I recently read a statement saying that “So many young Christians are ill prepared to face the…challenges that confront them today…” My immediate thought was, not only today, we’ve been turning out ill prepared Christians for decades. Many Christians came through good, well-meaning youth groups without a secure, firm foundation. We learned the Bible stories and the difference between right and wrong, but what was missing was the strength of conviction to walk away from wrong – that which was tempting to each one.

Learning Bible stories and the difference between right and wrong does not a worldview make. Everyone has a worldview. Your worldview is the lens through which you see the world. Each person’s worldview interprets his/her beliefs, values of life, influencing his/her perception of his/her place in life. A person’s worldview also establishes his/her moral standards.

If we do not consciously equip not only young Christians, but ALL Christians with a biblical worldview, they will inevitably absorb the philosophies and practices of today’s culture as their worldview. Today we have a much greater amount of information at our fingertips and instant influencers through many social media platforms, internet, than any time in history. Every person’s worldview is being infiltrated every hour of each day with new ideas, questions, and challenges.

“People need a worldview through which they can make sense of this information bombardment.” Christianity offers a biblical worldview. A person’s worldview has been considered a mental map of a  his/her reality. A worldview does not emanate from the mind but from the heart, the very soul of all belief. Therefore each person’s worldview is our fundamental commitment to our known reality and daily practice.

Not only what we are teaching in church, but are our methods of teaching creating biblical worldviews? For at least the last five decades, the amount of young people walking away from the church would suggest that at least one of the two has been failing. Let me suggest the following practices for every age group in our churches.

• Teach for a clear personal understanding of God’s purpose for every individual and all human life.
• Return to clear instruction and sound, functional grip on the afterlife.
• Bring listeners to a vibrant perception of the greatness of the True, Living God.
• Train people of all ages in the difference between fleeting happiness and everlasting Joy.
• Help Christians create their Life Road Map based on scripture.

These five bullet points alone are not going to in and of themselves create a biblical worldview, but they are a step in the right direction, a step that we in church too often fail to accomplish.

What will you do this week to strengthen your biblical worldview and encourage others to do the same?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.