“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”
2 Corinthians 5:17
I have an 18-year old grandson with Asperger Syndrome. He’s a brilliant young man. He’s also fun to be around, and so gracious and teachable. I think he does a phenomenal job of making friends despite his social awkwardness and diminutive physical size. While it may be difficult for his peers to relate with him, worldview makes a difference how he sees himself. Here’s how I know.
His mother found a letter in his bedroom that he had written as a prayer at age sixteen. What he wrote then is still true for him now:
“Dear God, I don’t want to get confused as to what my identity is. I don’t want to think that I am nothing less than Your child, Creator of all things. I am a child of You, Lord, that is who I am. Likewise I don’t want to base my identity, my worth, on what other people think, but on what You think of me instead. And don’t let me forget how dependent I am on You either. This is who I, Corban B…., truly am. I’m a Child of God.”
Where did this come from? It came from a worldview he learned and embraced that reveals how he views the world in which he lives. He sees his world as one God created, and one we messed up. Yet, because of God’s grace, he knows he is child of the One who made him and loves him deeply. That’s his source of worth, identity and purpose. That’s an expression of worldview. It matters to all of us. And I’m glad to know it still matters to him today.
Why Worldview Matters
A biblical worldview provides the motivation for believers to engage the culture around us shaped by a non-Christian worldview, and make a difference in that culture. I believe because of his worldview, Corban, will one be of those who will make a difference, and maybe God will use his “different-ness” to make an impact in very powerful way.
My guest this week on Family Impact, a weekly podcast about making a difference in our families, talks about the importance of engaging culture, any culture, because of a Christian worldview. He reminds us that it’s not optional. “It’s human,” John says. “It’s as much a part of being alive as breathing is. We don’t decide whether we’ll engage the culture. Just how.”
Does worldview matter to you, grandparents? How does the worldview determined by the Gospel shape how you see the world and engage with people in your world? How does it compel you to teach and encourage your grandchildren to see and engage this world? We can’t afford to hide our heads in the sand and ignore what’s going on around us. Only those who hold up the light will dispel the darkness. That’s why Jesus called us to let our light shine. It must not be hidden, but held high for all to see.
A Gift That Matters
Here’s an idea for grandparents who have grandchildren approaching high school graduation in the next couple of years. Give them a graduation gift of a two-week Summit camp at Summit Ministries. Click this link for some helpful information from the President, Jeff Meyers about the programs available for students, whether they plan to go to college or not. This is a graduation gift worth giving. Your investment will challenge them to think about what is true and how worldview impacts how they think and live.
And while you’re at it, listen to Part Two of my interview with John Stonestreet about his book, A Practical Guide to Culture.
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