Worldview

2. Worldview Luke 21:17

3. (Wikipedia) “…refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs forming a global description through which an individual, group, or culture watches and interprets the world and interacts with it” • “It is the lens through which people perceive and understand reality” • The Bible said long ago, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7)

4. Ideas have consequences • Because the materialist believes this physical world is all there is, he is convinced there is no life beyond the grave

5. Eating, drinking, and making merry are the central meaning of his life • If he can’t see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, or smell it, then it’s just not important to him

6. Believing “you only go around once,” and convinced that he must do just what the now famous beer commercial commanded, he uses all his energy trying to grab “all the gusto” he can out of life • According to the materialist, that so-called “pie in the sky by and by” that preachers talk about is just a bunch of religious gobbledygook

7. How it used to be (50 years ago): • The majority of Americans never really questioned biblical ethics or morality • Back then, most people looked upon divorce as disgraceful • They thought pregnancy outside marriage was a disaster; chastity was a good thing • An honest day’s work was the responsibility of any respectable and dependable man • Back then honesty was the best policy, but not so much today

8. Americans no longer view themselves and their world even in the smallest regard through the truths taught in the Bible

9. As a result: • Our children are taught that the theory of evolution is to be believed without question • They teach them there is no objective standard for judging what is right or wrong • Spawned by the materialistic worldview, these ideas have produced the current decline of moral standards being evidenced in America • As we have learned to think in our hearts, so have we become

10. There is a timeless principle (Eccl. 12:13) • The materialist does not hold to this and, thus, sees things differently • The Christian does hold to this and, thus, sees things differently • What is assessed is at odds with other in the most drastic fashion

11. “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” • Jesus asked a question. • “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25)

12. That there is life beyond the grave, and this is associated with Christ Jesus (1 Jn. 5:11) • There is a living hope based on his heavenly citizenship (1 Peter 1:3;Phil. 3:20) • Hence, he views himself as a stranger or pilgrim while here on this earth (Heb. 11:3; 1 Peter 2:11)

13. Instead of storing up his treasures “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal”, the Christian is laying up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20) • The Christian is busy developing “the mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:5) • He humbly put others before himself (Phil. 2:3-4) • He gladly seeks to help others with their burdens (Gal. 6:2)