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Many years ago I heard someone say this about a person, "She looks at the world through 'rose-colored glasses.'" This was an expression intended to convey that this particular person had a very optimistic outlook on life in general. Well, this may or may not be a good way to look at life, but it does help us to see that people do have a particular way of looking at life and the events happening in the world around us.
An organization called 'The Barna Group', which is the brain child of a man called George Barna, regularly polls people to try to determine what they are thinking about various subjects. Over the past few years Mr. Barna and his people have been talking to folks about what they believe about God and His book, the Bible. Some of their questionnaires have included what they have defined as a "Biblical Worldview." According to The Barna Group a "Biblical Worldview" is a set of specific beliefs about God and His Book. From the Barna Group's website, in an 2003 article entitled, "Most Adults Feel Accepted by God, but Lack a Biblical Worldview.", They state:"The definition (of a Biblical Worldview) requires someone to believe that absolute moral truth exists; that the source of moral truth is the Bible; that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches; that eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned; that Jesus lived a sinless life on earth; that every person has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others; that Satan is a living force, not just a symbol of evil; and that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful maker of the universe who still rules that creation today." The folks at The Barna Group go on to say that only about 9% of those who call themselves "born-again" Christians actually have this "Biblical worldview," we would discover that having this is nothing more than believing what God says in His Book, the Bible. Jesus certainly had this kind of a perspective on life:
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. It seems to me that a person who has been "born-again" would want to find out what God what to say in His word and then try to follow it. In fact, God tells us that very thing in several places in His word. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. This is just one of many portions of Scripture, in the Old Testament and the New Testament, that tell us how important it is for a person to hear and believe the word of God both. Well, if God thinks that this is so very important, why don't most people have a "Biblical worldview?" Mr. Barna in his book, Think Like Jesus says, "Few people in churches have a biblical worldview because most preachers seem intent on teaching broadly rather than deeply. That's emotionally and intellectually appealing, but until people have a mental framework through which they can process the numerous principles, ideas and stories provided in the Bible, preaching is typically an exercise in information overload. We have to prepare people to know what to do with the information. A biblical worldview gives them the filter they need to know how to categorize and implement the facts and ideals they receive." Mr. Barna seems to feel, based upon what he has said as noted above, that the preaching to which are most Christians are listening is generally shallow and based upon appealing to the emotional or intellectual aspect of man. I have a tendency to believe this is one reason. We, generally speaking, have no expository preaching and teaching of the word of God. This is one thought, but I believe the problem goes deeper than his explanation.I believe that another reason most people don't have a "Biblical worldview" is that we no longer have a Bible to fall back upon. Satan has been very successful in supplanting God's Holy word for man's word. The Authorized Version of the Bible has been traded for the NIV, NKJV, NASB, etc., ad nauseum. These wicked, evil translations are based upon a corrupt line of manuscripts that was foisted upon an unsuspecting public over 125 years ago. The Revision Committee that gave us the Revised Version in the 1880s rejected the pure God-honoured texts that the KJV was based upon and came up with a new set of texts primarily based upon the most corrupt manuscripts in existence. These corrupted sources were exalted, because they degrade the deity of Christ, and because they were old, over the God honoured texts that had been used by the 47 brilliant, Godly, humble men who gave us the AV1611. Since Christians have swallowed the poison of the new versions, how can they have a "Biblical worldview?" They no longer have a Bible. All they have are a plethora of books that merely contain the word of God.
Many years ago, when I was in Bible College, our College President stated that his definition of wisdom was, "Looking at life from God's point of view." I don't know where he got that definition, but it sure is wise. This is the very thing that The Barna Group has been trying to get folks to realize with their research into whether people have a "Biblical Worldview." I believe that wisdom is certainly "Looking at life from God's point of view" or developing a "Biblical Worldview." God tells us in Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."As far as God is concerned wisdom is vitally important, and He tells us in His word that wisdom comes from Him and His word. Proverbs 2:1-6 A person who does not believe or follow God's word is headed for destruction. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to work at this idea of developing a "Biblical Worldview." In order for us to do this we must first trust Jesus Christ as Saviour. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Then we must take time to read and study the authentic word of God (AV 1611) so that we will "look at life from God's point of view." We also have a responsibility to do everything we can to help our families to develop this wisdom.
When we do this to the best of our abilities, God will give us wisdom in all life's decisions. Let the Lord Jesus Christ come into your heart and life, and He will help you with the course of your life. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Written by Dr. Robert E. Blissrev. 2011
