4 Ts for Shaping a
Christian Worldview
By Melvin Adams - President & COO of Renewanation
P
1
GOD:
Is there a personal, tran-
scendent Supreme Being
to whom we are all account-
able? If so, what is this God
like? If not, then what?
HUMANITY:
Who are we? Is there
anything unique,
distinct or valuable
about humans? If so,
what and why?
3
CREATION:
Where did the world
come from? What
sustains it all? Is there a
spiritual part of reality
or is it all material?
4
PURPOSE:
Why do we
exist? Is there a
reason for the world
we live in or for our
own existence in
the world?
2
EOPLE OFTEN ASK what a worldview is and
how it is developed. These are important ques-
tions, so I will briefly address them. But the
more pressing question to me is how a Christian
or biblical worldview is formed and passed
on to our children and grandchildren.
Let’s see if we can find some answers.
What Is Our Worldview?
Our worldview is the set of presup-
positions and beliefs that we use to
interpret and form opinions and
values concerning life, humanity,
family, authority, justice, truth,
duty, etc. It is the “big picture” and
culmination of all our beliefs. It is
the way we understand reality. It
is the basis from which we make
daily decisions.
As my friend, Christian
Overman points out, if we
take a close look at any
worldview, we will find that
it consists of underlying beliefs
(or assumptions) in five key areas that
make up one’s big picture of “reality.”
MORAL ORDER:
Who makes the rules?
Do some rules apply to
everyone?
5
It is relatively easy to grasp someone’s
worldview (including your own) by
considering answers to questions in
these five areas.
How Does One Form a Worldview?
Let me give you a simple formula that I
hope will help you see how all of us have
formed our worldviews.
What I’m Taught + My Experience
Time
12
=
Truth Claims I Trust
or My Worldview