Everyone has a worldview. It is the way we see life through the impact of assumptions or presupposition on origins, purpose and human destiny. Some have carefully examined their worldview by recognizing its significance in a successful pursuit of the life well lived, while others have simply ingested their worldview without much reflection via a social osmosis centered in family values, educational input, media influence or popular culture. There are only two basic or fundamental worldviews.   Dr. Francis Schaeffer, in the latter half of the 20^th century, offered the metaphor of the two foundational worldviews as simply two chairs in the universe where all of us are seeing the same world, but interpreting it differently due to the chair we are sitting. Since truth is that which conforms to what is reality, both basic worldviews cannot be accurate or valid because they disagree on origins of the universe. The first worldview says there is a God and the world we see from this chair is a supernatural universe, created as an open system with intention or purpose from a God who is really there so that there is more than meets the eye. The second worldview is that of a natural universe, an accidental, random closed system or evolution where all we see is all we get and there really is no single reason or meaning to the universe other than what we choose to ascribe to it. So everyone sits in one of the two chairs: the supernatural theists (God exists) chair or the natural atheist (no god exists) chair. One might argue, isn’t there a third option claiming, “I do not know if God exists?” This type of position, known as agnosticism, usually surfaces one in two forms: (1) we do not know if God exists; or (2) we cannot know if God exists. In both cases individuals saying they either do not know or cannot know if there is a God usually live as if there is no God. So, for all intentional purposes they sit in the natural, atheistic worldview chair when is comes to meaning, values and purpose. So, there really is only two basic worldviews.

If one embraces the natural, atheistic worldview, then in the arena of morals, meaning and a purpose of life are completely left of to our own human resources. In a closed natural system, presumed origins by a colossal accident, who makes the rules? Individuals? Groups? Communities? Organizations? A democratic vote? Dictators? Evolution? And to garner support for such an order we are left to either education or force to encourage compliance. Neither of which historically works well for any period of time.

On the other hand, if one embraces the supernatural, theistic worldview recognizing a God who is really there, then the next question is, “Who speaks for God?” The best answer is to let God speak for God. However, there is certainly no shortage of religions or alleged spiritual guides who claim to speak for God. Certainly in a supernatural universe with a God who has the power to create such a spectacular world of natural wonders, we must assume such a God’s ways are not our ways. It’s an open system and we, as created beings, need to be open to the possibilities with humility and reverence. Keeping this in mind, we might think reality should be this way or that way, but it may very well be substantively different than what we think or feel. So, who is the best spokesman for God? Worthy of our consideration is an individual who lived a worthy life, shared a clear message, consistent with real experiences and somehow demonstrated a special connection to God illuminating the path to the divine being. Here, turn to Jesus of Nazareth with a legendary birth, a well lived life demonstrating supernatural resources and, apart from all other spiritual guides, came out the other side of the grave claiming victory over our greatest enemy: death! The most reliable sources on the life of Jesus are the four Gospels. As the Gospels lead into the history of Jesus followers after his resurrection, the Epistles also point to the historical viability and revelations woven into the Old Testament history, poetry and prophecy. In short, consider the best spokesman for the God who is there is that God through creation, Jesus and the Scriptures. Answers to the human dilemma regarding the meaning of life, suffering and death are woven into the well tailored revelation combination of creation, Jesus and the Bible as God’s word of true truth.

The importance of our worldview is the immediate impact it exercises on the way we think, the choices we make as well as the way we live day to day lives. A faulty worldview failing to conform to reality will cause distortion to our core understanding of what it means to be human. An insufficient worldview is like having an inaccurate map seriously hindering our progress to a desired destination. In the case of refining our worldview, the destination is meaning, significance and the mature coping skills accompanying a true purpose driven life.

Rather than settle for a worldview inherited via osmosis, let’s learn to ask tough questions. If there are any early lessons of the 21^st century, one is that we cannot afford to continue feeling our way through life! Emotions are valuable, but not in the determination of reality. How we might feel about something may or may not have anything to do with the actual reality. The contemporary cultural perspective of “it can’t be wrong, because it feels so right” is stupid and dangerous. The complexity of the universe tells us there is something greater than us. The prophets, Jesus and the Scriptures define the proclamation of creation with the revelation there is someone greater than us who as creator incredibly invites us to be in His divine care and kingdom. (David Brooks, The Road to Character) Careful thought and consideration must be given to the basis question: Is this a natural or supernatural universe? The secular, popular natural worldview has fatal flaws leaving important core questions unanswered. Ask the tough questions: How did everything come from nothing? How did non-living matter like rocks or dirt spring forth with life? Where does moral authority emerge in a naturalistic “survival of the fit” worldview? Who gets to make up the rules? Why? We need to know and ask the important questions with the courage to abandon the positions or opinions failing to have adequate answers or supporting evidence.

The Biblical, Christ centered worldview is congruent with human experience and reality. It has consistent answers to the meaning of human life, suffering and death. Beginning with a God who is really there in a supernatural universe, this worldview continues by establishing God is not silent. God has spoken in creation, in our conscience and, more specifically, in Jesus Christ as well as in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The truth claims of Jesus and the Scriptures establish a path of authority directly to God by the foundational claim “… all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness …” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). Jesus and the Scriptures reveal significant themes attaching themselves our human souls: love, redemption, salvation, hope, grace and peace to mention a few. The Biblical paradigm changes everything! Allow God to speak since divine ways are not necessarily our ways and divine thoughts are beyond our limited perspective.

Consider carefully what it means to be human. If it is truly a supernatural universe with a God who is really there and who has spoken, then flourishing as a human being must be in the context or reality of relationship to that God. Anything less than the truth is to flounder in a sea of half-truths. There are really few truly life or death decisions, but choosing which of the two chairs in the universe we sit is certainly one of those decisions.