What is your Worldview?

Weekly Opinion Editorial

WHAT IS YOUR WORLDVIEW?

by Steve Fair

     Whether we realize it or not, each of us has a worldview—that is, a basic set of assumptions about the world and human existence that forms the bedrock of our values, goals and priorities.  There are basically two worldviews; one is non-theistic and the other theistic.  That means one believes man is created in God’s image and the other believes man is just here for the party-that he needs to get all out of this life he can by whatever means he can. There are various subsets within each view, but ultimately you either believe God is in control of this world or you don’t. 

     Our worldview influences how we view government and politics.  If you believe that man is born with a sin nature and that he is depraved, you understand that no matter how many government programs and well meaning bills are passed, we will still have poor people and violence in our society.  A person with a theistic worldview understands the problem is the heart of man, not in his environment. 

     Those with a non-theistic worldview are obsessed with changing the environment and circumstances of people’s lives.  They believe by doing that, they will pull people from the dark side and make them productive citizens.  They support more education, better health care, less guns, and more food.  They believe those who have money should share it and therefore they legislate to ‘redistribute’ the wealth to insure everyone’s environment is a nurturing one.   They promote education as the only way out of poverty.  As John Piper says, “educating a crook without a change in the heart of the crook only makes a more educated crook.”  

   There are many in both parties who take the non-theistic worldview.  They look at man’s plight as his environment or circumstances and reject that man’s heart is sinful.  That’s why they blame guns for violence, not the shooter.  They blame society for the thief, not the thief.  Worldview is important in politics.

     For example, you have heard people say, “I can’t bring myself to vote for the lesser of two evils.”  The truth is those with a theistic worldwide understand that until Jesus Christ is on the ballot, you are always voting for the lesser of two evils. 

     The very need for human government is based on the fact that man has an inherent sin nature.  James Madison, the father of the Constitution, understood that when he said, "It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary."

      In Romans 13, Paul writes that government leaders are ‘ministers of God.”  What Paul was saying was that God is in control.  No person in leadership got there without God allowing it.  Whether you believe that or not, it’s still true.  God controls everything.  So what is an American Christian to do?  Retreat, isolate them selves and ignore what is happening in their government?  Become a political activist and work to change the environment/circumstances by electing more ‘conservatives?”  Abandon their pulpit for a political stump and ‘claim America for Christ?’  All of those things are happening in America among Christians, and most those doing them have pure motives, but it doesn’t seem to be changing our government.  What should we do? 

     The first thing Christians should do is pray.   America certainly doesn’t deserve God’s grace and mercy, but she needs it.  In the last 40 years, America has aborted over 55 million babies.  We have embraced same sex marriage.  We have outlawed prayer in the public school and in the community square.  The breakdown of the American family and the moral decay of our society is a symptom of the real problem- the heart of man.  Until our leaders understand this fundamental truth, they are only treating the symptoms and not the disease. 

     The second thing American Christians should do is pay attention to their government.  Only about 60% of the population eligible to vote EVER vote and a large percentage of Christian voters don’t pay attention to what is going on in their government.  At the very least a voter should be informed and knowledgeable before they cast a ballot. 

     How a leader views the heart of man frames the debate for solutions in America.  This is a fundamental, basic truth.  What is your worldview?