Biblical Worldview in a Postmodern Culture
A biblical worldview is a comprehensive framework for understanding reality, derived from the teachings of the Christian Scriptures, which shapes one's perception of God, humanity, the world, and the future [7]. This worldview stands in contrast to other perspectives, particularly those that emerge from postmodern thought.
One foundational aspect of a biblical worldview is its understanding of "the world." The apostle Paul, in Romans 12:2, exhorts believers, "And be not conformed to this world" [3]. John Gill interprets "this world" as potentially referring to the Mosaic dispensation and Jewish church state, which had a "worldly sanctuary" and "rudiments and elements of the world" that believers in the Gospel dispensation should not conform to [3]. Alternatively, "the world" can signify "the men of the world, carnal and unregenerate" [3]. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary on Colossians 3:11 further clarifies that the "present world-course" (Ephesians 2:2) is distinct from the renewed individual, where distinctions like Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, bondman and freeman are abolished [4]. This implies a separation from the prevailing systems, values, and patterns of thought that characterize human society apart from God.
The Bible also presents a distinct view of history and eschatology, often referring to "the world to come." The author of Hebrews states that God has not subjected "the world to come" to angels [2]. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown interprets "the world to come" as the new covenant dispensation, contrasting it with the existing world, which includes the Old Testament dispensation, the political kingdoms of the earth, and natural elements [2]. This future orientation is crucial. Revelation 20:6 speaks of a blessed state where "the second death hath no power" over those who are "priests of God," reigning with Christ for a thousand years [1]. This millennial reign is followed by a final conflict involving "Gog and Magog" after the millennium, distinct from an earlier attack before it [5]. This detailed eschatological vision provides a teleological understanding of history, moving towards a divinely ordained culmination.
In contrast to a biblical worldview, postmodern thought often questions grand narratives, universal truths, and objective reality. It tends to emphasize subjective experience, cultural relativism, and the deconstruction of established systems of meaning. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, notes that modern speculative or pantheistic theology often "ignores the doctrine of a resurrection," and "does not even admit of the existence of the soul after the dissolution of the body" [7]. He further explains that "scientific materialism admits of no other resurrection than the reappearance of the same chemical elements which now form our bodies, in the bodies of future plants, animals, or men" [7]. This stands in stark opposition to the biblical teaching of a bodily resurrection and a future state for individuals [7].
A biblical worldview emphasizes the sovereignty of God over all creation and history. It posits that God has a plan and purpose for the world, which is progressively revealed through Scripture and culminates in Christ. This perspective provides a stable foundation for ethics, meaning, and identity, rooted in divine revelation rather than human construction or subjective experience. The call to not be conformed to "this world" (Romans 12:2) implies a conscious choice to adopt and live by a different set of values and principles derived from God's word [3]. This involves a transformation of the mind, allowing individuals to discern God's will [3].
The concept of "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) is central to maintaining a biblical worldview. John Gill describes this as looking "with the eye of the understanding, or with the eye of faith," a spiritual sight that grows, humbles, transforms, and fills with joy [6]. This continuous focus on Christ, who is described as "the author and finisher of our faith," serves as an anchor for the biblical worldview, providing direction and purpose amidst the shifting perspectives of the surrounding culture [6].
The biblical worldview also includes a strong emphasis on community and the church. The "camp of the saints and the beloved city, Jerusalem" (Revelation 20:9) represents the gathered people of God, distinct from the "hateful" Babylon [5]. This communal aspect reinforces shared beliefs and practices, providing a counter-cultural identity and support system. The church, as a community called out of the "present world-course" (Ephesians 2:2), embodies the values and principles of the "world to come" [4].
Sources
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 20:6: Blessed--(Compare Rev 14:13; Rev 19:9). on such the second death hath no power--even as it has none on Christ now that He is risen. priests of God--Apostate Christendom being destroyed, and the believing Church translated at Christ's coming, there will remain Israel and the heathen world, constituting the majority of men then alive, which, from not having come into close contact with the Gospel, have not incurred the guilt of rejecting it. These will be the subjects of a general conversion (Rev 11:15). "The veil" shall be taken off Israel first”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:5: For--confirming the assertion, Heb 2:2-3, that the new covenant was spoken by One higher than the mediators of the old covenant, namely, angels. Translate in the Greek order, to bring out the proper emphasis, "Not the angels hath He," &c. the world to come--implying, He has subjected to angels the existing world, the Old Testament dispensation (then still partly existing as to its framework), Heb 2:2, the political kingdom of the earth (Dan 4:13; Dan 10:13, Dan 10:20-21; Dan 12:1), and the natural elements (Rev 9:11; Rev 16:4). and even individuals (”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world,.... By this world is meant, either the Mosaic dispensation, and Jewish church state, so called in opposition to , "the world to come", the Gospel dispensation; in which there were a worldly sanctuary, and the rites and ceremonies of which are styled the rudiments and elements of the world; to which believers in the present state are by no means to conform, there being sacrifices and ordinances of another nature, it is the will of God they should observe and attend unto: or else the men of the world are designed, carnal and unregener”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 3:11: Where--Translate, "Wherein," namely, in the sphere of the renewed man. neither . . . nor . . . nor . . . nor--Translate as Greek, "There is no such thing as Greek and Jew (the difference of privilege between those born of the natural seed of Abraham and those not, is abolished), circumcision and uncircumcision (the difference of legal standing between the circumcised and uncircumcised is done away, Gal 6:15) --bondman, freeman." The present Church is one called out of the flesh, and the present world-course (Eph 2:2), wherein such distinctions ex”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 20:9: on the breadth of the earth--so as completely to overspread it. Perhaps we ought to translate, ". . . of the [holy] land." the camp of the saints and the beloved city--the camp of the saints encircling the beloved city, Jerusalem (Ecclesiasticus 24:11). Contrast "hateful" in Babylon (Rev 18:2; Deu 32:15, Septuagint). Ezekiel's prophecy of Gog and Magog (Eze. 38:1-39:29) refers to the attack made by Antichrist on Israel before the millennium: but this attack is made after the millennium, so that "Gog and Magog" are mystical names representing the ”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,.... Not with bodily eyes, for at present he is not to be looked upon in this manner, but with the eye of the understanding, or with the eye of faith; for faith is a seeing of the Son; it is a spiritual sight of Christ, which is at first but glimmering, afterwards it increases, and is of a soul humbling nature; it is marvellous and surprising; it transforms into the image of Christ, and fills with joy unspeakable, and full of glory: a believer should be always looking to Christ, and off of every object, as the ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 82: a future state. Of course the modern speculative, or pantheistic theology, ignores the doctrine of a resurrection. It does not even admit of the existence of the soul after the dissolution of the body. The race is immortal, but the individuals of which it is composed are not. Scientific materialism admits of no other resurrection than the reappearance of the same chemical elements which now form our bodies, in the bodies of future plants, animals, or men. The lime in our bones may help to form the bones of those who come after us. Thus ph”