Choose your worldview or it will be chosen for you.
One afternoon my Political Science professor asked our class this question: What is your worldview? It caught me off guard since I had never been asked to articulate this in front of other students. I don’t recall everything I wrote but I do remember a sense of embarrassment as I realized how different mine was from that of all the students around me. I didn’t realize it at the moment, but I was woefully unprepared for that particular class and the other interactions I would have in my early 20s. The result was a lot of unnecessary confusion and periods of nagging doubt, culminating in the most difficult period of my life up to that point. In the following paragraphs, I would like to encourage you to avoid these mistakes. From a young age, learn to define and fortify the three pillars of the Christian worldview.
What is a worldview? Christian apologist John Lennox defines it as “the narrative that gives our lives their meaning.” The beauty of growing up in a Christian home is that from a young age we are presented with a narrative that is not simply a myth but a true narrative that makes perfect sense of reality. In fact, when compared with every attempt throughout history to make sense of our world, it is the most compelling account of where we came from, where we are and where we’re going. I suggest to you that our worldview must have three (at least) pillars to survive university and beyond.
First, we must clearly define who God is. Reflect on His infinitude (Col 1:17), immutability (Mal 3:6) and omnipotence (Job 11:7-11). Research these attributes (and others) and trace them throughout the narrative of Scripture.
Second, we must understand who we are as human beings and be convinced of our infinite depravity. The Bible describes our condition as “sold under sin” (Rom 7:14), a profound phrase that expresses our fundamental nature. We are not, as many would desire to believe, “amoral” or fundamentally good beings who make “mistakes” when put under pressure. Rather, we are sinful to the core, from birth, and in everything we think and do. It is only because we are also made in the image of God that unregenerate man can act in a way that resembles righteousness and holiness.
Third, we must know Christ. Even if the first two pillars are not attacked or slandered by unbelievers, they will always find a way to diminish your confidence in Christ. Though it is not common anymore to deny that Christ was an historical person, you will encounter opposition in these four areas: His deity, atonement, resurrection and return. Is Christ divine? If He was truly crucified, did it actually accomplish anything? Was He truly resurrected? Will He ever return? The answers to all these questions are found in Scripture, and we would do well to fortify our faith with helpful writings by believers on the same subjects. Do not fall into the trap of thinking there is not enough information or evidence to answer all those questions in the affirmative.
Strengthen your confidence in these three foundational pillars of the Christian worldview and you will not be tempted by the allure of so-called “pure rationalism” that is so prevalent in our world today.
