Cultivating a Biblical Worldview
A Biblical worldview, also called a Christian worldview, is built upon the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual or group interprets the world and interacts with the world. Our worldview shapes the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of our lives. The most important worldview element is how it answers questions about God.
The Biblical worldview says there is a God—One who is personal, powerful and caring—who created the world and everything in it. It states unequivocally that man is created in God’s image, living in essence as God’s co-regent over creation. Mankind—born and unborn, rich and poor, able and disabled—has intrinsic worth. Almighty God is a sovereign God, ruler over nations, states, empires, and governments. He is to be worshipped and obeyed through the precepts and principles revealed in His infallible Word. He not only exists, but He is sovereign over all of history according to His wisdom and purposes, and He is intimately involved in every aspect of life (Franklin Graham, “A Biblical Worldview in Today’s Culture”).
Education is never worldview neutral. To help students grow spiritually, parents and educators have to partner to nurture a biblical worldview in students that help them answer for themselves the five major question all worldview answers:
- Orgin – where did I come from?
- Destiny – where am I going?
- Purpose – why am I here?
- Values – how should I live?
- Truth – what is the truth?
For Christian students, these questions engage the individual in a study of the Word to understand the overarching story of Creation (how things ought to be), the Fall (what went wrong), and Redemption (how can this be made right through Jesus Christ).
The teaching, training, and nurturing of students toward their development of a continuously maturing worldview should also foster in them a commitment to lifelong learning-a desire to continue to explore, learn about, and experience God’s creation and provision for His people. You see, the formal Christian school experience is not intended to be a culmination of learning but rather a motivation to grow and learn throughout an entire lifetime. (Ken Smitherman, Association of Christian Schools International).