Editor’s Note: In this article, Debi unpacks three ways a biblical worldview impacts her daily life. For more information on the foundations of a biblical worldview, check out A Biblical Worldview: What It Is and Why It Matters.
I hold a biblical worldview.
This one statement has numerous implications. First, I believe that absolute moral truth exists and absolute truth is defined by the Word of God. Second, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who lived a sinless life, died for sinners, and rose again the third day for our salvation. Third, I believe that the omnipotent and omniscient God who created the universe still reigns today, and He gives salvation through Christ as a gift that cannot be earned. Next, I believe that Christians are commissioned to share their faith with others. Finally, I believe the Bible to be 100% accurate and trustworthy.
My worldview—these foundational beliefs—impacts my life. Some people say that Christians should be silent about their beliefs in public. For example, many colleges try to point out that Christianity is of the heart and not of the mind. Therefore, since professors teach the mind, Christianity should be left outside the door on the way into the classroom.
But that undermines the influence of a biblical worldview. If I hold a biblical worldview, then I look to the Bible in everything. Jesus said, “It is written, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Luke 4:4).
Every area of our lives needs to be subject to the Word of God. Click To Tweet In this article, I want to dig into how a biblical worldview affects my outlook on three areas: government and politics, family and friends, and entertainment. What does the Bible tell me about these three things?Governments and Politics
My biblical worldview affects my outlook on politics. What can I do for my leaders? How does God want me to respond to authority? As a Christian, am I supposed to vote?
To begin with, the Bible tells us to pray for those in authority. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Next, we’re called to submit to authority. Paul says in Romans: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment….Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:1-7).
Though we submit to authority, our submission itself is subject to our obedience to God, for He is the ultimate authority. Therefore, we abide by rules that are backed by the Word. If our government put a law in place ordering us to no longer read the Bible or pray, that would be a time to disobey, for we are ultimately called to obey God. In Acts 5:29, Peter and the other apostles declared, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Finally, I believe that we, as Christians, should vote. James 4:17 tells us, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
How can we apply this to voting? When looking at two nominees every election, you should ask yourself several questions. Do any of these nominees support abortion (see Jeremiah 1:5; Genesis 1:27)? Has any of these nominees acted in a way or stated something that might destroy our freedom of religion? Has one of these nominees ever said anything racist or degrading? And the list goes on. Our job is to vote for the better candidate so we may maintain our freedoms and preserve life.
Family and Friends
My biblical worldview affects my outlook on friends and family. What kind of friends should I have, and how meaningful are my friendships? How can I be a good friend? What are the functions of parents, children, husbands, wives, and siblings in the home?
First, we are to surround ourselves with good company. “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals'” (1 Corinthians 15:33). This doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with non-Christians. Instead, it signifies that we shouldn’t spend time with those who influence us to do evil.
For example, let’s say I make a new friend at school. One day, this friend invites me to her house for a sleepover. I agree to go, but find that my friend is having an unsupervised party with alcohol. Imagine I still go and my friend persuades me to participate in alcohol abuse. This is an instance of how evil company can ruin good habits.
Don’t let it fool you. Peers can be very convincing and can quickly persuade you to do things that you know are unbiblical and harmful. How do we avoid being put into tricky situations like the above? Simply, don’t hang around a crowd who will try to convince you to do wrong.
Moving on from friends, what about family? First, children should honor, respect, and obey their parents. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). Colossians 3:20 also says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Obeying our parents pleases God. Our parents have wisdom and hold experience that we may not. Honoring and obeying them not only brings glory to God, but also helps to protect us from harm.
Next, how are parents supposed to raise their children? Proverbs 22:6 can answer this question for itself: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Raise a child in the ways of the Lord. Bring up your sons or daughters on the Word of God. Also, be a constant example of what Jesus is like. If you preach one thing, then act out another, a child will most likely stop following the Lord sooner or later. So, train your child, be an example, and teach them God’s Word.
Third, wives are to submit to their husbands, and husbands are to love their wives more than their own bodies.
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord…. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church because we are members of his body” (Ephesians 5:22-25).
Like the church submits to God, a wife should submit to her husband. As Christ loves the church, a husband should love his wife.
Finally, how should siblings interact with one another? “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Siblings are to love one another, even when an older sister is bossy or a little sister is annoying. 1 John 4:20 states, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Though John is talking of brothers and sisters in Christ, this can apply to physical siblings as well! Loving our siblings can sometimes be the hardest thing to do, especially when the other gets on your nerves. Still, we love our siblings if we genuinely love God.
Entertainment
Lastly, my biblical worldview changes what I seek for entertainment. What we fill our minds with should be as Paul described: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Impure language and taking God’s name in vain is not noble. Sexual innuendo is not pure. Extreme graphic detail is not lovely. Crude humor is not of good report. Putting these things into our minds is not wise, for the Bible says we are to meditate on the exact opposite.
Why should we steer clear of media filled with impure language, sexual innuendo, extreme graphic content, and crude humor? Proverbs 4:23 states, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” How can we guard our hearts if we fill our minds with questionable and outrageous content? We can’t. To protect our hearts, we must seek that which is noble, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy and avoid content that is not.
All to the Glory of God
Because I hold a biblical worldview, the Bible defines my entire life. God’s Word influences more than just politics, family, friends, and entertainment. My biblical worldview applies to my whole life!
Why do I look to the Bible in everything I do? Simply because I want to give glory to God in my life. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
