Seven Cornerstones – Part 1
Worldview of God
– definition is a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.
Biblical Worldview
Is a Biblical Worldview Important?
People’s views on morally acceptable behavior are deeply impacted by their worldview. Biblical World view produced these numbers:
- 31 times less likely to accept cohabitation (2% versus 62%)
- 18 times less likely to endorse drunkenness (2% versus 36%)
- 15 times less likely to condone gay sex (2% versus 31%)
- 12 times less likely to accept profanity (3% versus 37%)
- 11 times less likely to describe adultery as morally acceptable (4% versus 44%).
- Less than one-half of one percent of those with a biblical worldview said voluntary exposure to pornography was morally acceptable (compared to 39% of other adults)
- A similarly miniscule proportion endorsed abortion (compared to 46% of adults who lack a biblical worldview).
- They were eight times less likely to buy lottery tickets and 17 times less likely to place bets)
- To get drunk (three times less likely)
- To view pornography (two times less common)
- They were also twice as likely to have discussed spiritual matters with other people in the past month
- Twice as likely to have fasted for religious reasons during the preceding month.
- While one out of every eight adults who lack a biblical worldview had sexual relations with someone other than their spouse during the prior month, less than one out of every 100 individuals who have such a worldview had done so.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.—Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.—Deuteronomy 11:18–21 (ESV)
1) An orthodox, Biblical understanding of God.
Orthodoxy believes that God has revealed Himself to us, most especially in the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom we know as the Son of God. This Revelation of God, His love, and His purpose, is constantly made manifest and contemporary in the life of the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Article 2 of the Declaration of Faith: In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.—John 1:1–5 (ESV)
I and the Father are one.—John 10:30 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”—Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.—2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.—Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV)
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”—Matthew 3:16–17 (ESV)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.—John 14:10 (ESV)