Does My Worldview Inform My Parenting?

What we see playing out on the world stage and our very own country is a conflict of worldviews. So, how can we make sense out of the chaos we see in our nation?  The short answer is this: there is a metanarrative that is being played out on stage and none of this takes God by surprised. Simply stated, God’s grand story is this: creation, fall, redemption, restoration.Now, let’s drill down closer to home. As parents, your influence on this stage begins with your worldview. Your worldview influences your spousal relationship, your parenting decisions, your work, your worship, your vote, your friendships, your dwelling, your time, your money, and so forth.  What is a worldview?  A worldview is a collection of attitudes, values, and beliefs which inform our thoughts, expressed through our decisions and actions.Here are some statistics from The Barna Group based on 51 worldview questions, examining both beliefs and behavior, to a sampling of 2,000 adults. One startling conclusion which you might have predicted is this:  No one has a pure worldview. It doesn't matter if their worldview is biblical, postmodernism, secular humanism, new age, or so forth.  To some degree, he says, "We all pick and choose things that make sense to us and feel good... [then] we wrap it all together in this unique package..."  But the problem for Christians is, more and more of that package doesn't include the truth of God's Word.  So let’s look at Barna’s research outcome of 2020:

• Although 7 out of 10 Americans consider themselves to be Christian, just 6% actually possess a biblical worldview. Said another way, only 6% make decisions based on the truth in God’s Word.
• If overall the figure is 6 %, the numbers are even more startling for the youngest generation - a mere 2% of those 18 to 29 years old possess a biblical worldview.
• For more fascinating in-depth results, especially regarding Millennials (those born between 1981 & 1996), click on this link. Chart comparison can be found on pg 4. https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CRC_AWVI2020_Release10_Digital_01_20200922.pdf 

Because we have not taken the time to think critically, worldviews are usually caught, not taught. We absorb them from the environment in which we grew up or in which we live; so often the cultural “truths” of the day determine our thinking. Our families, friends, schools, media, our jobs, our personal preferences all serve to shape our worldviews; furthermore, if we allow these things to shape our thinking and decisions INSTEAD of the biblical principles found in God’s Word, our choices will reflect more of the cultural norms, rather than Truth of Scripture. And our culture is changing…rapidly.Barna went on to say, “A person's worldview starts developing at 15 to 18 months of age -- and it's almost completely developed by age 13. So it's extremely important that parents take the leading role -- even in pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary school -- in teaching their children a biblical worldview and helping them integrate that faith with the world around them as their attitudes and choices begin to develop.” Parents, your choice of RDS shows great wisdom!In closing, I want to encourage you to be thoughtful, prayerful and intentional, seeking daily the Truth in God’s Word for clarity.  And when unsure, seek wise counsel.