The Importance of Having a Biblical Worldview and The Issues of The Natural World, Human Identity, and Human Relationships

Introduction

A worldview represents a conception of how an individual thinks and sees their daily life. They are two predominant types of worldviews: 1) The humanistic worldview centers around a way of life which is centered on human interests or values; especially: a philosophy that typically rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity, worth and capacity for self-realization through reason, and  Biblical worldview is a view centered on God’s Word, which serves as the lenses in how see’s the world they live in. We are living in a world which is becoming increasingly more humanistic.

This paper will discuss the issues of our natural world, human identity, human relationships, and the importance of having a biblical worldview. Romans 1-8 will serve as our focal passage, and will be instrumental in shaping our Christians beliefs as we discuss the four topics mentioned above. The writer of Romans, Paul, will be mentioned multiple times herein, there will be verses outside of Romans that supplement our focal text throughout, and my own personal beliefs as biblical worldview thinker will be demonstrated.

Natural World

The book of Romans reminds Christians about the origin of the natural world. It was stated that God created the natural world. What He has written, God’s Word, is called specific revelation. But there is also natural revelation, which is what we will examine in this section. The Bible says this about the natural world in Romans 1:20, “His invisible attributes namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world so they are without excuse.” The verse conveys that God reveals himself to his people throughout creation.

The handiwork of His creation, reminisces that of a mighty, sovereign, divine king. All man has to do is look around to see that there is indeed a divine designer. Even people who have never heard the gospel intrinsically know there is something greater out there, unreached people groups construct some sort of religious hierarchy, often consisting of a heaven or hell. To be clear, all of creation glorifies the father, we are the pinnacle of His creation. Thus, in the fiber of our DNA is the longing to worship our creator. Sadly, man makes fatal decisions of the flesh to worship the created instead of the creator (Acts 17:22). Sin keeps us from making the good decisions that God gave us the ability to make as people created in His image (Genesis 1:27, 4:7). This struggle of sin in our human nature in the natural world, which wars for our heart and draws us away, instead of to God.

What causes us to sin is perhaps best personified in Romans 1:18-32. In these verses, it talks about how the nature of the natural world is sadly about humanistic desires rather than Biblical ones. When Romans was written, the Roman empire was in control, it was sadly a pagan nation. They believed that they could achieve a salvation on their own terms. People in today’s society, like the Romans, believe that good deeds can get one to heaven. Romans 3:10 states, “…there is none righteous.” Therefore, no one can go to heaven by their goods deeds alone, because in man is his inherent sin nature. Paul addressed this subject in Romans because he saw an issue on how they were acting and wanted to point out how wrong the way they were living was. It is in this letter to the people of Rome that we get what is known as the “Roman’s Road” which essentially goes explains, the sin of man (Romans 3:23, how there is a penalty for sin (Romans 6:23), and how we can be forgiven (Romans 5:8), and make Jesus the Lord and savior of our life (Romans 10:9).

Human Identity

Where we put our identity says a lot about what we believe. If in the world, then we will be conformed by the influences of the world. However, if we see ourselves the way God see’s us, righteous, redeemed, ratified, it changes everything about us. We no longer look unto the things of the world, but to Christ. All this being said, even after we’ve given our life to Christ, the human nature does not just go away. It is a daily battle to thwart the attacks of the enemy (Satan), the world, and the flesh.

These are our three enemies. And this is precisely what Paul is talking about toward the end of Romans 7, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” This is Paul speaking here, “super-saint”, and writer of most of the New Testament, yet, he still struggles with sin and has to combat it on a regular basis. Still there’s a redeemable trait about Paul, he looks to Christ in his weakness, and boast in God’s strength because he realizes that His identity is in Christ. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Despite the grip on Sin, he turns to God, because he knows that it is not him, but Christ who allows him to overcome the sin he grapples with (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:22-24,).

As such, sin does not have the final word on our destiny or our identity. Because if our identity is in Christ, then so is our destiny. With Christ forgiveness of our sin, we are enabled to live holy lives, set apart for Christ. We are not here to live our life the way we want (Humanistic view); we were created for the purpose of glorifying the lord and to live in relationship with him. In a biblical worldview, one recognizes that man does not contain the ability to understand God and consequently views man’s identity as totally immoral.

Fortunately, Paul states in Romans 8:30 the future glory that awaits those who put their identity in Christ, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Without Christ this would not be possible, but with our identity secure in Christ we no longer have to bear the blunt of our sin, but in Christ are made co-heirs with Christ because of our relationship with Him.

Human relationships

No matter how much the times have changed, people are still people and sin in still sin. There is nothing new under the sun and people still seek their own pleasures. Pleasure is not bad within itself (Ecclesiastes 2:24). But it is bad we put the pursuit of pleasure over Christ. When we do this, we pervert the life we are meant to live in Christ and pursue vain things (Ecclesiastes 1). Humanistic pleasure only leads us towards sin. None of us are immune from the consequences of hedonistic pleasure. We are all prone to sin. Not one person has lived a sinless life other than Jesus. Romans 5:12-19 delineates how Jesus did not deserve to die on the cross but made himself faithful to the point of the cross so that we could become His righteousness. Along that note, we should be ever thankful of that grace extended to us in Christ.

And as a result, we are to be servants of grace in our relationships, being forgiving of others, forbearing with others, and giving with one another as Christ was in giving His own son to die on the cross for our sin. Christ did not operate with a biases, and it is my conviction that neither should we. If we do this, it will show that we are good hearted and spiritual like the Bible says for us to do in Romans 2:29. Paraphrased, that verse says we are a to be led by the Spirit, and to live not for the praise of men, but that man would praise their father in heaven for how we live now (Matthew 5:16). By showing that you are a good hearted person, you can see that the fruits of the spirit are ever - present in your life (Galatians 5:22).

The fruit of the Spirit is where the Christian finds contentment in the Lord, relationships, and life. But if someone is not a Christian, and does not have the Spirit, then they will look for the things of the world to satisfy. Human relationships are key to that, but it is only found in Christ. if you aren’t a Christian then it is impossible to seek any meaning in this world. That is why I also believe that that with God we can do all things because we are more than conquers in Christ who loved us and gave himself for us (Romans 8:37).

Culture

The culture we should have is quite simple, Jesus culture. We were made to fellowship and experience Christ in community. Community exist outside are normal realm of comfort. It’s important to remember that fellowship is not only to be experienced with those who are like us, but with those that are not like us. We were created to build relationships with everyone. That doesn’t exclude non-believers. We should love each person with the love of Jesus, despite cultural differences. Paul wrote about how the Jews unnecessarily rejected the gentiles and did not believe that they were include them in the plan of salvation (Acts 11:17).

But Paul sets the record straight, “It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--the Jew first and also the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). They thought that the gentiles were not deemed worthy to enough to be liberated by God, but God died so that all could experience salvation through Christ (Romans 6:10). In God’s eye, we are all the same. When it comes to culture, we as Christians should accept everybody because we are no better than anyone else, and are sinners before the foot of the cross (Romans 3:23). If we operate out of a place that is grateful and thankful for what God has done, then we will be welcoming of those around us, no matter how different they are and will have a culture that lives as Jesus did before others (Romans 7:6) Christ came to serve and seek the lost, so should we as we endeavor to point others to Christ, with the life we’ve been given (Galatians 5:13, Luke 19:10).

Conclusion

Through the course of this paper we have predominantly discussed the importance of having a biblical worldview, but also the perils of a humanistic worldview. In the natural world section, we discussed how man is created by God (Romans 1:28) and as the pinnacle of His creation, we are created to bring Him glory (Romans 3:10).

In the Human Identity section, we discussed how one’s sin nature wars at our flesh and tries to steal away our identity in Christ. Yet, as Paul did, we too can overcome sin through the power of the spirit, who allows to cultivate Godly relationships with others (Romans 7:25). As delineated in the human relationship section, these relationships flow not out of our ability to perform, but out of what God performed on the cross (Romans 5:12-19). Better yet, the grace that allows are sin to be triumphed over (Romans 8:37), so that we can better live as examples before Christ, serving him as His ambassadors, and pointing others to Christ (Romans 2:29).

And finally, in the culture section we discussed how we are to boldly live before God (Romans 1:16) with hearts of service, and as we do, people will want what we have, hopefully be drawn away from menial lives of humanism and drawn into a meaningful relationship that is found in no other than Christ Jesus (Romans 6:10)