Christian worldview refers to the comprehensive understanding or view of the world from the biblical perspective. It is a framework of beliefs and ideas through which Christians interprets and interact with the world (Esqueda, 2014). A Christian's view of the world entails various distinct biblical elements, and every Christian is expected to see or view the world as a harmonious set of perspectives and beliefs (Esqueda, 2014). Besides different Christianity denominations have varying worldviews on certain issues based on the differences in their biblical interpretations. However, they agree on most thematic elements within the Christian worldview (Kanitz, 2005). This paper provides my understanding of the Christian worldview based on the main topics already covered in class. It presents my summary and analysis of the essential elements of the Christian worldview, as well as a reflection on my Christian worldview.
God
The Bible provides a complete revelation of what God is like by revealing several characteristics of God. First, the Bible describes God as Spirit. In John's Gospel, Jesus talks to a woman at the well, and he refers to God as Spirit (Esqueda, 2014). The Spiritual nature of God implies that God is not limited to body, force, shape, or boundaries. In other words, God is immeasurable and beyond human eyes that are limited to seeing physical things. God is also omnipresent, which means he is available everywhere at the same time (Esqueda, 2014). The Bible also describes God as having unlimited power, wisdom, mercy, and love. Besides, God is everlasting because He exists forever. God is also eternal, which means He has neither beginning nor end, and He is unchanging (Kanitz, 2005).
The Bible also reveals or describes God as a Person. When the Bible quotes “God says,” “God loves,” or “God does,” it considers God to have expressions of personality, which make Him a person. In other words, God thinks, loves, feels, and forgives, though He is not bound by a body (Diffey et al., 2015). God is also a righteous and holy being. God reveals Himself in the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) as a Holy and perfect God (Diffey et al., 2015). Moreover, the Bible describes God as love as evident in John 3:16. God is also invisible since He is Spirit and people cannot see Him (John 1:18). God's creation is described in the book of Genesis. God created the heavens and the Earth at the beginning (Genesis 1:1). He later created human beings (male and female), as well as other living things (both plants and animals) that filled the earth (Diffey et al., 2015).
Humanity
Human nature relates to what makes humans distinct from other creatures. Humans are different from the rest of God’s creation in the sense that humans can think and feel. In other words, humans, unlike other creatures, have the reasoning ability. The reasoning ability enables humans to reflect on their nature and God’s nature, as well as understand God’s plans for His creation (Kanitz, 2005). The human purpose is to prepare and gain a better understanding of the world, the evolution of the world and the world’s destiny (Esqueda, 2014). By having a greater understanding of the world, humans can understand their roles in the world and their reason for being in the world, which is to fulfil and justify life through loving others and serving God (Esqueda, 2014).
The root-cause of human problems relates to various aspects of human nature, such as fear, self-pride, and selfishness. People have to humble themselves and acknowledge their differences to prevent problems. Self-pride blinds people from taking responsibility for their mistakes, actions, and faults (Diffey et al., 2015). Self-pride is most evident when people view themselves as more valuable than others. Self-pride prevents people from understanding the need for forgiveness, which leads to more problems. Fear relates to having a negative view of a possible outcome of a situation, which lowers people's level of confidence (Diffey et al., 2015). Selfishness refers to the practice of advancing or benefitting oneself without having concern for others. Selfishness works against love, and selfish individuals often ignore the feeling of other people, which can lead to hatred (Diffey et al., 2015).
Jesus
Jesus Christ's true identity revolves around his divine and human nature. He was both God and man. Jesus is described in the Bible as the Word. John describes Jesus as the Word that was with God at the beginning (John 1:1). Jesus is also described as the True Light, where light symbolises goodness, knowledge, and purity (John 1: 4). In John 1:49, Jesus is described as the King of Israel by Nathanael and Jesus considers it as an accurate description. Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God due to his submission and docility, as well as his sacrificial offering for man’s sins (John 1:29; Isaiah 53: 7; Hebrews 9: 27; Matthew 26: 28). Also, Jesus is the Messiah, which means Christ, and Jesus' Messiahship was evident in his miracles (John 4:25-26). Jesus is also the Son of God as portrayed by John the Baptist (John 1: 34; John 14: 9).
Jesus did several things that have direct and indirect impacts on human life. First, Jesus humbled himself and died for man’s sins as a show of humility and sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus is also described in Matthew 20:28 as the Son of Mon who came to serve the world by giving his life as a payoff for many. Jesus did activities that were perceived to be done by servants, such as washing others’ feet. Jesus also glorified God when he came to earth, and he did everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Jesus conducted prayers during his constant communion with God (Mark 1:35).
Jesus' identity and work are important or significant for the Christian worldview because it allows Christians to understand the true nature of Jesus. Through Jesus' identity and work, Christians understand that Jesus is both holy and just and that he played a major role in redeeming man's sins and making humans fit to enter God's kingdom (Diffey et al., 2015).
Restoration
According to the Christian worldview, the solution to human problems is salvation and God’s forgiveness, which lead to the purification of the heart and the beginning of a sin-free life (Romans 12:1). Grace and faith play an important role in Christian salvation in the sense that they determine one’s deliverance from sin. Salvation is God’s gift given to the gracious and faithful people. According to Christians, the transformation of self and society takes place when people have faith in Christ (Romans 12: 2).
Analysis
One of the benefits or strengths of Christian belief is that it makes Christians have a stable connection with God. Besides, Christian belief makes Christians have the hope of enjoying the good plans that God has for them (Esqueda, 2014). Christian belief also makes Christians to believe that God cares and protects them from all forms of misfortunes (Esqueda, 2014). What is confusing or troublesome about Christianity is the understanding or interpretation of the Bible (Kanitz, 2005). The Bible has several versions, which creates a platform for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Christianity influences one's thinking and behaviour by making an individual believe in God's workmanship and behave in ways that please or glorify God (Kanitz, 2005).
Reflection
I am a Christian, and I believe that being a Christian is all about doing what is right as described in the Bible. I live out the Christian worldview's beliefs by meeting God's expectations, such as being humble, having a servant's heart, and loving other people, including that that view me as their enemy. As a Christian, I depend on the biblical interpretation of how Christians should live, and I, therefore, base all my thoughts and actions on what God requires of me as described in the Bible. In other words, I have complete faith in Christ and eternal life, and I believe in God the holy trinity (God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
Conclusion
The Christian worldview gives a comprehensive understanding of the world from the biblical viewpoint it is dependent on the Christians' belief in God. According to Christians, God is the creator of the heavens, the earth, and the giver of life to every living thing. Additionally, Christian worldview contributes significantly to shaping how Christians think and behave, as well as defining their relationship with God. Also, Christians believe that God created man in His image and that humans can only gain access to God through Jesus Christ.
References
Diffey, D., Hiles, J., Jibben, J., Lamca, C., Merrick, J., " Pasley, M. et al. (2015). The Beginning of Wisdom: An Introduction to Christian Thought and Life (2nd ed.). Grand Canyon University.
Esqueda, O. (2014). Biblical Worldview: The Christian Higher Education Foundation for Learning. Christian Higher Education, 13(2), 91-100. doi: 10.1080/15363759.2014.872495
Kanitz, L. (2005). Improving Christian Worldview Pedagogy: Going Beyond Mere Christianity. Christian Higher Education, 4(2), 99-108. doi: 10.1080/15363750590923101
The Holy Bible. (2009). Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan. Print
