Everyone I know lives their life with purpose and finds their life meaningful. That’s a good thing and that’s how I live my life too. But what many people don’t realize is that this perspective is founded on a biblical or Christian worldview. Let me explain.
A Biblical worldview
The Bible teaches that in the beginning of time God created mankind “in His image”. You’ll find that phrase in the first book— Genesis 1:26-27. This means we each have dignity, moral awareness, intrinsic value and great, creative potential. It also says that God knows us personally and intimately and has a good plan and will for our life.
When we believe these truths, we are filled with hope and our life takes on great purpose and meaning. It leads us to value ourselves and others who are also made in God’s image. There is no basis for prejudice, discrimination, pride, superiority or selfishness. These things may still be present in us (because we’re imperfect) but they are not supported by our worldview.
An evolutionary worldview
The main alternate worldview today is very different. It teaches that we have evolved from animals over a very long period of time. Sometimes I joke that there may be monkeys living in your family tree but there’s none in mine! (My evolutionist friends don’t think that’s very funny.)
The theory teaches that before the animal stage, life evolved from lower forms going right back to a single cell. This long process was unguided and unplanned. It happened randomly by trial and error.
I always distinguish between micro and macro-evolution. Christians don’t have a problem with micro-evolution, which simply affirms that there have been changes within a species or what the Bible refers to as a “kind” (see Genesis 1:20-25). This has been proven. Members of a species (e.g., dogs) have changed in size, colour and variety over time. Darwin’s well-known observations about finches demonstrated this very well.
Macro-evolution, however, is a whole different “beast” and requires a huge leap of faith. This has not been proven nor can it be. This part of the theory states that a creature can evolve from one species to another. If this is true, then humans are simply highly evolved animals. And if that is true, then it makes sense that we can still live by “the law of the jungle” and by the principle of “survival of the fittest”. This provides a foundation for all the undesirable things such as prejudice, discrimination, exploitation, etc., listed above.
This worldview provides no philosophical or logical foundation for hope, meaning or purpose. On the contrary, it provides a foundation for hopelessness, despair and meaninglessness.
A philosophical disconnect
The bottom line is this —if you live your life with meaning, then you’re really borrowing the Christian worldview whether you realize it or not. If you claim to believe the evolutionary worldview, then you are living with a philosophical and logical disconnect.
If that bothers you, I’ll be happy for you to take (and not just borrow) the Christian worldview so that your foundation is consistent with your practice.
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
