If you’re in tune to Christian writing, speaking, and podcasting, you probably hear about the importance of a Christian worldview almost every day. As the world around us grows more perplexing, Christian leaders have labored to promote the necessity of viewing every aspect of life through a biblical lens. But the work is far from over.
A poll released in 2024 by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University discovered that a mere 6% of Americans claiming to be Christian hold to a Christian worldview.[1] Equally alarming, a study released in 2022 by the same organization found that only 37% of American pastors have a Christian worldview.[2] The American church is floundering in a worldview crisis.
The American church is floundering in a worldview crisis.
Before diving into this crisis, let’s begin with a definition of the term worldview. A worldview is comprised of a person’s fundamental beliefs about the world. A person’s worldview acts as a grid or framework that filters all of life’s thoughts, choices, and actions. You may have heard writers or speakers compare a worldview to the lens or eyeglasses through which a person views the world. Many people are unaware that they have a worldview, but, whether or not we recognize it, each of us has a worldview.
A person’s worldview is made up of the answers to the following questions:
- Origin: How did the universe and humans get here?
- Meaning: What is the purpose of life? Why are we here?
- Morality: What is good and evil? Where do we get morality from?
- Identity: What does it mean to be human? Who am I?
- Destiny: What happens after I die? Is there an afterlife?
The answers to these questions comprise a person’s worldview, which dictates his view on cultural issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism. It also influences daily attitudes and actions such as work ethic, integrity, and daily habits.
A Christian worldview is based upon the Bible. Christians should filter every aspect of life through the Word of God.
A Christian worldview is based upon the Bible. Christians should filter every aspect of life through the Word of God.
In ways we may not even recognize, our worldview touches every part of our lives. And yet, most Christians do not possess a biblical worldview. The American church is ceasing to be Christian.
If only 6% of Christians have a biblical worldview, you may be wondering what worldview most Christians embrace. While Marxism and Postmodernism might be the first worldviews that come to mind, the vast majority of Americans—Christians and non-Christians alike—adhere to a worldview many of us may be unfamiliar with: Syncretism.
In the study previously mentioned, 92% of American adults selected Syncretism as their dominant philosophy of life. Dr. George Barna, director of research at the Cultural Research Center, defines Syncretism as “a customized blend of philosophies of life that a person pieces together for their own satisfaction.” Adherents to Syncretism hold to an individually unique, and often conflicting, collage of teachings rooted in emotions and feelings.
Barna writes, “Americans are indiscriminate in their mixing and matching of ideas and lifestyles, sometimes drawing from philosophies that are diametrically opposed to each other. For example, the research shows that millions of Americans simultaneously hold views taken from the Bible and Christian-loathing Marxism, or from a pantheistic worldview like Eastern Mysticism at the same time they embrace concepts from Secular Humanism, which rejects all supernatural explanations. In other words, most people possess a worldview that is not internally consistent but which is emotionally and intellectually comfortable.”
Syncretism results naturally from our pluralistic culture. Rather than selecting one system of life and sticking to it, Americans pick and choose aspects from the numerous worldviews around them creating a hodge-podge of personal beliefs and values. Many people are unaware, or just completely unconcerned, if their beliefs are in conflict. Today’s Americans are more interested in holding a comfortable set of beliefs that does not challenge their lifestyle than in adhering to an internally coherent worldview.
Syncretism permeates every aspect of our culture. The ideas of “follow your heart” and “your truth and my truth” stem from a syncretic view of life. The movies we watch, the podcasts we listen to, and the books we read ooze with syncretism. If we fail to fill our hearts and minds with biblical truth, we may unknowingly slip into syncretic thinking. After all, syncretism is comfortable: it demands no explanation for one’s beliefs.
In a syncretic culture, we must intentionally train ourselves to think biblically. A biblical worldview doesn’t just happen by accident. When we fail to intentionally instill a biblical worldview in ourselves, our families, and our churches, we automatically slip into our culture’s unbiblical worldview.
Thankfully, Christians are meeting the challenge. Organizations such as Summit Ministries, The Colson Center, Answers in Genesis, and Reasons for Hope—to name a few—hold Christian worldview conferences and produce books, podcasts, articles, videos, and educational resources explaining and promoting a Christian worldview for all ages and settings. The resources are within our grasp; we just must use them.
As our world rejects biblical principles, we must strengthen our grasp on the Bible. Our culture’s rejection of biblical principles should not cause us to despair but should rekindle our efforts to live out our Christian worldview, share it with those around us, and instill it in our families and churches.
Romans 12:2, 21 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
P.S. Wondering why a Christian worldview is so important? Read our 2nd article, “Worldview Applied.”
