Brad Alles

A worldview is the truth claims that explain the world and reality. It helps people make sense of the world, like a map, so they can navigate through life. The worldview will tell them what is real, how to live, and answer basic questions. For example, Christianity teaches that God exists, that faith in Jesus saves people from their sins, and that stealing is wrong

Let’s discuss the specific components of a worldview. All worldviews have beliefs about reality and the source of everything. Another term for this is a philosophy.

Some believe in naturalism—the belief that reality is only comprised of matter, or natural things, with no supernatural realm. Everything that exists is just what we see in the world of nature; there are no spiritual forces or supernatural areas as well. If this world of matter is all that there is, from where did it come? Carl Sagan in his book and video series Cosmos summed it up best: “The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.” Do you see the assumption and the resulting explanation for all reality? All that ever existed in the past, exists now, and will exist is matter and it assembled itself in clockwork precision.

Now contrast Christianity’s explanation of reality and the source of all things. God exists, and He is the source of all things, the natural and supernatural realms, as stated in Colossians 1:16. It says, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”

Christians have an explanation for unexplained phenomena that are beyond the natural realm—God, miracles, angels, and demons. Atheism and Secular Humanism have no explanation for the supernatural since they assume it doesn’t exist, and answers given to such phenomena will be lacking. This will be key in defending the faith and witnessing to others about God, since all people have to face the miraculous or unexplained in their lives. Some will say that their map includes no supernatural realm, but that is not what they experience in life. Their worldview map and reality will not align, and that is when you will be able to witness powerfully to them.