Worldview

A community's worldview is a description of its perspectives on the world (the spectacles through which it views the world), and its underlying beliefs and assumptions behind its cultural practices.^ These are often called presuppositions, as they are held, but rarely stated. One simply way of comparing worldviews of different groups is to ask some basic questions, such as:

1. Who am I?
2. Where am I (what is the world like)?
3. What is the problem?
4. What is the solution?

For instance, a secular-materialistic worldview would look something like this:

1. I am the random product of a genetic process that began with the formation of basic forms of life such as amoebas, and continued until human beings came into being via the process called 'evolution'.
2. I am in the world that was formed by the big bang. This possibly occurred as the result of a massive singularity, though there are several other current theories about this. Scientists can trace the big bang back to the first few nanoseconds, but not beyond the big bang. Perhaps time only began when the big bang occurred? No one is quite sure about this, though.
3. The problem is the meaningless of a life lived for such a short time. We are born, live, die, then there is nothing. Perhaps we become part of the cosmos, but most of us just believe we cease to exist (at a conscious level).
4. There is no solution, though most of find it is better to live in the moment, using principles of mindfulness. This at least makes each moment more worthwhile than it otherwise would be. Also, we have meaningful relationships, though ultimately these will cease to exist when one of us dies. Again, all we can do is enjoy them while we have them. Sometimes the threat of death can make us feel more alive, as we then live every moment as if it is our last.

Followers of Jesus the Messiah believe that our life is only meaningful when lived in and through him (via the Holy Spirit, who lives in each believer). Instead of a secular-materialist worldview, followers of the Messiah believe: 

1. I am created by God, and loved by him.
2. The universe was created by God, and was seen by him to be 'good' (Genesis 1).
3. The problem is that human beings rebelled against God and were expelled from paradise (Genesis 2-3).
4. The solution is in God's plan to rescue people from every nation, by choosing one nation, Israel. They were intended to be 'light to the nations' (Isaiah 49:6), but chose, instead, to focus on their own destiny. As a result of their continued rebellion against their God, Yahweh,* they ended up in exile, and only a small number of true believers returned to Judah (southern Israel). They then lived under various empires (Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman). While the Romans were in charge Jesus came, and instead of causing a political rebellion against the Roman rulers on behalf of his people, the Judeans, he brought in a Kingdom where God rules in our hearts and in the life of our community or 'gathering'. His death and resurrection proved that he was chosen by God, and enabled all of creation to be reconciled with God (Colossians 1-2). It also reunited heaven and earth, which therefore means that all believers who become part of God's Kingdom are essentially living in heaven, as well as on earth, and have eternal life. In the future, Jesus the Messiah will return in power and glory, and claim his inheritance, which is believers from every tribe, nation, language and tongue (Revelation 7). The death and resurrection of the Messiah also enabled Judeans and Gentiles (those from non-Judean nations) to be reconciled (Ephesians 2), as both are saved in and through the work of the Messiah.

As you can see, the difference between the secular-materialistic worldview and the Christian one is large. This means that when we share our beliefs (that is, our worldview) with those from a secular-materialist background, they find it difficult to comprehend it or see the relevance of it to their lives.

One solution is to begin where they are, by suggesting that they read the book of Ecclesiastes, which discusses the meaningless of a life lived without God. This will enable them to see that the Bible, far from being irrelevant, speaks directly into their life and enables them to find a path to belief. 

This process can be used as a model to reach out to those with other worldviews, as well. Answer the four questions above, from their perspective, then try to find out what might resonate with them, in terms of Scriptural truth. For Muslims, it is often the book of Proverbs, or certain Psalms. For Hindus, it might be that Jesus, through his death and resurrection, won the victory over the powers and authorities in the heavenly realms. What is it that will help them overcome their worst fears, and meet their deepest needs? That is what we need to present to communities who are searching for a more fulfilling life.

^A more formal definition can be found in Nash (1992), quoted in Moreau (2000, 1032): 'A worldview, then, is a conceptual scheme by which we consciously or unconsciously place or fit everything we believe and by which we interpret and judge reality.'

*Yahweh literally means 'He is'. Judeans often pronounce it 'Adonai', which means 'Lord', to avoid taking His name in vain. This Judean tradition has been followed by most English Bibles, which therefore translate Yahweh using the word 'Lord'.

Nash, R. H. 1992. Worldviews in Conflict: Choosing Christianity in a World of Ideas. Zondervan Academic.

Moreau, A. Scott, Harold A. Netland, Charles Edward van Engen, and David Burnett, eds. 2000. Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. Baker Reference Library. Baker Books [u.a.].