Do you wear glasses? Today, they’re a fun fashion statement, but not so much when I was a fourth grader. After my teacher told my mom I couldn’t see the chalkboard, she had my vision checked. Without glasses, I was near-sighted. So as much as I hated putting them on, better vision made corrective lenses necessary.

Our natural vision also needs correction to prevent us from being short-sighted. Without it, we can’t see the world around us with clarity. An objective accurate view of our environment makes a tremendous difference in my life, your life, and our society.

A Worldview Can Divide A Nation

This past year revealed how distorted our perspective can be. Too often, we operate out of a narrow concept based on our own experience. The great divide of our nation during the election of 2020 provides a clear example of differing belief systems. Many outspoken conservatives believe the election was stolen from former President Trump. Many vocal liberals celebrated the inauguration of President Biden and Kamala Harris. A nation watched a rogue cop murder George Floyd. In response, some yelled “Black Lives Matter” while others shouted “Blue Lives Matter.” So where do we go from here? Is there any hope?

I’m convinced the Bible holds the answers. And, despite the caustic behavior of some so-called “evangelicals” who behave just like abrasive progressives, I can give solid reasons for why I believe that. This logic is based on fact not feelings.

A Worldview Should Be Based on Reality

Unless yours and my perspectives are based on truth, we might be guided by nothing more than a fantasy. Some of the worst American Idol auditions provide a prime example of the foolish beliefs that can influence individuals when in reality, they  may be indulging wishful thinking. Even worse, they may create a worldview like Hitler’s that called for the extermination of an entire race. Or perhaps they’ll lead to legislation that strips away generations of progress on women’s rights.

To live in the reality of truth, our belief system must stand up to logical evaluation, not only by ourselves but by others as well. Otherwise our concerns will be rejected as easily as Simon Cowell dismisses a miserable performer.

Far too many people today base their perspectives on biased reporting, fraudulent websites, and/or hearsay of those who have not done proper research. That’s why it’s become so hard to know what to believe. But there is a much better way.

A Worldview Can Be Tested

In 2007, I had the privilege of editing a book by philosopher/theologian, Kenneth Samples. His book, A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test, explains how:

A person’a worldview shapes his vision of what is real, true, right and valuable. It is the prism through which one makes sense of life and death (p. 32). 

George Floyd’s death. Roe v. Wade and the abortion issues soon to be decided by the Supreme Court. Even Covid vaccines or no vaccines. Positions on life-and-death issues are decided by an individual’s perspective. Poverty, foster care, immigration, civil rights, and human trafficking, too–a person’s worldview matters on all these justice issues and many more. That’s why Scripture says to:

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess 5:21-22)

Whether a person believes the Bible or not, this profound advice can help us determine what’s worth believing. Based on much research, Samples came up with nine tests that determine the most viable approach to life. He said:

To pass logical muster an adequate worldview will score high on a comprehensive set of tests.

These tests examine worldviews for coherence, balance, explanatory power and scope, correspondence, verification, practicality, livability, diversity of support and competitive competence.

Samples’s book offers bountiful evidence for why Christianity excels as a worldview when compared with Islam, naturalism, postmodernism, and pantheistic monism. Although I can’t recommend his book high enough for those who want to see the specifics–a couple of examples convince me that a biblical worldview has incredible explanatory power and scope and offers vibrant practicality and sustainable liveability.

A Biblical Worldview Explains Suffering 

Why? Ever ask that question? Why is there suffering in the world? Why doesn’t my boyfriend want to marry me? Why can’t I get pregnant? Why does my mom have cancer? Why did that motorcycle accident leave my friend paralyzed?

From the beginning of time, the Bible explains suffering–rebellion against God. Whether Adam and Eve or Amber and Steve or [fill in the blank]. Trying to do things our own way instead of God’s leads to painful consequences. Like defiant teens refusing to heed warnings to wear a seatbelt or not to take drugs, we don’t want restrictions of any kind–even those designed to protect us.

Even when we do our best to follow Christ, the consequences of living in a fallen world that to put it mildly is not fair, still apply. That why injustice exists. We should expect it and do our best to diminish it by applying Biblcal concepts.

A Biblical Worldview Inhibits Injustice 

Developing a biblical perspective provides us with the practical tools necessary to minimize problems from personal relationships to major societal issues. Reading Proverbs helps me not point the finger at others, but to take responsibility for myself. Probably the first verse I memorized was Proverbs 15:1. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Kind communication can change the tone of interaction between husband and wife or a Republican and a Democrat. Imagine–civil discourse could be restored if people on both sides of the political aisle became determined to be kind. That’s far from the dog-eat-dog view of survival of the fittest or the law of karma with people getting what they deserve.

If we’d apply the concept in Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” to almost any social issue, we’d turn the key to resolution. “Created in God’s image” means every human being has value–Black, White, Asian, LGBTQ+ Indigenous people groups, rich, poor, wanted or unwanted children, and the elderly. Imagine if we value God’s image in a human being how we’d treat one another. Foster care would look like Olive Crest where highly valued family relationships protect children. Civil rights issues would find solutions such as those offered by the Center for Biblical Unity and on and on it goes.

Yet, most people don’t think about whether their behavior is consistent with what they claim to believe. They should give it some intentional thought. Because we behave as we believe, it’s worth putting our belief system to the test to see how it holds up under closer examination. Your worldview matters–to you, to me, and to all of society.