RUNNING HEAD: Biblical Worldview Essay
1
Biblical Worldview Essay
THEO 202 – Theology Survey II
Professor Rusty Smalls
Spencer Chapmon
Liberty University
Biblical Worldview Essay
2
Biblical Worldview Essay
Over the course of history there have been many theories on the world and humanity
came to be. Some of the popular views on this topic include the idea that the world that we live
in, humans included, were created by a big bang and that we came from nothing, which really
doesn’t make all that much sense if you think it about it from a logical perspective. Then there is
the viewpoint that we humans, and the rest of creation, was created by a divine and all-knowing
creator that crafted each thing perfectly by hand. If you look at the intricacy of all of the
different lifeforms on the planet this is the only option that makes sense out of all things.
In two distinct, alternative theories on how we are viewed as humans, which are robots
and as animals. These views are acknowledged inside of the textbook that is used by this course,
which is “Introducing Christian Doctrine” written by Millard J. Erickson. In the aforementioned
section about how humans are viewed by certain standards he talks about the idea of humans as
robots. Erickson claims that, “we perform everyday tasks for ourselves and for our bosses as if
we are employed to have the same strengths and energy to perform better than the average
human.” (Erickson, 2013, p. 178) When we do these things in a robotic like fashion it causes us
to seemingly lose our humanity in the respect of allowing ourselves time to recover from illness,
or have family come first rather than a job. A perfect example is driving down a crowded
interstate. You expect every single person to be perfect and not pull out in front of you or not see
you. You think that they are incompetent or “malfunctioning” which is not the case, they are
being human and making a mistake which is something that we all do a ton on a daily basis.
Erickson also speaks on the fact that, “people tent to treats others as if they are only of value if
they are useful.” (Erickson, 2013, p. 178) This idea that someone loses their value as a human
being just because they cannot do the same things that other can do because of a disability or
Biblical Worldview Essay
3
inability to act or work a certain way is not treating God’s creations with the respect that they
deserve and we as Christians need to value all people not just people that can be used to help
benefit us. The other view that is recognized in the textbook that people have humanity is a very
animalistic one and that we are just another cog in the machine of the animal kingdom. In the
textbook, Erickson explains that humans are very much like domesticated animals at times in
regard to certain aspects such as positive reinforcement. This way of behaving and thinking of
one another as humans is very degrading in the fact that God has gifted us all with free will and a
free spirit. Our whole religious idea is based off of these ideas and to think that we can be
controlled just by thinking that we’ll be rewarded for doing what we’re told is absurd.
The Bible clearly states to us that we are created in God’s image. God made man and out
of man he made woman which is so that we could multiply unto the Earth and spread his Gospel
to the masses that were created from the lineage of Adam and Eve. In all aspects this is viewed
as the true biblical view for humanity. We are the only creatures on the earth have morals and a
knowledge of what is right and what is wrong in regard to the decisions that we make on a daily
basis. We all have gifts that should be used to glorify the Lord in all that we say and do. We, as
Christians and people in general, do things in a way that is not just because of a preset notion to
do so, but rather a need to do them. We go out of our way to help those in need, not because of
the necessity of it, but because it is the right thing to do morally. This is what separates out
humanity from the existence of other beings on Earth. We also have domain over all things like
it states in Genesis 1:26-27. Those verses state that “God said, ‘let us make mankind in our
image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over
the livestock and all wild animals, and over all creatures that move along the ground.” (Gen. 1:
26-27, NIV) These verses show that we are not the animals that some people want to think of us
Biblical Worldview Essay
4
as with a simple rewards system or robots with no feeling, but rather the beautiful, caring, free-
willed creatures of God.
The two earthly views of humanity and the biblical view of humanity have some
similarities, but they have far more differences. Among the few similarities that the views have,
the main one is, in essence, is that many times people forget that we are human and forget to treat
one another with the kindness and love of God but instead expect them to perform at peak
efficiency. Off of this fact is the main difference of the views is that in the worldly views we are
just things used as a means to an end but with the biblical worldview we are loved by God and
our sole reason for existence is that He loves us, not the mission to accomplish some task, or that
we’re just another animal to be domesticated. If we believe these worldly views it is a way of
letting the devil win and take away glory from God.
Word Count: 979
Biblical Worldview Essay
5
References
Erickson, M. J. (2013). Christian theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
I used by NIV Bible to reference the verses. I hope this okay.
