Fuzzy, unfocused, blurry, hazy. These terms describe feelings people have who have lost their glasses. Glasses help to bring the world around us into focus. Depending on the accuracy of the prescription, glasses bring the world in true light. In the same way, sunglasses or colored eyeglasses change the color of the world around us.
The metaphor of eyeglasses and sunglasses is a good way to portray a “worldview.” A worldview is the way you see the world – the way you interpret the events and circumstances around you. A biblical or Christian worldview interprets the world from a biblical or Christ-centered focus.
Every person has a worldview. It could be based on materialism, Islam, or secularism. Worldviews begin to develop early in life through parents and life experiences. Parents and teachers should keep in mind the impact of helping children develop a biblical worldview.
How can you encourage your children to develop a biblical worldview? Let children see you read the Bible. Read it to them. Consult the Bible when making decisions. Talk about and critique things that conflict with the biblical worldview whether it be movies, television, books, commentaries, or even sermons.
A biblical worldview helps children integrate biblical principles into daily life.
When parents use everyday experiences in life to point out evidences of God’s working or reliance on God, they are helping children answer questions about life such as “Does anybody care for me?” or “Where did I come from?”
A biblical worldview gives a foundation for faith.
Helping children know what they believe is important, but they also must know why they believe it. A strong foundation of faith empowers children to begin to articulate and defend their Christian lifestyle. This foundation also allows children to deal with tough choices, realizing the consequences and effects of their choices.
A biblical worldview is essential to face the challenges of a secular world.
Parents and teachers must prepare children to face a world that is not grounded in the truth found in Scripture. Children daily face the influences of relative truth. Early in life is the ideal time to create a love and desire to follow God, along with the willingness and ability to discard what is not truth.
A biblical worldview becomes the basis for reaching others with the gospel.
As children grow, a biblical worldview will become a framework for answering questions from lost individuals they may encounter.
A biblical worldview is essential in a world that resembles a neighborhood.
No longer do children study other religions or cultures. The world has come to their door, and it is bringing new values and new religions. Children also face more seductive religions like materialism. A biblical worldview provides the core for all of life and life situations.
A biblical worldview is commanded by Scripture.
First Peter 3:15 states, “Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
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The main points of this article are fairly obvious. I would have liked to have a little more meat. Like more examples of how you can actually alter your own behavior and what you can say to a child of a certain age in a common situation.
I also do not like the way the article states that materialism is a religion. That is an irresponsible statement. It should be explained instead of assumed. It is a turn off to an average person reading the article and makes the author sound as if they are trying to be clever.
Also the three worldviews mentioned are presented as if they are the only ones. Secularism is way too involved to be presented as a world view. Most people do not understand the basic theories behind Islam so including it in the list of the negative three makes it sound like the author is simply prejudiced. Another reason a typical reader, who does not understand the folly of the Islamic world view, would just be turned off and dismiss the article.
Materialism as a world view makes it sound like the author believes that there are only four types people in the world and they are all pretty dumb except the Christians. This insinuation seems to breed self righteousness especially when it is used as a child rearing strategy for an impressionable Christian child. I have the LifeWay website as my homepage and I often read the articles. I would like to know that every article is being written thoughtfully and with a sincere intention to benefit the reader. I undertsnd the intentions of the article and maybe I am being a little harsh, but this article fell short of my expectations.