Four Questions Reveal Your Worldview
What is the Difference between a Christian and Secular Worldview?
God expects His people to seek earnestly for the truth. As the Apostle Paul faced the humanists of his day, so the faithful and aware Christian must, if he is truly to follow Christ, face the humanists of our day.
Our children will eventually be in company with those taught totally humanistic values in the public school system. If our young people have no concept of world views (and this is the case with the vast majority), they will be totally unprepared to defend their beliefs. It is of extreme importance that our children study and understand the different world views being taught.
Philosophy simply means a thought-out way of looking at our experience in the world—a seemingly logical explanation for “the way things are.” The way we live in the world, the sense we make of our experiences in it, and the way we teach our children are all very dependent on our world view.
Secular World View vs. Christian World View
There are two main world views—a secular world view and a Christian world view (it can be divided into more categories, but for now we look at the main two). American public schools teach from a secular, humanistic world view. Christians must evaluate the subjects in a given curriculum in a radically different way from that of secular humanists.
What we trust in shapes our world view. We can identify our basic faith commitments by answering four questions:
1. Who am I?
2. Where am I?
3. What’s wrong?
4. What will make things better?
Secular World View (Taught by Public School)
1. Who am I?
I am a human being; an accident.
My species evolved from monkeys.
2. Where am I?
I am on Earth, a planet that resulted from an accident called “the Big Bang.”
3. What is wrong?
There is a lack of education and a lack of money, therefore people are frustrated, disappointed, and defeated.
4. How can it be fixed?
By getting more money, more education, etc.
Christian World View
1. Who am I?
I am a human being created by an awesome, wonderful, loving God. He put me here for a specific reason.
2. Where am I?
I am on the earth created by God. This earth is so marvelously created that if it were hung differently in the universe, one inch more or less, it would not be able to sustain life.
3. What is wrong?
Sin—disobedience to God. When sin entered the world, it broke our relationship with God, our Creator. We need our relationship with God restored.
4. How can it be fixed?
Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, came into the world in human form and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. We must accept His sacrifice and make Him Lord of our life and seek God’s will and instruction in His Word.
Dualism
Dualism is a problem when we try to separate our spiritual and academic lives. Dualism is an attempt to live by two different world views, with part of life subject to one master and the rest of life subject to another.
How can we teach students from a Christian world view when it concerns spiritual things, and teach from a secular world view for academics? God intends human life to be a whole—not split between mutually contradictory motivations and purposes:
1 Corinthians 10:31-Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17-And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.Matthew 6:24-No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Joshua 24:15-And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Edwin H. Rain stated,”Christianity is a world and life view and not simply a series of unrelated doctrines. Christianity includes all of life. Every realm of knowledge, every aspect of life, and every factor of the universe find their places and their answers within Christianity. It is a system of truth enveloping the entire world in its grasp.” Today we are faced with a society that has rejected the Judeo-Christian tradition.
The secular world rejects the existence of moral absolutes and the idea of a Supreme Being who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. This world view is taught today through the media, the school system, and the government.
Humanistic teaching has led to permissiveness, pornography, the breakdown of the family, and abortion, to name just a few. This shift away from a Christian world view came about gradually and has changed the way people think and view life as a whole.
Resources to Study World Views
Related Posts
- Homeschool and Views of Knowledge
- A Wisdom Parable
- An Easy Way to Make Homeschool Decisions
- God Has a Plan for Your Homeschool
- Homeschool Planning: How Would Jesus Schedule?
- Homeschool Statistics
- Homeschool? What about Socialization?!
- Spiritual Journey: Reaching the Promised Land
Popularity: 5% [?]
j.elohim 
Nadim Efthim 
Comment by Leinani :
I just love your posts Robin. They encourage and challenge me. Do you believe in teaching worldviews in the lower grades? Perhaps the better question is, how much worldview should we teach in the lower grades?
The reason I ask is because I am focusing on teaching biblical worldviews using some of Worldview Academy’s train of thought (knowing the Word and knowing what you believe in). As they get older, they will be trained with questions to get the “world” to stick to what they believe without “borrowing” from the Word. Since I was not raised in a Christian home, I have much re-learning to do. I am personally studying a biblical worldview for every subject taught (ex: math, biology, creation, etc.) using some of David Noebel’s teaching.
I have so much to learn. You have great resources available. My oldest is in the 4th grade, and we are doing HOW year one. I have no interest in teaching my children about mythology (whether it is Greek or Roman) or focusing on the legends from buddhism, hinduism, etc. I think they’re way too young. At this point, I am not totally against ever learning about mythology when they are older. Besides, there are so many teaching opportunities that arise in some of the “recommended” books we read and/or movies, etc.
I’m still trying to figure out how much “worldview” to teach at these ages. My heart tells me I will build upon their foundation every year as the teaching opportunities arise and will not heavily focus on apologetics until they are ready – which may vary from child to child – some much older than others. What do you think?
Comment by admin :
There is a “Christian Worldview For Children” http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/store/product.php?ProductID=400
You can teach a child the 4 questions in this post. I think most will grasp it.
Focus on teaching Bible and then ask questions like “What do you think a non Christian might think? ”
As you said, “build upon their foundation every year as the teaching opportunities arise” Pray–God will lead though his spirit.
See
http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/homeschool/homeschool-planning-how-would-jesus-schedule/
IMHO, I think it’s important you explain many people believe in evolution before they face it alone.
Comment by sprittibee :
Love the photo you chose. Great post!
Comment by Sharon Sue :
God is so good to us!!!!! In light of this post and the one about the boycott I found it quite interesting what our Pastor shared this morning from the Word. He has been lead of the Lord to teach us how to effectively witness. Not what we conventionally think of witnessing(example: Four Spiritual laws, and the like.) but how to share what Jesus has done in our lives and how He is available to do the same for others. Today Pastor taught about how we will be trying to relate to a world that thinks as hypocrits (example: laws against killing dogs but not abortion which is killing children.) We are trying to communicate with a world that is conditioned in situational ethics. How can we communicate in a way that is understood and not rejected out of hand?? Satan has been able to twist the thinking of man to a point where trying to communicate from a Christian perspective is totally foreign. I find the discussion and the teaching you have given as well as my Pastor’s, Spiritually “provoking”. I want others to know Jesus and all that goes with that relationship. I need to be able to communicate in a way the draws people not repels them!!!!!! Much to consider and pray about this week!!
Blessings.
Comment by cup beans :
I feel that if we think there could be a difference between the seen reality to the deeper one, there should be no conflict between the secular teachings and those of religion.