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THEO 201 - Worldview
Essay
Theology Survey I (Liberty University)
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Abigail Bettenhausen
Dr. Thornhill
THEO 201
18 March 2019
Worldview Essay:
The Bible is a profound and enlightening collection of true stories, instructional words,
poetry, and prayers. It has the influence to transform lives and foundational beliefs. Although the
Bible tells a story, it should not be read as literature. C. S. Lewis is quoted in Has the Church
Misread the Bible? as saying “You can read it as literature only by a tour de force. You are
cutting the wood against the grain, using the tool for a purpose it was not intended to serve. It
demands incessantly to be taken on its own terms: it will not continue to give literary delight
very long except to those who go to it for something quite different.” Although there are many
narratives in the Bible, there is a constant metanarrative that is present throughout the entire
compilation of books that is imperative to the Christian faith. Creation, Fall, Redemption, and
Restoration, is only one of the models applied to look at the Bible’s narrative. As a young
woman studying business and wishing to pursue a career in event planning, I am constantly in
need of leadership guidance and advice. The power of God’s word is incredible, it can be used to
instruct (2 Timothy 3:16) and provide life guidance (Psalm 119:105) to those who investigate it.
Creation, the beginning of the Bible’s metanarrative, is a vivid and detailed story
(Genesis 1). God created ex nihlo, out of nothing (John 1:2, Genesis 1:1-2); the world was void
of everything. The first sentence of the Bible tells us that “In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Green fields, oceans, and mountains were created, but God
favored His last creation: Humans. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman were created in
God’s image and given a lush and beautiful garden to live in and tend. God gave us just one
instruction: not to eat of one tree in the center of the garden. My first inclination regarding
college, is to take control and make decisions on my own. As a strongly willed and decisive
individual, my last intention is to let someone else direct my life. A feeling of weakness and
helplessness surrounds me when I give up my power and free-will. Although I do strive for
control in my life, I have chosen to hand it over to my Creator. The omniscient God of the Bible
brings my diminutive knowledge into perspective; reminding me of my limited perspective
(Culler, 26). For I know that if anyone is capable of directing my path, it is the One who made
me.
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Not to long after Creation, the next line if the metanarrative transpires, Adam and Eve
disobey God and eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. Death and consequences of the sin enter the
Earth and directly affect Adam and Eve and the human race to follow. To live by God’s
commands was no longer the human heart’s first desire (Jerimiah 17:9), sin polluted the human
heart and created a space between God and Man. This Fall was the monumental point when
Humans no longer could walk with God but were separated from his eternal favor (Genesis
3:22- 24). The people that follow the Fall struggle to find the God that created them. Sin is a
constant enemy, consistently driving God’s people away from the truth and the righteous path.
Generation after generation struggles to find light in the ever-present darkness and continually
look ahead for a Messiah. Though sin inhibits every human from a personal relationship with
God, we all have our own individual wickedness, and personalized temptations. As a Christian, I
look to the Bible as the Holy Guidebook it is, and work against the sin that plagues my heart
moment by moment.
While God’s people wait with bated breath for a savior to arise and eradicate the sin
that consumes their thoughts and hearts, detailed prophecies increase the anticipation. From the
first hint of a Savior in Genesis 3:15, to the final prophecy in John, thousands of years play out.
Generations of Godly men and women hold onto the hope of the coming Messiah only to never
see him. But when Christ does enter the world, through the birth of a virgin (Luke 1:27), He
comes in the name of war, “but to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10), therefore bringing about
the third part of the metanarrative: redemption. Jesus lives a simple life, refusing to indulge in his
heavenly privileges, but becomes fully human to experience everything humans feel (Philippians
2:8, Hebrew 2:8-9). Telling parables and teaching lessons, Jesus is misunderstood by many as a
“good teacher” but is proclaims himself as “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Soon
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after a His ministry hit a peak, and suspicions of His claims to be God surfaced, Jesus was
arrested and sentenced to death on a cross. Jesus’ crucifixion had been prophesied for years
before, and action that the Roman government believed was in their control, was all part of a
bigger and broader plan for God’s creation. Jesus was born without sin or deceit, blameless in the
sight of God (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5), His death covered the sins of the world. His death
provided a way to God and a way to eternal life for all who believed in Him. This impacts my
entire life, as a daughter, a sister, and as a future business woman. I can say a blameless and holy
God died for me, so that I can live eternally (John 3:16), what an incredible gift. The gift is
available to anyone who believes in the Word of God and the actions of Jesus Christ.
Finally, God promises restoration to the earth. An earth shattered and still facing the
consequences of The Fall. The day of the Lord will come: where everyone will acknowledge
Jesus as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 6:15-17). Judgment and condemnation will
befall those who refused Him, but life and wholeness will follow those who were faithful. This
metanarrative is a powerful guideline and is a helpful outline of the Bible. As I continue through
college and my career continues to approach, I am continually reminded to look to the Bible for
guidance. Though the Bible is a physical book, it has eternal value and can be applied every and
any lifestyle.
Works Cited
Barton, John. "Reading The Bible As Literature: Two Questions For Biblical Critics". Literature
And Theology, vol 1, no. 2, 1987, pp. 135-153. Oxford University Press (OUP),
doi:10.1093/litthe/1.2.135.
Culler, Jonathan D. "Omniscience." Narrative, vol. 12 no. 1, 2004, pp. 22-34. Project
MUSE, doi:10.1353/nar.2003.0020
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Edwards, Brian "Why 66?". Answers In Genesis, 2019
Moskop, John C. Divine Omniscience and Human Freedom : Thomas Aquinas and Charles
Hartshorne . Macon, Ga: Mercer, 1985. Print.
