept of God different from other views of God? What does it mean to say that God inspired the Bible? How a person answers each of these questions is heavily influenced by their prior beliefs about God. These prior beliefs then lead to interpretations about God and directly affect daily life.  

In addition to the above, everyone possesses a worldview. Regardless of what large scale beliefs a person may hold (i.e. Christian, atheist, Buddhist) this is housed in a worldview framework. The reason that each person possesses a worldview is because the ultimate questions of reality are unavoidable. Whether they have thought it through or not, everyone has beliefs about God, life after death, morality, what it means to be human, etc. This is important to realize for a number of reasons. One is that it provides a dynamic point of contact for conversations about the gospel. When we keep worldviews in mind, it alerts us to ways we can engage our non-Christian friends on the ultimate questions. Often, one or more of these types of questions are on their minds anyways. People often want to talk about their beliefs on these things. If you allow them to share what they believe, they may return the favor. The result can be a genuine back and forth and wonderful opportunity to talk about what matters most.   

A second reason is that people are challenged to think through what they really believe. If everyone has a worldview, it should be important to have a well thought out worldview. You will find that while many people have beliefs about the ultimate questions, they have often not thought this through. Many treat their worldviews like a buffet line. They take a bit from Christianity, a bit from eastern religions, and a bit from secularism. This assumes that truth is malleable. It assumes that what is true about reality bends to my preferences. But truth is not this way at all. What is true, is true regardless of my feelings or preferences. What is false is false, regardless of my feelings or preferences. Scripture assumes this view about truth. Jesus Himself is the truth and God’s unchanging Word is truth (John 14:6; 17:17). Considering this, it should be important for Christians to have a well thought through worldview. This should be a worldview informed by Scripture. But the only way to develop a strong Christian worldview is by engaging with Scripture and engaging with other beliefs. God has given us our minds to use for His glory. We are commanded (and given the privilege as followers of Jesus) to love God with our whole selves. This certainly includes our minds.  

Let this brief reflection on worldviews be an encouragement to you to engage with others of differing beliefs as well as to deepen your own understanding of Christianity.