Introduction/Thesis
Imagine having three different pairs of lenses. One pair is far too weak, one is tinted green, and the last is the correct prescription. You would see the world vastly different with each pair. Lew Weider and Ben Gutierrez describe a worldview as a “lens that a person uses to interpret life and the world around them” (59). In order to see the world as it truly is, the Bible must be your lenses. Romans 1-8 does an excellent job at shaping a biblical worldview, particularly when it comes to the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and culture.
The Natural World
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1.1). Genesis 1 clearly declares that God created the world, …show more content…
Though this specific prejudice is not seen in modern Western culture, prejudice is still a severe issue. Paul asserts that God is the God of all men (Rom. 3.29-30). He made every man in His own image (Gen. 1.27), and Jesus Christ died to redeem every man out of His infinite love for all of them (Rom. 5.6-9). Thus prejudice should be a non-issue. In contrast, Paul gives a clear example of how Christians should treat and relate to one another in his introduction to the Roman church. He thanked God for them, praised them for their faith, continuously prayed for them, desired fellowship with them, and wanted to encourage and be encouraged by them (Rom. 1.8-15). Throughout the rest of Romans, he also admonished and taught them. It is important for all Christians to follow Paul’s example, treating our brothers and sisters in Christ as He did by lifting one another up, correcting sinful behavior, helping each other grow stronger in faith, and always praying for one …show more content…
5.12), so it stands to reason that culture would therefore be wicked and offensive to God. The world rejected God, turning from Him and choosing to become slaves instead to their own sin (Rom. 6.16). The world does not honor nor give thanks to God, rather, they have preferred foolishness and vanity (Rom. 1.21). They have given in to impurity: women have relations with women, and men with men (Rom. 1.26-27). Paul says “They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless” (Rom. 1.29-31). The world, by choosing to follow the flesh, has chosen death, but as Christians, we can refuse to follow culture and instead have life by choosing to follow the Spirit (Rom. 8.6-7). As Paul says later in Romans, we are not meant to imitate this world and it’s culture, but instead be transformed by Christ (Rom.