1. Introduction
I ran across an interesting article entitled “10 signs of the lack of a biblical worldview” by Joseph Mattera in The Christian Post (November 10, 2023). The link to the article is 10 signs of the lack of a biblical worldview | Voice (christianpost.com). A person’s worldview says a lot about their spiritual condition. The author defines a “biblical worldview (BWV) to be:
interpreting every aspect of life through the lens of Scripture, i.e., your view of politics, the sanctity of life, marriage, economics, education, science, and law derived from biblical principles.
In this post I briefly look at each of the ten characteristics that demonstrate lack a biblical worldview at lest to that specific topic.
2. Ten Characteristics of a Nonbiblical Worldview
ONE: You do not have a biblical worldview if you think of “government” as referring only to politics. Mattera writes, “When our view of government is only political, it reflects the dominance of secularism in our worldview.” Keep in mind that the Bible has a lot to say about government with Romans 13:1-7 being the principal example.
TWO: You do not have a biblical worldview if you possess limited biblical knowledge. Mattera writes, “The average believer has little to no biblical reference for anything other than individual promises of God.” While he may overstate the condition a bit, the average believer does not spend that much time in God’s Word. Yet, the Bible contains all there is to live a life pleasing to God. Bible is full of passages about every aspect of life.
THREE: You do not have a biblical worldview if you believe that big government is the solution for financial prosperity. Mattera writes:
The preponderance of Scripture outlines the primary responsibility of political leadership as being the protection of citizens and the provision of just laws ensuring equal opportunity (Deut. 16:16-20; Proverbs 8:15,16; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
In the Old Testament, healthcare, care for the poor, and business ventures were primarily facilitated by priests, families, and individual believers (Exodus 22:20-24; Deut.27:19; Isaiah 1:17; Zech.7: 9-10). (The onus of responsibility was on all the people, not just the kings and political leaders.) In the New Testament, the onus was on the church and families, not the civil government (Acts 2; Acts 42-46; 1 Timothy 5:3-11).
FOUR: You do not have a biblical worldview if you lack the application of biblical principles to your marketplace assignment. Mattera writes, “Many Christ followers think the call to ministry is just for full-time or Sunday church leadership. The Scriptures instruct us that all believers were called and should be equipped for the work of the ministry in every walk of life, to fill the earth with the reign of God (Ephesians 4:10-12).” A Christian is a Christ-follower 24/7.
FIVE: You do not have a biblical worldview if you think that civil government is responsible for the education of our children. Mattera writes, “One of the greatest tragedies occurs when believers allow secular humanists in the public school system to train their children with a secular worldview.” As Christ followers, we must critique and impact our public schools and instill biblical values in our children there and at home. Scripture puts the onus of education in the hands of parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; the whole book of Proverbs).”
SIX: You do not have a biblical worldview if you think that the progressive tax structure is good. I’m not sure he is correct when he writes, “Most Christians think it is okay for half of the population of the USA to get away with paying no income tax and for people to pay more taxes percentage-wise when they make more money.” He mentions Scripture as follows:
However, Scripture teaches a flat tax structure in which all people pay an equal share (the tithe and the poll tax for the sanctuary (Lev. 27:30-34; Numbers 18:21-26; Deut. 14: 28-29, Amos 4:-5; Matt. 23:23; Hebrews 7:1-2)). The prophet Samuel warned the Jews against any political structure that requires taxation equal to, or more than, the ten percent that God requires (1 Samuel 8).
SEVEN: You do not have a biblical worldview if you think that ministry should remain silent on social issues. Amen!! After citing examples, he writes:
Consequently, the belief that ministry leaders and pastors should remain silent on social issues (elections, the sanctity of life, economics, health care, immigration, and public policy) demonstrates the lack of a biblical worldview.
EIGHT: You do not have a biblical worldview if you believe that Christians should separate their faith from public policy. Amen!! I agree with what he writes that:
… all laws impose some moral compass or religious view on society. The fact that Jesus is the “King of Kings,” means that He is the Lawgiver for all nations and heads of state (Revelation 19:16). This obligates the Church to speak truth to power in every societal realm.
NINE: You do not have a biblical worldview if you celebrate “worldly” or secular values. This makes perfect sense. While a Christian is in the world they are not of the world. John 17:14-15.
TEN: You do not have a biblical worldview if you think that science and religion are opposed to each other. Mattera writes:
Although the Bible is not a science book, it does not mean it is scientifically inaccurate. The primary purpose of Scripture is to give theological messaging related to identifying the true God, His Kingdom, and His plan for redemption. … When science becomes naturalistic, it forces an unnecessary bifurcation between faith and reason. Science can only discover a limited portion of the works of an omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal God whose glory transcends all humanity.
God created it all and that includes “science.” What the Bible teaches and science align.
3. Conclusion
In my opinion, while most of the ten points reflect a nonbiblical worldview, some points are stronger indicators than other points. The strongest indicators (maintaining the original numbering) written in the form of holding to a biblical worldview are below.
TWO: You have a biblical worldview if you have good biblical knowledge. A biblical worldview encourages consistently engaging Scripture.
FOUR: You have a biblical worldview if you apply biblical principles to your marketplace assignment. You realize that biblical principles apply to every aspect of life. There is only one world – God’s world.
FIVE: You have a biblical worldview if you do not think that civil government is responsible for the education of our children. While you may send your children to public schools (and that’s good), you still have a responsibility to KNOW what they are being taught and step in when the substance of the teaching is not biblical. You have a right and obligation to challenge the teacher and the school board.
SEVEN: You have a biblical worldview if you think that ministry should speak out on social issues. Believers are supposed to speak out as a moral compass, and they cannot do that playing “quiet mouse.” The church needs to proclaim in the public forum what the Bible teaches about moral issues like abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism.
EIGHT: You have a biblical worldview if you believe that Christians should NOT separate their faith from public policy. This indicator relates to SEVEN. Faith and public policy intertwine because it is God’s world.
NINE: You have a biblical worldview if you reject “worldly” or secular values. This is a “no brainer.”
I hope this post has been helpful as a brief assessment of your worldview. If you claim to be a believer then you ought to hold to the most important ones of these worldviews. It is important that a believer live their life through a biblical-based lens.
If you are an unbeliever, then you MUST read what follows!!
If You Are an Unbeliever
If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to get ready!! Please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, whereby Adam’s sin was passed down to all of humanity, creating a separation between God and humanity. We cannot do anything to bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell is our eternal destination. Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy, God provided us with the only means of salvation through Abraham’s lineage by sending the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, thereby fulfilling the Law, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all people. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, thereby exhausting God’s wrath against humanity. God now calls on every unbeliever to repent of their sins and completely trust in Christ alone that Jesus died for their sins and rose to life from the dead. Every unbeliever who repents and trusts in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of all their sins (past, present, and future) and born again as a new creation in Christ, possessing guaranteed eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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