Page 10 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

Everyone has a world view which is developed over time. In the case of children, their world view is evolving or
developing as they experience life. And if a child is raised in a loving home, a child’s view will reflect the world
view of his parents. But if parents have wrong world views, then most likely the children raised by those parents
will have a similar world view that may be disastrous.

While everyone has a world view, few people understand what a world view is and few can clearly articulate
their world view. What we need to understand is that as we grow and develop, our society, our government,
our teachers and friends, along with our parents are integrally involved in the development of our world view.
That is why the scriptures tell us to carefully guard what we put into our minds because everything you think
about and accept becomes part of your world view. Consider Philippians 4:8-9:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have
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learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of
peace will be with you.

Most people’s world view is a hodgepodge of ideas that are full of contradictions.
That’s because their sources of information have been in conflict. Some have
been influenced by reading or hearing the Bible. Some things they have learned
from movies are contrary to God’s Word. They learn other things from their
parents --- perhaps right from wrong. But then they learn an opposite view from
the television or a book they read. By the time a person is grown, most people’s
thoughts about things are a conglomeration of ideas, many in conflict with one
another and many in conflict with God.

The worldview a person has developed then becomes the eyeglasses through which he sees and relates to
others. The worldview becomes his guide in life. It is his roadmap showing him his direction in life. For a
Christian, God’s Word is his eyeglasses, his guide to life, and his roadmap to give him direction in life. Those who
do not know the Lord have no foundation upon which to base their lives.

What’s Your worldview?

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