Christian World Views
John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Everyone has a worldview. Whether we realize it or not, we all have certain presuppositions, biases, and sometimes prejudices that affect the way we view life and reality. A worldview is like a set of lenses that color our vision or alter the way we perceive the world around us. Our worldview is formed by early education, home environment, the culture we live in, the books we read, the media and movies we absorb, our religion and beliefs, friends, and many other factors. A world view is a set of pre-suppositions and beliefs that someone uses to interpret and form opinions about his humanity, purpose in life, duties in the world, responsibilities to family, interpretation of truth, social issues, and many other areas of our lives. It is based on home environment, society, education, friends, religion, mass media, technology, and other experiences. The way we grow up molds and fashions our minds, conscience, sub conscience, and in older life still influences our thoughts, feelings and behavior. Only by being born again (John 3:3) can the motherboard of early socialization of our minds and personality be fundamentally cleansed and changed. This experience radically changes everything. For some people it is an instant experience, but for most it means daily growth, renewal, and enjoying the adventure of life. Following is a short summary of some Christian worldviews:
There were originally five powerful Catholic churches. The Roman Catholic Church prevailed as the most powerful. Beliefs are based on the Bible and Catholic tradition. Some of the strongest beliefs are that you can only be saved through the Papal church and its priestly ministries; the Eucharist where the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus; and ancestor worship in the form of saints, relics, apparitions, and Mary as a co-redeemer.
ROMAN CATHOLIC
Their belief system is colored by Calvinism and teachings of a Covenant people that God has elected or chosen to be saved or lost even before a person is born.
LUTHERAN/PRESBYTERIAN/REFORMED
METHODIST
Grew out of the need for holiness, prayer and systematic Bible study. Most Methodists believe in daily renewal and growth in Jesus Christ.
BAPTIST
Some of the major views of Baptists center around the verbal infallibility of the Word of God, the need to be saved by Christ, and that once you are saved you cannot be lost again. Baptists also believe in a 1,000 year millennium of peace when all will be led to salvation.
Mormons believe that they are God’s chosen people, that Jesus is the god of this earth, in ancestor worship in the form of being baptized for the dead, and that each saved Mormon male will be a god of his own planet one day. You have to reach a high level in Mormonism and wear white clothing or undergarments to be able to go inside their temples.
MORMON
JUST UNDER 7 MILLION MEMBERS - THEY BELIEVE that Jesus is not part of the Godhead, he is a created being. You have to go through their study courses and witness from door-to-door a certain number of hours of each week to be a member in good standing. If you start doubting, take up weapons in war, or read the wrong books you are shunned or can only sit in the back seats.
JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
Arose just over a 100 years ago out of emotional gatherings, rolling on the ground, laughing in the spirit, talking garbled tongues, the significance of the end-times, faith healing, signs and wonders, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many Pentecostal and Evangelical beliefs are centered around 'Left Behind' series of books and movies, that they take as genuine teachings of the Word of God - even though these books are labelled fiction.
PENTECOSTAL
Beliefs center around the verbal inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, mainly the King James Version, the Deity of Christ, His substitutionary death and that Jesus took our penalties and died for them. After death you go to heaven or hell, the living saved experience the secret rapture, and then the Second Coming.
EVANGELICAL / FUNDAMENTALIST
Number 17 million people throughout the world, believe in the worship of the Creator God, the Trinity / Godhead, salvation by grace through faith, the Bible as their only creed, a distinctive message of Jesus Coming soon, daily spiritual gowth, honoring the Sabbath as a day of rest given to mankind as a gift of God's grace at Creation, the importance of each individual as being unique and spending time in prayer and Bible study each day. Adventists have a strong youth program and one of the largest educational, mission, disaster relief, and health care systems in the world. Adventists are not elitists in that they believe that adherents of other faiths can also be saved. They practice open communion and welcome families, children, visitors, and all seekers.
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
Why do I think the way I do?
