A Christian worldview sees all of life and day to day living through the lens of reverence for the Lord, His sovereignty, His glory, and His Word. It is a life that emphasizes God. It begins by saying humans are inherently evil and they need the intervention of God to accomplish anything of eternal value (Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, 1 John 1:8). This makes God necessary from the beginning and points us back to Him in everything since the time He intervened in our lives. It brings everything back to God, credits Him with everything, thanks Him for everything, and desires to honor and consider Him in all of our choices, our public and private life, and most importantly our interaction with Non-Christians. Anything good we have is because of Him. Every breath we take is because He allows it (Daniel 5:23). Every time we pull through a difficult situation it’s through His strength and by the Holy Spirit He gave to indwell us. God is the source, the giver, the motivator, the agency, and the power. He begins and sustains. He allows freedom and yet restrains. He makes commands and yet provides the ability to obey those commands. He calls mankind to repent and believe in His Son and yet He works silently in their hearts and supernaturally opens their eyes to enable salvation. It is a Christian worldview that seeks to live life and make decisions that will have value in eternity (evangelism, Christian ministry, etc.) not in this life where things come and go and where “moth and rust destroy” all our possessions (Matt. 6:19-20). We share the gospel because souls will be saved. We pour our time and energy into part or full time ministry because that helps others grow spiritually. Just as worship songs contain lyrics sung to and about God, our lives should be lived as worship to and about God.
Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism, empiricism) over established doctrine or faith. It begins with the idea that people are born inherently good or that there is some good in them which then enables them to do good in this life aside from or completely separate from God or faith. This births self-help books that teach we can change ourselves through positive thinking, practical exercises, listening to motivational speakers, willpower, personal discipline, self-control, and searching within to find an inner strength to accomplish our goals. This is a man-centered perspective that does not acknowledge God. It has no need for Him because it has within itself the ability to accomplish whatever it wants or needs. It is the fundamental driving force of the American Dream.
In its’ strictest sense, Humanism is the worldview of Non-Christians, though believers often carry aspects of it into their Christian life. Humanism is fundamentally if not directly opposed to God, His Word, and His authority in our lives. This is a philosophy that spends a lot of time in humanitarian efforts that only last in this earthly life and yet have no value for eternity. People will always need counseling, clothes, food, and medical aid again and again. If they get sick or hungry they’ll be sick and hungry again. If however they die without Christ or die having lived a life that wasn’t sold out to God, all of that aid meant nothing. A Christian worldview helps people in this life and at the same time presents the gospel to them, points them to God, and provides ministry, discipleship, and Bible teaching that will impact eternity.
There is however a great mystery between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. This is a mystery which the Bible sees no problem with and neither should we. God is in control of all things yet He commands men to repent and believe in His Son. He provides the strength to live a holy life, yet He commands us to be holy as He is holy. The exact place where the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man meet have been debated and discussed for hundreds of years and may not be understood this side of heaven. It is a biblical understanding that will acknowledge this mystery and yet live life being God-centered, not man-centered. These aren’t two extremes that Christians can choose from. God Himself will get all the glory. A simple study of the end times makes this plain. We need to acknowledge this mystery and live life obeying God’s commands, battling sin and selfishness, and seeking to be more like Christ while giving God all the glory for our ability and success in doing those things. To put the emphasis on our abilities, our success, our strength, and our willpower is to forget God and all He’s already done and promised to do for us. To focus on what we are doing or can do is pride in self and is evidence that we haven’t fully left behind our worldly, humanistic, Non-Christian motivations for living.
Instead of saying “you can do it” we need to say “You can do it through the power of God.”
Instead of saying “Dream big” we need to say, “What dreams would most honor God?”
Instead of saying, “Search deep inside for strength” we need to say, “Pray and ask God for strength”
Instead of saying “Watch, listen or read _________ for insight and wisdom” we need to say, “Read God’s Word.”
Instead of saying, “Believe in yourself” we need to say, “Trust God.”
Instead of saying, “Live a moral life” we need to say, “You must be born again.”
Instead of saying, “Be yourself” we need to say, “Imitate Christ.”
Instead of saying, “Change your thinking” we need to say, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind through the Word of God”
The following are verses and passages that need to be considered…
“From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)
“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (1 Cor. 10:18)
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13)
“By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
“I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5)
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24–25)
“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
“The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
“For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
“If any man speak, let him speak as the utterances of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Rev. 5:13)
“Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…” (Psalm 66:1)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew [about] God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:20-22)
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
Read Ephesians 1 and count the number of times things happen “in Christ” “in Him” “through Him” “by Him” or things that He has done or is doing. How “God-centered” is this chapter alone?
Read Romans 9:6-24 and ask yourself what’s going on this passage? And if that sounds like the God you believe in?
The Psalms also have countless praises and thanksgivings and exaltation to God
