Dr. Ronnie Falvey

Developing a biblical worldview
in a postmodern world

 

The world bombards us every day with different ways of looking at life. New ideas and alternative perspectives are on every corner. We are encouraged to embrace a liberal or conservative view on just about every matter we face. Everyone is taking sides and no one wants to find a way to give.

 

Underlying all of these thoughts and more is a worldview. A worldview is a way of looking at the present reality we face. It is the filter by which we discover our present situation. Everyone has a worldview. It may be different from others but we all share in a common view of how this world operates and functions. There is a whole set of assumptions of how this world should work. Our own worldview is affected by our past and present situations. It is based on what we see and hear within the context of our world.

 

Our world is seeking answers to some of life’s greatest questions. The challenge is where we find the source of truth to answer those questions. For the postmodern world, the idea is that truth is relative. Truth is what you decide it to be. What may be truth for you may not be truth for me. The postmodern view gives no absolutes to base any decision on other than what we think is right. That changes with each person’s position and circumstances.

 

As a pastor, I am often asked if there is absolute truth. The answer is yes, that is, if you believe the Bible to be true. Today more than ever the Bible has been set aside, placed on a shelf, disregarded as outdated and irrelevant. Without a true source of truth, we look for answers in all the wrong places.

 

Those answers end up leading us down paths resulting in despair and discouragement. God has given us a source of truth. Whether we believe it to be truth does not matter, it is still true. A biblical worldview seeks to go directly to the Bible for the source of answers that gives us a solid foundation for understanding our past, present and future reality.

 

When we became a follower of Christ, God did not ask us to leave our minds at the door. He desires us to engage with science and other disciplines in order to help us understand what truth really is for all humanity. The Bible is our supreme authority. It is the standard by which all truth is judged.

 

The Bible is more than just something we pick up and read — it determines our thinking, our behavior and our destiny. What we believe determines how we behave and how we behave is a reflection of what we believe. Truth really does matter.

 

The postmodern mindset states that one can decide truth on his or her own regardless of a standard or benchmark to guide one’s thinking. Who gets to decide what is truth — humanity or God?

 

Look at it this way, if the Bible is relevant for all parts of everyday life — and it is — then the Bible is relevant for how we make decisions, how we govern life and our attitude regarding life itself.

 

In a world filled with situational truth, it is good to know we have a source of truth that guides our lives — past, present and future. As we begin a brand-new year, know that we have a solid source of truth. That source is the Bible. Trust it, believe in it and follow its wisdom and it will lead you to life.

 

Dr. Ronnie Falvey is senior pastor of First Baptist Church Madison.