Bible study is a very common practice among Christians and there are a lot of different ways to go about it. Some of the more popular approaches include:
- Using a devotional resource
- Dedicated Bible study (Sunday School) material
- Guided reading plan – (One year plan, topical plan, …)
- Meditative study
- Word study
- Topical study
- Character study
- Geographical study
- Book study
But there is another type that is possible, and one that is very needed in modern times because of the fact there are so many false beliefs these days competing with our biblical worldview beliefs. That other type is “Worldview Study.”
Why Do We Need a Worldview Perspective?
Worldview beliefs are bedrock foundational beliefs that determine, for every person, how they evaluate what is real vs. what is fantasy. It is the most basic foundation for their religious beliefs.
By definition, a worldview is “the assumptions people make about the nature of reality.” As an assumption, worldview beliefs are generally believed without analysis – they are just assumed to be true. This makes them a bit tricky for most people because they are pretty much unconscious. If you consider some belief to be fantasy, you won’t even view it as a possibility to be believed.
But since people’s worldview is mostly unconscious, it is also easy for other beliefs to sneak in and become part of their worldview system. That happens because people hear a certain belief being asserted, and if it seems to come from a credible source, or if enough people claim it is true, they will accept it without ever consciously considering whether or not it is actually true. Thus, many Christians end up adding beliefs to their worldview platform that are not actually biblical beliefs.
Most Christians are aware that there is such a thing as a biblical worldview, and know it is the belief set revealed in the Bible. At the same time, they don’t know how to specifically identify the beliefs that can be labeled “Worldview Beliefs.” That said, it is actually a fairly easy type of study to do, so let’s consider how this works.
Worldview Perspective Vs. Traditional Perspective
At this point, you may be wondering how a worldview perspective is different from the approach to understanding Christian beliefs that has traditionally been used. Traditionally, Christian discipleship has dealt with this matter by first assuming that the Bible is true, and simply searching out all the doctrines in the Bible that make up the Christian faith.
Now don’t get this wrong; there is nothing wrong with that approach. That kind of study is important to get an overall picture of Christian beliefs.
However, in our modern pluralistic society, we need to add to that. We live in a society that is permeated with many false beliefs from various sources. Because of that, not only do we need to have a big picture understanding of Christian beliefs, we also need to be able to carefully distinguish biblical beliefs from false, non-biblical beliefs (many of which may even be reasonable sounding on the surface). So, instead of only studying Christian doctrine, we need to also become aware of what constitutes the essential beliefs of a worldview system in general, and focus in specifically on those beliefs.
Essentials Vs. Non-essentials
This brings us to one other distinction we need to make – essential vs. non-essential beliefs. The truth is, there are a lot of doctrines that are a part of the Christian faith that are not worldview essentials. This does NOT mean they are unimportant, they actually are. What it does mean is that they are not a part of the core set of doctrines that are essential to the faith. There are doctrines a person can get completely wrong and still be saved. Perhaps the place we can most easily see this dynamic is in the different churches and denominations that are still solidly Christian, but believe different things regarding matters not directly connected to a person’s salvation.
So, What Are the Essentials?
In a nutshell, the essentials relate specifically to the doctrinal elements of a faith system that identify the outer lines around it. Any belief inside the lines are a part of it, and any that don’t fit within it belong to some other faith system.
In generic terms, the line is drawn by finding the answer to three particular questions. Every faith system in existence can answer these three questions. This fact also gives us a means of comparing and contrasting the various ones. The questions are:
1. What is the nature of ultimate reality?
2. What is a human being?
3. What is the ultimate a person can gain from this life?
For the Christian faith, we can simplify these questions in a way that helps us as we consider how to study the Bible using a worldview paradigm.
1. Who is God?
2. What is man?
3. What is salvation and how do we achieve it?
As mentioned before, there are a lot of doctrines in the Christian faith other than the three listed here. Those others constitute the non-essentials – those that do not directly relate to our salvation.
How to Do Bible Study Using a Worldview Perspective
Using a worldview perspective to do Bible study is actually quite simple. All we do is read the Bible and, as we read, note how it answers the three essential worldview questions.
Obviously the text deals with a lot of other matters besides the topics of these three questions. This fact lets us know that not every verse is going to deal with these three questions. Those other topics become the focus of other types of studies, as was mentioned above. But in doing a worldview study, these three are all we are dealing with. These are the topics that get us to the essential core beliefs of a biblical worldview.
The primary designations used to do this kind of study include the following:
God (Ultimate Reality) = Something in the text relates to the nature of ultimate reality.
Man = Something in the text relates to the nature of a human being.
Salvation= Something in the text relates to the ultimate a person can experience in life.
As we study in this way, in order to drill down as deeply as possible, we also need to note particular subcategories within each of the three designations.
God (Ultimate Reality)
In Scripture, God is spoken of in a number of different ways. In order to truly understand the fullness of what is taught, we must tease out those distinctions. Thus, when we read the Bible, we are specifically looking for the different ways God has revealed Himself. The various subcategories we find include:
- Generic use of the word God – There are many places where God is spoken of simply as “God” with no other designation.
- God/Father – There are various places where God is referred to as “Father.”
- God/Son – There are various places where God is referred to as “Son.”God/Holy Spirit – There are various places where God is referred to as “Holy Spirit.”
- Transcendent Reality – One other category about ultimate reality is not specifically about God Himself, but about the spiritual reality that exists outside the material realm. This is also an element of ultimate reality, and noting this part of God’s revelation helps us more fully understand Him.
Thus, when you read Scripture, note what it teaches about God using these categories. By doing that, you will zero in on a biblical worldview understanding of God.
Man
When it comes to man, we have the same type of dynamic we had with God. There is more than one aspect to man’s existence revealed in Scripture. Specifically, the Bible reveals that there are two important aspects of human existence we must grapple with.
Many people begin their religious beliefs with the concept that human beings are essentially good, and that sin only comes into the picture when they do bad things. The Bible has an entirely different view of man and reveals him as made in God’s image, but fallen.
- Made in the image of God – Being made in the image of God does not mean human beings physically look like God. Rather, they were created with the personhood characteristics that make up God’s personhood. There are various places in the Bible where these characteristics are spoken of.
- Fallen – Rather than being essentially good, human beings have a sin nature that inclines them to sin. This is an internal problem rather than an external one. There are various places in the Bible where human fallen nature is described and expressed.
Salvation
When it comes to salvation, many people think of it as simply a one time event where a person receives Christ into their life by uttering a prayer of repentance. But biblical salvation is not an event, it is a process that is explained by the words justification, sanctification, and glorification.
- Justification – Justification represents the point at which a person initially enters into a personal relationship with God, and He forgives their sin based on the atoning death and the resurrection of Christ. There are various places in the Bible where this element of the salvation process is spoken of.
- Sanctification – The sanctification element of salvation begins the moment a person receives Christ, and continues until the end of their mortal life. It is characterized by the spiritual growth that occurs as a person lives their life in relationship to Christ. There are various places in the Bible where this sanctification process is revealed.
- Glorification – Glorification occurs at physical death and represents a believers entry into eternity where the sin nature is removed and a person lives eternally in the very presence of Christ. There are various places in Scripture where this part of the salvation process is explained.
Worldview Bible Study
It should be clearly noted that ANY and EVERY kind of Bible study is good and important. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and His ways to mankind. Every approach to study will provide unique insights as we seek to know God as fully as we possibly can.
Thus, using worldview concepts is not intended to replace any other study method. It is intended to be added to those already in use. That said, using a worldview approach is not one of the traditional methods taught to people desiring to do Bible study – and it should be. This approach will give insights into the essential core elements of biblical Christianity in ways that none of the others can. The knowledge gained from this kind of study gives us some of the clearest understanding possible about the essence of the Christian faith. It will be a valuable tool for you to add to your Bible study toolbox.
[Note: To date MarketFaith Ministries has written several Bible commentaries that use this worldview Bible study system. Anyone interested in these commentaries can find them at: https://marketfaith-org.3dcartstores.com]
© 2024 Freddy Davis
I’m curious of your article.
You have questions:
1. “What is the “nature” of “ultimate” “reality”?”
3. What is the ultimate a person can gain from this life?
—-
1. Who is God?
3. What is salvation and how do we achieve it?
Define “ultimate” and “reality” and the phrase, “ultimate reality”. Where in the Bible is God “Ultimate Reality”? How do you verify that God is a or the “Ultimate Reality”?
I thought God was 3 Persons 1 God. Never heard about “Ultimate reality” until more recently.
Do you think things can and/or do exist in God, kinda like how angels exist in the supernatural realm and matter exists in the physical realm? Do you think God is a “Realm” of His Own? How can a “Reality” be Personal, let alone be THREE Persons? Explain? What Bible verses can you use to back your thinking?
—–
I don’t think salvation is what you get from this life.
You get it from GOD. Salvation results in getting the “ultimate” in your NEXT life. You get it IN this life, yes, but FROM it? Nah, it’s a gift from God.
—–
What specific Bible verses do you have to support those 3 “-cation” steps to salvation? Where, specifically, do the definitions of them appear??
Bigben, thanks for your question. In answering, I need to point you to some concepts that perhaps you are not familiar with. First, let me assure you that I am an Evangelical Christian and am firmly Trinitarian. MarketFaith Ministries is a worldview discipleship ministry, and we deal with faith matters using a worldview paradigm rather than the more traditional “doctrine only” paradigm. We do it this way so that we have a way to deal not only with our own Christian faith, but with other faith systems, as well. Many other belief systems don’t believe in God, or have a very different view of transcendent reality. Thus, when we deal with those kinds of beliefs, the use of Christian jargon often doesn’t work. So, we use a more generic way of dealing with the essential elements of faith systems. If you speak with, for instance, an Atheist, they don’t believe in God, so asking “Who is God?” is not a useful way to talk to them. They do, however, have a way that they talk about “ultimate reality” that can be identified. As Christians, we can talk about ultimate reality in terms of God, they can’t. We have the same issue with “salvation.” Christians can speak in terms of salvation as it relates to Christ’s atonement. Atheists don’t think in terms of salvation. Salvation is a Christian’s way of talking about “the ultimate a person can gain from this life” but Atheists have to express it in completely different terms. To be able to effectively communicate the gospel, we need a way to cross that barrier. Understanding worldview concepts helps us do that.
Let me suggest that you read up on the concept of worldview a little more deeply and I believe you will see how it can be valuable in understanding faith matters. Traditionally, American Christians have not needed to think in those terms and was something only missionaries used to have to deal with as they engaged people in other places who held different worldview beliefs (I was formerly a missionary myself). Now, however, America has changed and other worldview beliefs have become prominent here (just look at what is happening in society these days – expressions of non-biblical worldview beliefs abound). Now American Christians need to learn missionary skills to effectively share our biblical worldview across worldview barriers.
Our website has tons of articles and other resources that can help you get up to speed on this if you are interested. I hope this helps.
QUOTE: (skip to the “end quote text” for my main response)
“I’m curious of your article.
You have questions:
1. “What is the “nature” of “ultimate” “reality”?”
3. What is the ultimate a person can gain from this life?
—-
1. Who is God?
3. What is salvation and how do we achieve it?
Define “ultimate” and “reality” and the phrase, “ultimate reality”. Where in the Bible is God “Ultimate Reality”? How do you verify that God is a or the “Ultimate Reality”?
I thought God was 3 Persons 1 God. Never heard about “Ultimate reality” until more recently.
Do you think things can and/or do exist in God, kinda like how angels exist in the supernatural realm and matter exists in the physical realm? Do you think God is a “Realm” of His Own? How can a “Reality” be Personal, let alone be THREE Persons? Explain? What Bible verses can you use to back your thinking?
—–
I don’t think salvation is what you get from this life.
You get it from GOD. Salvation results in getting the “ultimate” in your NEXT life. You get it IN this life, yes, but FROM it? Nah, it’s a gift from God.
—–
What specific Bible verses do you have to support those 3 “-cation” steps to salvation? Where, specifically, do the definitions of them appear??”
END QUOTE text
———
You didnt define your terms – nor answer the ‘verify’ question – like I requested in paragraph 1.
You didn’t seem to address Para. #2 either.
See my thoughts about “in this life” in Paragraph 3.
And you didn’t address 4.
—-
Seems like you addressed only a tiny portion of my post. Am curious why.
Bigben, You still don’t seem to have a grasp of the concept of worldview. Worldview is not a theology, it is a way of examining faith matters. There are many belief systems out there that do not conceive of reality in terms of God, man, and salvation in the same way Christians do. So, in order to be able to discuss what they believe, we can’t use Christian concepts. We have to study them based on the way they believe reality is ordered. Ultimate reality based on the Christian faith is the way the totality of what exists (both int spiritual reality and material reality) according to the Bible. Ultimate reality based on non-=biblical beliefs has an entirely different construct. For instance, the Christian concept of salvation (the ultimate a person can achieve based on the teachings of the Bible), is very different from the idea of “salvation” based on Atheist, or Mormon, or any other belief system’s beliefs. Your questions simply do not apply to this kind of discussion. This article is simply looking at Bible study using a worldview paradigm. It doesn’t change the theology, it only focuses in on certain things. It is somewhat like the way you might focus your study in other ways (like a word study or character study, etc.) Hope this helps. I would still recommend that you spend some time understanding the concept of worldview. Check out, for instance, some of our articles at: http://www.marketfaith.org/understanding-worldview/.
Thx for the reply.
So the phrase “ultimate reality” is finally defined. –> “”Ultimate reality based on the Christian faith is **the way the totality of what exists (both in spiritual reality and material reality)** according to the Bible.””
So wait. If God is supposedly “ultimate reality” By This Definition, then God created parts of Himself. He is eternal and never changes, so UR (ult reality) is false??
When i first read this article, the word “PANTHIESM” flashed in my head. Panthiesm is the ultimate conclusion of this “ultimate reality” thing, it appears.
Physical and material realms?? they are known as “realms”. are you using reality and realm intechangably? if yes, then God is a “realm”???? I think realms are CREATIONS of God – not God Himself.
So please tell me WHERE in the Bible is this “ultimate reality” concept. You will probably say that the Bible talks about God. But that won’t answer, that already *assumes* UR to be true. I see no verses about a concept of ultimate reality. It seems like an extraBiblical concept.
I did Not say “worldview is a theology”.
You are addressing, “why do you use .” But totally miss the mark because that is Not what i’m asking. I’m talking about things that i find “issues” with.
Glorification, justification, etc.
You still have not given the Biblical reference/s for ANY of them.
Thanls in advance for the response 🙂
Well, I have defined it a couple of times for you, but you seem to have a hard time understanding the concept. I don’t know where you get the idea that I am describing Pantheism. The Bible doesn’t describe the nature of reality in pantheistic terms. You are simply in error in the way you are reading what I have written. The term “ultimate reality” is not in the Bible because the Bible doesn’t teach the topic of worldview. It does, however, describe the structure of reality. You may not have said “worldview is a theology” but you are asking questions “as if” it is one. You would do well to do a little reading on the concept of worldview so that you can understand what is being said. I pointed you to some resources that can help you there. Have you looked at any of them? Your entire interpretation of what I have written is completely wrong. I can’t fix that for you. You need to do a little more study.
Thanks again.
I did a bit of digging.
“A couple of times…”
?
I only know of 1.
I get the idea of “panthiesm” because
You in an article: “It is impossible for ultimate reality to be personal and impersonal at the same time. Thus, Far Eastern Thought and Theism cannot both be true. By the same token, Far Eastern Thought and Animism cannot both be true.”
Panthiesm definition: “a doctrine which identifies God with the universe, or regards the universe as a manifestation of God.”
So if God is a “reality” or “realm”, then things can exist in Him?? Humans exist in physical reality. Angels exist in supernatural reality. So if God is a “reality” then things should be able to exist in Him.
How can God be both a Personal Being AND a reality at the same time??
If God is “UR” then doesnt that give panthiesm a bit of credence?
if not, why not?
Me: ““”Ultimate reality based on the Christian faith is **the way the totality of what exists (both in spiritual reality and material reality)** according to the Bible.””
So wait. If God is supposedly “ultimate reality” By This Definition, then God created parts of Himself. He is eternal and never changes, so UR (ult reality) is false??”
I agree; the Bible is better than panthiesm.
You: “The term “ultimate reality” is not in the Bible because the Bible doesn’t teach the topic of worldview.”
[[[[
“”Ultimate reality based on the Christian faith is **the way the totality of what exists (both in spiritual reality and material reality)** according to the Bible.””
I can’t really follow the def. you gave, it is grammatically flawed, and 1 typo – “int”.
]]]]
It seems that God being “ultimate reality” is one of your Worldview Assumptions that you simply hold to be true. “Trancendent Being” “Trancendental reality” “ultimate reality” color your outlook in various articles. You hold it to be “so obvious it is not even questioned”.
Glad I’m here to get you to contend for your belief. 😎
Bigben, it seems that you are honestly trying not to understand. Ultimate reality is simply a term that is used to refer to the way reality is actually structured. Every worldview has its own way of defining that. The Bible expresses a particular way that reality is structured. When you read the Bible and note the various things it says about what is real (vs. what is fantasy), you can at least partially understand a biblical worldview. The Bible teaches that God exists. That is a concept that is part of a biblical worldview. The Bible teaches that Satan exists. That concept is part of a biblical worldview. The Bible teaches that a transcendent reality objectively exists. That concept is part of a biblical worldview. (And so on.) The logic you are using to say I am advocating the existence of a pantheistic god is simply off base. I’m sorry you are getting hung up on the term “ultimate reality,” but you are totally misunderstanding it. Once again, I suggest that you do a little more study on the concept of worldview so that you can set aside your erroneous assertions. You are simply not talking about what I have written. It is interesting that in nearly 20 years of writing about this, you are the first person who has ever misunderstood the worldview concept to this degree.