Proclaiming Truth in a Chaotic World
If you watch any debate—whether it’s the presidential debates or a social media thread—you soon realize that both sides argue so passionately because they believe what they hold is true. Even when it comes to debates amongst believers, Christians believe in their interpretations of Scripture and how it impacts their perspectives. All Christians would say that they are coming from a biblical worldview.
This brings up an interesting question. What is a biblical worldview? This term “biblical worldview” is commonly used amongst evangelicals. Most people define it as how Christians should view and understand the world around them through the lens of Scripture. But if Scripture is our interpretation filter of this world, why do Christians have so many competing viewpoints? And how should we present the biblical worldview to the rest of the world?
What Is Truth?
Scripture is truth. No Christian would deny this. Let us then consider exactly what truth really means.
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. (Ps 119:89)
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isa 40:8)
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matt 24:35)
Truth must be unchanging. If truth wavers in any way, it cannot be truth. God’s Word is truth and it will stand forever. Over and over again, Scripture reminds us to cling to God’s Word as our anchor. In an unstable world, we need solid ground. We need to be like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Matt 5:24–27).
Many Christians recognize the authority and importance of God’s Word. The question I want to ask is if they understand the implications of having a high view of Scripture. When someone says, “If you believe the Bible is true…,” what does that mean? What happens if you believe the Bible is false?
Or let me ask you this: Do you realize that the Bible still stands true regardless of what people believe? That is what truth means. Truth stands apart from our opinions and perspectives. It doesn’t matter what we believe what the Bible says. It matters what the Bible actually says. For instance, the creation account is not true because we believe it is true. It is actually true for everyone, whether they believe or not. (Let me be clear. When it comes to salvation, it does matter what we believe about the Bible. But that doesn’t take away from the truthfulness of the gospel.)
Consider the purpose of Scripture. What is the purpose of Scripture?
Scripture is for our sanctification. Jesus prays, “Sanctify them with truth. Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).
Scripture is for equipping us. Paul says that all Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16).
Scripture is our guide and wisdom. Peter calls God’s Word a lamp that helps us see clearly (2 Pet 1:19).
Scripture reveals Christ as Lord. John writes that the Word became flesh so that we may believe (John 1:14).
It is Scripture that remains true and unchanging, and we are the ones who must change to live according to what the Bible says. Note this: God’s Word is written specifically for His people to hear and obey. It is meant to help the church be a living testimony of Christ in this fallen world. But God’s word is also written for the world to know the truth and to be judged by the truth. Therefore, it is our job as Christians to proclaim and live out this truth.
What Is a Biblical Worldview?
It is interesting to hear Christians speak out on so many different social and political issues, from one side to the other. Everyone claims to have a biblical worldview. But what does that even mean? Why are we even presenting these arguments? What are we trying to prove?
What has happened is that our “biblical worldview” has faded into a sea of opinions. We are just another talking head. A voice like every other voice. Arguing for what we think is right and why other people are wrong. We have diluted the Word of God into our own little book of facts and laws. We are trying to convince people that the biblical worldview is true. And it is. But the problem is not in our argument. The problem is thinking that we can win the argument without first trying to win people's souls.
How does one come to see the truth of Scripture? Second Corinthians 4 presents a clear answer:
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:3–6)
It takes the power of God to open the eyes of the blind. No one can develop a biblical worldview without first being saved. Albert Mohler writes this:
“The evangelical worldview project, rightly understood, was never about producing people who would think like Christians. It was about teaching Christians to believe the truth of God’s Word, to be able to apply that Word to their lives and thoughts, to be faithful in every dimension of their lives.” (Emphasis added)
As Christians, we must remember that our worldview is more than just how we think. It is how we live. It is how we speak. It is about Christ who lives in us. We cannot use Scripture to “Christianize” the world. We use Scripture to shine light into the darkness of people’s hearts. Our goal is not to change people’s thinking. We are called a royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9). Our goal is to bring people before the holy and almighty God.
In other words, God has sent the church not to revolutionize human society but to be ministers of His reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18–20). No political party stands for God. No election changes His Word. No nation remains forever. But Jesus says, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).
Therefore, a biblical worldview must be more than how Christians understand the world. A biblical worldview must be “sharper than any two-edged sword,” ready to unveil the sins of this world and bring people to repentance. Our goal is not to make this fallen world our home or prepare a better future for the generations to come. Our goal is to present the truth of God as revealed in Scripture.
What Should We Do?
Therefore, meditate on God’s Word, not for the sake of winning arguments, but for the sake of knowing the truth and growing in holiness. Let Scripture renew your mind and transform the way you live and speak. We are to be light in this darkened world. Scripture is inerrant, authoritative, and unchanging. This means that what we believe in is not just another opinion. It is the very truth that holds the fabric of this universe together.
Arguments come and go. It is not wrong to have helpful conversations with friends and family to consider how the Bible speaks upon the many issues of this world. In fact, I encourage it! But let us remember the primary goal of Scripture: to make you ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are not conversing with the purpose of evangelizing unbelievers or edifying believers, then you might be using Scripture for your own agenda. Be wary. We do not need to defend Scripture or use it to win debates. We just need to proclaim it as it is—as the very Word of God.
