Week 8 - Youth Questions 2 - Spring 2023
What we talked about on Sunday
Sunday we had a smaller group of students, but the conversation was fruitful nonetheless. Much of our discussion centered around the following question: “What shapes and informs the decisions you make?”
One student suggested that if they are in a situation where someone is doing something harmful, they try not to judge the person and to be compassionate because that person probably is dealing with a lot in their life. In contrast, another student suggested that they base their actions upon how it makes them feel—generally deferring to the response they feel will give them the most fun or happiness.
In sum we could say that the first student bases their decisions, in part, around trying to be sympathetic towards others; whereas the other student bases their decisions around their personal happiness.
Why does this matter? Well, both students are making decisions informed by their worldview. Worldview is simply the term we use to describe “the comprehensive framework of beliefs and assumptions that shapes a person's understanding of the world and their place in it” (From Al Wolters, Creation Regained). Understanding that we each have a worldview matters because our worldview directly informs the actions we take. Most people cannot describe their own worldview, but in doing an exercise like we did above can begin to see both what informs the decisions they make or actions they take, and where that information even comes from in the first place.
As Christians, we want to have a worldview that is shaped by God and His Word so that we can respond to everything that comes up in our lives in a way that glorifies God and benefits those around us. Gaining such a worldview can be hard, but it begins with an awareness to our own beliefs and how those beliefs shape our actions, as well as by understanding who God is, how he has made us to bear his image, and how that image bearing benefits those around us—all of which is learned in community with other believers and through God’s Word.
Continuing the Conversation at Home
As parents, you have an incredible ability to help shape your child’s worldview through the conversations you have with them, the way you behave around them, the responses you have towards situations in your own life, and in the rhythms you set for your family. Take a moment this week to consider how you might be shaping your kid’s worldview. Think about how they respond to certain situations and ask yourself how those responses reflect your relationship with them. If their responses seem foreign to what you would expect, ask them why that might be. For instance, if you notice they think differently about things like friendship, doing schoolwork, going to church, or even something like politics, ask them what they think about it and why they think that way, so you can understand them better and then think through ways to help them have more of Biblical Worldview in that area.
If you are ever interested in meeting with me one-on-one or talking on the phone about what we do in Youth—or just want to get to know me better—please email me at tim@redemptionbiblechurch.org. I would love to hear from you.