Why Worldview Matters
Every individual has a different and unique way of viewing the world. Worldviews are how
people see and interpret the world around them. There are different world realities for everyone
due to the circumstances we grow up. For instance, the economic conditions of a person,
education, and upbringing impact their worldview. It is therefore essential to consider the
worldviews when studying development theories since it shows people’s diversities. By learning
other people’s views of life, people get to understand life on another level and offer empathy for
other people’s conditions. Additionally, the worldviews elaborate on various cultures and
backgrounds, making it easier to understand the development of an individual. Considering these
views when studying development theories helps appreciate the mindset or mentality created by
different belief systems. This step makes it easy to enjoy the development processes of people.
Development Theory
Development theories describe how changes occur in the society and people within. One of the
significant development theories is Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development by Eric
Erickson. According to the theory, an individual’s personality develops in eight stages from
childhood to adulthood (McLeod, 2018). As people grow, they experience various positive and
negative psychosocial conflicts and try to navigate the situations. A healthier personality in an
individual indicates successful completion of previous stages (McLeod, 2018). The main idea of
the theory is that a person faces crises that may be easy or difficult to solve at each level. For
instance, the first stage constitutes trust versus mistrust. If the child gets provided quality care,
they grow while trusting other people, while one who lacks attention ends up lacking confidence
(McLeod, 2018). The defining characteristic is that the crisis in each stage occurs due to
interactions between an individual’s psychological needs and the needs of society.
My Worldview
One of the greatest worldviews is the spiritual growth and life of Christians. As a Christian, I
believe in the fellowship and quest for spiritual growth. By assessing one’s religious narrative, it
is easy to attain spiritual growth. Additionally, communing with others and expressing oneself in
worship helps one get closer to God (Ashbrook, 2019). A spiritual view allows one to create
meaning in their beliefs and assumptions about the Deity. As with psychosocial development,
spiritual growth has different stages as a new believer to maturity. A new believer seeks and tries
to understand and learn about fellowship (Ashbrook, 2019). Each level has different revelations
and conflicts since one knows and correlates their initial beliefs to those they acquire. The
growth of one stage results in a more informed and aware individual for the next stage.
Therefore, my spiritual growth worldview is compatible with Erickson’s theory as it shows the
different stages of development and conflicts arising in them.
Psychological Worldview
A psychological worldview encompasses how people think about themselves and others in terms
of who they are, how they act and feel, why they act and feel the way they do, and how to change
in terms of thoughts, feelings, and behavior from a godless perspective. The world of
psychological theories and therapies has shaped the thinking and behaving of how most of
American society views human nature apart from God.
The psychological worldview includes the psychoanalytic ideas of such men as Freud, Jung, and
Adler; the behavioristic ideas of such men as John Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Albert Ellis; the
humanistic ideas of such men as Gordon Allport, Abraham Maslow, and Carl Rogers; and from
the existential, transpersonal model of man in which autonomous individuals create their own
religious and moral values. The psychological world view focuses on the self (psyche) and its
needs, desires, and relationships. Self is central and therefore, problems are dealt with from the
perspective of personal needs, values, and wants.
We live in a psychological society with psychological ideas about human nature as to why
people do what they do, how they change, and how to help them change. Although numerous
conflicting ideas comprise the psychological worldview, they all boil down to understanding
human nature apart from God and generally as a product of evolution.
External circumstances supposedly cause or highly influence most personal problems. The
primary help offered to suffering souls comes in the form of conversation between a therapist
and client or clients—talk therapy. Therapists listen to their clients’ problems and then directly
or indirectly, according to their theoretical orientation, attempt to guide them into finding or
working out solutions.
In contrast to the psychological worldview centered in the self, the biblical worldview centers in
God as Creator and Sustainer of the universe. God created mankind in His own image, male and
female (Gen. 1:27). In love He placed them in the Garden of Eden, a virtual paradise. But, when
Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they fell from perfection into a state of corruption that not only
changed their lives but passed on to all their descendants throughout the ages. However, God in
His great love for His creation provided a means to deliver people from the “power of darkness”
and to translate them into the “kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). In the biblical worldview
God changes people by grace through faith. God’s way is Christ-centered rather than self-
centered and problem-centered. God’s way is the way of love ex-pressed in mercy and truth.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen
God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. (1
John 4:10-12.)
The biblical worldview engenders love for God and for one another, whereas the psychological
worldview engenders the kind of self-love described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that
are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
We can see we are in the last days for we are seeing more expressions of the psychological
worldview than of the biblical worldview.
Because of the deceitfulness of the world and its psychological understanding of humankind,
believers need to equip themselves with the Word of God for their own lives and for being ready
to minister His truth in love to one another. Biblical ministry of the Word of God and work of the
Holy Spirit through preaching, teaching, and mutual care in the body of Christ always centers in
Christ to conform believers into His image.
Here Christ’s love will flourish, nourish, and sustain with the truth of the Gospel which sets
believers free from the bondage of sin.
Psychological Counseling
In contrast to the biblical ministry of the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit,
psychological counseling (psychotherapy) is based on a psychological world view and by its
very nature is both self-centered and problem-centered as therapists focus on their client and the
clients’ problems according to whatever psychotherapeutic system a therapist is using. And,
naturally the clients will be self-focused and problem-centered as they are hoping to have
someone fix their problems. A counseling environment that is client-focused (self-centered)
and problem-centered engenders sinful communication.
Psychological counseling conversations within the counseling environment encourage the
counselee to talk about problems, and the natural response is for the client to do so from a
deceitful heart (Jer. 17:9). Therefore, in the world of psychological counseling one will hear all
forms of evil speaking, sinful communication, and blame, as the counselor attempts to elicit as
much information as possible in order to help the client. The psychological counselor generally
allows and even encourages the client to speak without restraint regarding the client’s
circumstances, including the people involved. There will be much unsubstantiated talebearing as
the client complains about other people, including parents and spouse. Parents, spouses, and
others will be verbally dishonored and blamed, as many clients see themselves as victims. With
all the unsubstantiated talebearing and possible slander, the counseling environment becomes a
kind of kangaroo court in which those who are not present to defend themselves are further
condemned, at least in the minds of the clients.
Private matters concerning those who are not in the counseling room will be revealed, including
private matters between a husband and wife. There will be expressions of sinful anger in
marriage counseling. There may be arguing, bickering, and blaming the spouse in front of the
counselor, in hopes that the counselor will make the spouse change for the better. Any idea of a
one-flesh marriage (Eph. 5:31) is violated as husbands and wives stand against each other and
the counselor takes charge and thereby usurps the biblical role of the husband.
As sinful communication, stimulated by the counseling environment, continues and mounts up
over weeks of counseling, the clients may not be helped, but may continue with counseling
because unloading one’s feelings may make some clients feel better for a while. Nevertheless,
the more the client verbalizes such things, the more they become entrenched in their thinking.
Not only is the psychological counseling environment dependent on sinful communication
because of its problem-centeredness and self-centeredness, but a psychological worldview itself
encourages people to be problem-centered and self-focused and thereby engenders evil speaking.
That we live in a psychological society with a psychological worldview can be seen most
blatantly in talk shows in which guests tell all without restraint. This psychological worldview
with its self-centered and problem-centered counsel has sorely influenced biblical counseling
with its problem-centered and even self-centered counseling.
Shift in Confidence
During the past fifty-plus years there has been a dramatic shift in confidence on the part of
Christians—away from the sufficiency of God’s Word for problems of living and towards man’s
wisdom. After World War II, materialism and affluence led to selfism and a breakdown of the
family. This rising affluence with its accompanying narcissism provided fertile ground for the
problem-centered counselors and their openness to sinful speaking.
Early on, the mental health associations began sponsoring meetings for dialog between local
psychological counselors and pastors. These counseling psychologists convinced pastors that
they were not qualified to handle the hard cases and that they needed to refer them out to
professional counselors.
With the field of psychological counseling exploding and pastors beginning to refer their flocks
to professional counselors came the great “psychological awakening” of evangelical Christianity.
If pastors must send their flocks to professional counselors, then there was a crying need for
Christians to become trained in psychology. After all, pastors did not want to send their people to
“godless” counselors who might not appreciate Christianity. Thus began the era of so-called
“Christian psychology”—an amalgamation of psychotherapy and the Bible—for which we
coined the word psychoheresy, because it is a heretical move away from the Bible.
Sixty years ago, evangelical Christianity was almost totally devoid of what we call
psychoheresy. Christian schools at all levels, mission agencies, denominations, and Christians of
all persuasions predominantly embrace it. Because of concerns about the psychological
counseling movement, a group of Christians developed what they called “biblical counseling.”
However, they followed the format of psychological counseling with its violation of Scriptures
related to evil speaking, the unruly tongue (James 3:2-12) and addressing problems. In essence,
they have a mixed view of people and how to handle problems. Thus regarding the nonphysical
aspects of mankind, many Christians actually hold conversational aspects of a psychological
worldview, while at the same time thinking they hold a fully Christian worldview.
Biblical Worldview of the Soul
How can a Christian develop a biblical worldview of the soul, which includes those immaterial
aspects of the human called the soul (the psyche) in the midst of a society that assumes and
promotes a secular worldview of the soul and has captured the word psychology, which means
the study of the soul? And, how can a Christian develop a biblical worldview of the mind, will,
emotions, and behavior in the midst of a church that combines the carnal with the sacred
regarding human nature? The initial answer comes from the following question: What does the
Bible say?
The Bible majors on the identity, nature, and acts of God and also on what God says about the
identity, nature, and acts of mankind. What higher source is there? Because God created
mankind in His image (male and female) individuals cannot truly know themselves without
knowing God, who is perfect in love, mercy, justice, power, knowledge, and presence. God has
revealed both Himself and all aspects of the soul in His Word and in His Son, who is Himself the
revealed Word of God.
The Bible also shows forth the condition of mankind lost in sin and all that is possible in the new
nature, procured by Christ through the Cross. The old nature, also called the “old Man” or the
“flesh,” began in the Garden of Eden when Eve trusted Satan more than God and when Adam
followed Eve into sin. Christ first demonstrated the new life in in Him by His dependence on the
Father and in His constant communion with Him. The New Testament describes the new life in
Christ throughout.
A believer does not need any kind of counseling that explores the old nature or the flesh through
sinful conversations of counseling. God has already provided new life to the believer, the
indwelling Holy Spirit for doing the inner work of transformation, the Bible for instruction, and
fellow believers for preaching, teaching, admonishing, and encouraging. The Word of God gives
accurate and complete information about how to live the Christian life:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16-17.)
No psychological theory of human nature or psychotherapy can make anyone “thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.” That is because God gives the directions in His Word and
supplies the ability through His Spirit.
When Christ died in the place of sinners, He not only provided forgiveness and cleansing from
sin. He also gave His own life to dwell in them through the Holy Spirit. Thus, He imparts the
new inner life for every believer conforming them to His image. As believers seek the Lord and
look to Him daily and as they learn to trust and obey Him, they know Him more deeply and
reflect Him more fully. Because the Holy Spirit is working within them, believers become more
like Christ as they look at Him and follow Him: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3: 18).
The Daily Walk
The Christian walk is one of a love relationship with God providing everything needed for life
and godliness. God is trustworthy and, as believers follow Christ, they will reflect Him more and
more. Jesus said:
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the
same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or
be cast away? (Luke 9:23-25, bold added.)
In his commentary of the New Testament, William MacDonald spells this out:
To deny self means willingly to renounce any so-called right to plan or choose, and to recognize
His lordship in every area of life. To take up the cross means to deliberately choose the kind of
life He lived. This involves… the reproach of the world…. Complete dependence on the Lord….
Suffering for righteousness’ sake…. Slander and shame…. Pouring out one’s life for others….
But it also involves laying hold of life that is life indeed. It means finding at last the reason for
our existence. And it means eternal reward.2
The Christian life is to be ongoing, moment by moment, as Christ is living His life in and
through the believer. The saints over the years who have had a deep spiritual walk with the Lord
were in the faith daily, because they believed the love of God that passes understanding. They
had found the results of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19:
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by
his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fulness of God.
How much more satisfying to the soul to turn to God with this prayer than to discuss problems
and problem people with much evil speaking that surely grieves the indwelling Holy Spirit!
(Eph. 4:30). How much more pleasing to God when the believer is living by “the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”! (Eph. 4:24).
Through the centuries believers have found strength and endurance through trials. In fact, they
came to know Christ intimately in difficult times as well as in peaceful times. Some experienced
His presence under severe trials to the point of burning at the stake. They found their strength,
comfort, joy, and peace in Christ. All these are available to all born of the Spirit by grace through
faith.
Therefore, those who come alongside to encourage fellow believers going through trials have
much to offer in place of the kind of sin-filled, problem-centered counseling. They can remind
and encourage fellow believers in their walk with the Lord.
A daily walk in fellowship with the Lord should be the norm for Christians. However, the lack of
a daily walk with the Lord is probably one of the biggest shortcomings in many believers’ lives,
and this lack is frequently more pronounced when people are experiencing personal and/or
interpersonal problems. We encourage all those in the dire circumstances of life to diligently
seek God daily so that they might grow in the things of the Spirit, rather than allowing the
trials, tribulations, and sufferings of life to swallow them up.
The way through suffering is truly the daily walk with the Lord, not weekly rehashing with a
counselor. In contrast to sinfully discussing the problems, as biblical counselors do, we believe
that talking about and encouraging the daily walk will serve to mature believers and put them
into a position where the necessary wisdom and knowledge for what to do will come from the
Lord. Those who minister to fellow believers should themselves have a very definite walk with
the Lord each day. Then, as they discuss the daily walk, those who minister will know what to
encourage and to suggest, especially in weak areas where they can suggest needed changes.
Living by Grace through Faith
Rather than dwelling on problems, those who minister biblically to another person will talk much
about the provisions, privileges, and practices of the believer’s daily walk with the Lord.
Oneness with Christ is so profound and continuous that He promised, “I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). Just the idea of the Creator of the universe bothering to notice one
person in His entire cosmos is astounding!
Add to that the tremendous privilege of prayer. Believers can be in communication with God
throughout the day. In addition, there is the confidence and security of knowing that God
watches over each believer and knows everything that is going on, both in the circumstances and
in the accompanying thoughts, emotions, and attitudes. The believer can enjoy the wonderful
benefit of indwelling by the Holy Spirit to guide and to prick the conscience when there is sin.
Christ provides to the believer’s the ability to walk in a manner pleasing to God moment by
moment so that the daily walk does not have to be one of self-effort and constant failure. These
are privileges available to those who seek to please God and to walk according to the Spirit.
They all come by grace through faith exercised through obedience and through turning to Him in
every situation.
The Christian life consists of doing what God enables Christians to do day by day by grace
through faith according to the Word. Therefore, those who minister must teach, remind, and
encourage fellow believers to walk by faith daily. Encouraging faith in Christ is the most
essential aspect of any ministry. After all, whatever individuals truly believe will show up in
their words and actions. Those who truly believe that Christ is in them will act accordingly.
Thus, obedience to Christ’s commands follows faith in Him. A Christian’s behavior is therefore
the practical outworking of what he truly believes, because true believers possess all that is
necessary to act on faith in Christ. This is the essence of the daily walk.
Those who minister biblically will encourage the daily walk emphasizing the elements without
prescribing details. The daily walk can be summed up in a few words: trust and obey
throughout the day. In discussing the daily walk with those in need, the minister can ask
questions about what the counselee is already doing and what has particularly helped in the past.
Some people use a daily devotional guide or a Scripture reading calendar. Many worship and
praise God by singing or listening to recorded hymns and spiritual songs. The believer’s
greatest resource for the daily walk is the Lord Himself and His Word.
The Holy Spirit lives in every believer and will enable believers to know whether they are
walking according to their new life in Christ or according to their own fleshly nature as they
remember that He knows every thought, word, attitude, and action. For instance, when we are
not trusting Him, we are likely to become frustrated, irritated, unkind, and unloving. When we
are not trusting Him, we may be trying to change things our own way rather than seeking God
for His will. These clues let us know when we are not trusting and obeying. Then when
something goes wrong, we have the privilege of prayer, and, even though God already knows the
need, we are placing our trust in Him when we pray.
Even when we engage in work demanding a high degree of concentration, we can stay aware of
God’s presence in a manner similar to our awareness of a family member or fellow worker in the
same room. Then, as we purposely acknowledge His presence at various moments in the day, we
give Him honor and He will direct our way: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean
not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
When people experience problems of living—emotional, relational, financial—they need more
than conversation, particularly the kinds of sinful conversation found in psychological
counseling. They need to know God’s will and they need His power to work in them. Therefore,
believers need to pray for one another and themselves the prayer that Paul prayed for the
Colossians: “that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding” (Col. 1:9). How can a person know God’s will apart from God Himself and His
Word? Will God answer such a prayer? Perhaps not the way a person may want, but He does
answer with what a person truly needs at the appropriate time. Psychological counseling and its
semi-biblical look-alikes pale in comparison to what God promises individuals when they ask in
faith. We can go to God directly and He knows us through and through. He knows our needs and
our circumstances.
Paul prays further: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10). How glorious! Paul’s
next words of prayer speak to the great need of believers: that they would be “strengthened with
all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”
(Col. 1:11). These are God-given provisions for all problems of living and especially for long-
lasting trials. Paul continues His prayer with a reminder to be thankful for salvation and the new
life in Christ (Col. 1:12-14).
As we thank God for these eternal blessings and think about them at times through the day, we
will be encouraged and strengthened in our daily affairs. Moreover, this spiritual life He has so
graciously given to believers is not only for the here and now but for all eternity. Therefore,
believers have a hope beyond all hope—an assured hope for eternal life with Christ, which is
being prepared by Him, in which we will be forever with Him in a love relationship that
surpasses what anyone can think or imagine.
Believers will grow into the likeness of Christ as they follow Him throughout the day and as they
give intentional attention to the Lord and His Word early in the day and at various times
throughout each day. By doing this, they will be growing in the knowledge of God, deepening
their faith, and thriving in their spiritual walk, while remembering Christ Himself, considering
His glorious attributes, living His life in them, and looking for His glorious return. “Even so,
come, Lord Jesus”! (Rev. 22:20).
Summary
In conclusion, worldviews help understand how different people interpret and analyze the society
around them. Since individuals grow in various circumstances, everyone possesses a unique
perspective in life. When studying development theory, it is, therefore, essential to learn and
understand the multiple worldviews. Consideration of worldviews when learning development
theories creates a better understanding and interpretation of people’s perspectives. This step also
promotes a clear understanding of cultures and appreciation of different individuals. This
information is helpful in future coursework since it shows the importance of worldviews and
development theories and ensures they get prioritized during the study.
References
Ashbrook, R. T. (2019). Mansions of the heart: Exploring the seven stages of spiritual growth.
Fortress Press.
McLeod, S. (2018). Erik Erikson | Psychosocial stages | Simply psychology. Study guides for
psychology students – Simply psychology. Web.
