In my reading this morning, Ezekiel 44:23 “They are responsible for teaching My people Israel the line between the sacred and common. They are to instruct My people on how to detect what is ritually pure and impure” stuck out to me. Now, this is speaking about the Levitical priests and what the Lord had instructed them to do. However, as modern day Christians, we are priests as well (Revelation 1:6). Looking at the times in which we find ourselves, have we accurately discerned and taught the difference between the sacred and the common? Do we look at our world through the lens of Scripture, giving us a biblical worldview?
I also came across an article titled “10 Signs You Lack a Biblical Worldview” posted on Joseph Mattera’s website. First, Scripture already had me thinking along these lines, and second, this article has me thinking further. Now, I would like to say I have a biblical worldview, but I also know that I have much room for improvement. Don’t we all, though?
As New Testament priests we should possess a biblical worldview enabling us to easily distinguish what is Holy from what is secular, and be able to live and teach it accordingly. Yet, over time we have lost site of the correct view of our world. Our culture has changed from one in which biblical principles were the stones our nation’s foundation was built upon and in which the Kingdom of God affected the cultural norms, to one in which biblical principles are frowned upon and tossed aside for secular humanism and “feel-goodism”. Sadly, some of our churches have traded Spirit-filled meaty messages for watered down milk to appease the masses, often focusing more on programs and fellowship rather than teaching how to live biblically in Spirit and truth; powerless, fruitless and educationally weak. In my opinion, and as an overall cultural generality, we have gone from being accountable and responsible for our individual actions to blaming others for our own choices and/or trying to erase the ramifications of our choices. We have become a nation of people who seek our own personal growth, gain and prosperity regardless of the cost to others. We want everything now and we don’t want to put the effort in to work out our own salvation. We no longer seem to value life, or the married nuclear family units consisting of mothers, fathers and children. We are a nation too used to handouts instead of leg-ups, and we have allowed others to educate our children on all fronts without fully understanding the quality and curriculum of said education. As a result of this our culture has given us a self-centric and secular worldview.
Most, not all, have put more trust in man than in God. Scripture admonishes and reminds us our trust should be in God and God alone. Man is fallible, when he dies all that we trusted him for dies with him (Psalm 146: 3-4) but God is infinite. He cannot die, He does not lie, He never fails. He is faithful, He is trustworthy, He alone knows what lies ahead for each of us. We cannot expect our civic governments, pastors and churches, and educators to do all that we need to do on our behalf. We must take upon ourselves some personal responsibility, after all we are told to study to show ourselves approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15).
How do we obtain a biblical worldview? First, we must make the time to regularly study God’s word. This includes quiet, personal study time and prayer. It involves digging deeply into Scripture and asking God how to apply it to daily life. Prayer is another vital component to a biblical viewpoint. We must not only speak with God, but we must be attentive and listening for when He speaks to us and be obedient to His directives. We must learn to discern His voice above all others and the way to do that is regular communication. Gathering together with other believers, whether this is fellowship, church services, or small groups, when we are with other believers we are challenged as well as challenging each other to grow. Serving others helps us have a Jesus-centered lens. When we put aside our self-driven desires and wants to fill the needs in others lives, we will begin to value what God values and go where He would have us go.
As Believers in Christ, we are not better than anyone, but we are different. We are called to be set apart, different and effective. We must begin to choose Kingdom over culture, having Kingdom values instead of worldly values. When the world looks at us, they should see a different people, in how we live and interact with others, in how we love, in how and what we put value and priority on. History shows that the Church impacted the culture around it, let us once again begin to affect culture.
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