Walking With God: Episode 2

Episode 2: Worldviews in Collision

Section 1: Hook – “Why What You Believe Shapes Everything”

“Imagine walking through a dense fog with a broken compass and no map. That’s how most people navigate life.”

You see, the fog isn’t the problem. It’s the lens.

If your lens is cracked—if your compass is misaligned—then no matter how sincere your steps, you’ll still end up lost.

Welcome back to Walking with God. I’m your host, Chris Reighley, and today we begin a journey into one of the most important and most overlooked realities of the Christian life: your worldview.

Let’s begin with a real story.

Two neighbors stand on their front lawns watching the same disaster unfold:

A tornado has just ripped through their small town. Homes flattened. Lives lost. The street looks like a warzone. Sirens echo in the distance.

One man falls to his knees, tears in his eyes, and says, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

The other curses the sky, fists clenched: “If there’s a God, He’s cruel. No loving God would let this happen.”

Same storm. Same loss. Same moment.

Radically different conclusions.

Why?

Because they’re wearing different lenses.

One is interpreting the tragedy through the lens of Scripture. The other through the lens of skepticism. Both are searching for meaning. But only one is anchored to truth.

That’s the power of worldview.

What you believe about God, truth, morality, purpose, and eternity isn’t just a private opinion—it’s the framework through which you interpret everything. It shapes how you suffer, how you vote, how you raise your children, how you grieve, how you hope. It even shapes how you define the word “good.”

And here’s the kicker: everyone has a worldview—but most people don’t even know it.

It’s like having a map in your back pocket and never realizing you’re lost.

In this episode, we’re going to slow down and ask some foundational questions:

• What exactly is a worldview?
• Why does it matter?
• How is the biblical worldview different from what the world offers?
• And what happens when your worldview doesn’t align with reality?

This isn’t abstract philosophy. It’s practical theology for everyday discipleship.

Because the moment your teenager says, “I feel like I was born in the wrong body,”—you’re answering with a worldview.

When a coworker says, “All truth is relative,”—you’re responding from a worldview.

When you sit in silence and wonder, “Why am I here?”—you’re processing through a worldview.

And here’s the danger: if your lens is shaped more by culture than by Christ—then you’ll spend your life reacting to headlines instead of responding with hope. You’ll conform to the world instead of being transformed by the Word.

So today, we’re going to name the fog.

We’re going to check the compass.

We’re going to clean the lens.

And we’re going to discover that a biblical worldview isn’t just true—it’s livable. It aligns with reality, it anchors your soul, and it prepares you to live faithfully in a world that’s lost its way.

Let’s begin.

Section 2:  Renewing the Mind to See Clearly

Let’s turn to the Word of God—the lens that brings life into focus.

Romans 12:2 (LSB):  “And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Here we find a command that’s both corrective and transformative. A warning, and a way forward.

“Do not be conformed…”

This is a passive imperative. It implies something is trying to shape you. Paul isn’t just saying, “don’t go with the flow.” He’s saying, “don’t let the world do the shaping.”

The word here suggests being molded—squeezed into a pattern.

And what’s the mold?

“This age.”

The spirit of the age. The cultural consensus. The unspoken assumptions and values of a world in rebellion against God.

In other words: Don’t let the world disciple you.

“But be transformed…”

This verb is active—and ongoing. It’s not a one-time change. It’s a continual process of becoming more like Christ.

How?

“By the renewing of your mind.”

This isn’t about behavior modification. It’s about worldview transformation. The Word of God rewires how you think, reorients what you love, and reshapes how you see.

The world shouts: “Follow your truth.”

The Word says: “Be transformed by God’s truth.”

And what’s the outcome?

“So that you may approve what the will of God is…”

Not just know God’s will—but discern it, delight in it, and walk in it. A renewed mind leads to a renewed life.

Big Idea:  A worldview is the framework through which we interpret all of life—and only the biblical worldview aligns with reality, truth, and hope.

Every decision you make, every value you hold, every judgment you form is filtered through your worldview. It’s the unseen operating system of your life. The question isn’t, “Do you have one?”  The question is, “Is yours true?”

Worldview is More Than Opinions—It’s Orientation

Think of it like this: Your worldview is not just the windshield you look through; it’s the wiring under your dashboard. You can’t see it all the time, but it’s shaping every turn of the wheel.

Romans 12:2 calls us to confront the lies we’ve absorbed. Lies about identity, success, suffering, truth, and God.

It calls us to submit our assumptions to Scripture.

It calls us to allow the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, to reconstruct how we interpret reality.

Linking Back to Our Episode Thesis

We live in a world filled with competing truth claims and cultural pressures—every ad, algorithm, and argument is trying to catechize you.

But transformation doesn’t happen by accident. It begins by recognizing the lens you’re wearing.

And that’s why this series matters.

Because unless your worldview is anchored in God’s truth, you’ll interpret life through the wrong story—and that story will disciple your soul, distort your discernment, and deaden your joy.

Romans 12:2 isn’t just a call to think differently.

It’s a call to see clearly.

To live wisely.

To walk with God—transformed from the inside out.

Section 3: What exactly is a worldview?

Let’s step back and ask a foundational question:  What exactly is a worldview?

The authors of Making Sense of Your World define it this way:

“A worldview is a set of beliefs and assumptions through which a person interprets all of reality.”  — Phillips, Brown, & Stonestreet

In simple terms, it’s your mental map of how the world works. It answers the big questions—whether you’ve thought about them or not.

Every person, whether consciously or unconsciously, is answering four foundational questions:

1. Origin – Where did we come from?
2. Meaning – Why are we here?
3. Morality – What is right and wrong?
4. Destiny – What happens when we die?

How you answer these four questions shapes everything else—your politics, your parenting, your priorities, your peace.

Let me show you what I mean.

If you believe you’re just a cosmic accident—molecules in motion with no ultimate purpose—then life becomes a choose-your-own-adventure book with no Author and no final page.

But if you believe you were created by a personal, sovereign God—then everything from your identity to your ethics flows from that truth.

That’s why worldview matters.

Theological Categories: Creation → Fall → Redemption → Restoration

These aren’t just theological buzzwords—they’re the four chapters of the true story of the world. And they help us form a distinctly biblical worldview.

Let’s walk through them.

1. Creation – God is the Source of All

The biblical worldview begins with Genesis 1:1:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

This is the foundation. God is not just part of the story—He is the Author. The world has design, order, and purpose because it has a Designer. We are not random. We are created in His image. That gives every human life dignity, value, and moral responsibility.

2. Fall – Sin Distorts Our Vision

But something went terribly wrong. Sin entered the world in Genesis 3—and with it came brokenness, distortion, and death.

Romans 1:18–25 tells us that fallen humanity suppresses the truth. Our worldview was cracked in the Fall. We don’t see clearly by default. We reinterpret the world through self-interest, rebellion, or despair.

That’s why people draw wildly different conclusions from the same events. Their lens is clouded by sin.

3. Redemption – The Gospel Reshapes Our Vision

But God didn’t leave us in the dark.

Jesus Christ—the Logos, the divine reason and Word—entered history not only to redeem us from sin but to renew our minds.

Colossians 2:8–10 warns us not to be taken captive by hollow philosophy but to walk in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The gospel doesn’t just change where we go when we die. It transforms how we see while we live.

Through the cross, suffering gains meaning.

Through the resurrection, truth is vindicated.

Through Christ, the chaos of the world starts to make sense.

4. Restoration – Our Hope Fuels Our Discernment

Finally, the biblical worldview is shaped by where the story is going.

This world is not all there is. Jesus is coming again. Justice will be done. Creation will be restored.

Revelation 21 reminds us of the new heavens and new earth—where God will dwell with His people, and all things will be made new.

That future shapes our present. When we know the end of the story, we live differently now. We endure hardship. We seek justice. We reject fatalism. We walk in hope.

Key Truth:  “The question isn’t whether you have a worldview. It’s whether your worldview is true.” — John Stonestreet

Worldview isn’t optional. It’s inevitable.

The only question is: What is your worldview rooted in?

• The Word of God—or the opinions of man?
• Eternal truth—or cultural trends?
• A sovereign Creator—or self as god?

A biblical worldview starts with worship. Because when you fear the Lord, you begin to see clearly.

“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10, LSB)

So let me ask you:

What story are you living in?

What assumptions are shaping your reactions, your relationships, your purpose?

You’re not just reacting to the world. You’re interpreting it—through a lens.

And now that we’ve defined what a worldview is and how the Bible frames it, we can begin to compare it with the false frameworks being offered by the culture.

Section 4: Not All Lenses Are Created Equal

Let’s be clear: not all worldviews are created equal.

Some are consistent. Others contradict themselves.

Some give life. Others leave you empty.

And while it’s popular today to say, “Everyone is entitled to their truth,” the reality is far more sobering:

Everyone has a worldview. But not every worldview can hold the weight of reality.

Let’s take a look at one of the most common lies shaping our age:

False View: “Everyone Makes Their Own Truth”

This belief is everywhere—from TikTok influencers to university lectures to HR departments.

The message?

• “You do you.”
• “Live your truth.”
• “What’s true for you isn’t true for me.”
• “Follow your heart—it knows the way.”

It sounds empowering. But it leads to confusion and chaos.

Let me illustrate.

Imagine a builder laying bricks for a hospital—except he decides that his truth says 12 inches is actually 10. Someone else decides square angles are oppressive and uses curves instead. Another believes gravity is optional.

Would you want surgery in that building?

Of course not. Because truth doesn’t bow to feelings. Reality isn’t subjective. And yet—that’s how most people live morally and spiritually: building lives on sand and calling it freedom.

The Bible calls this suppression of truth (Romans 1:18). And it always ends the same way—broken lives, broken societies, and broken souls.

Truth Test: Is Your Worldview Livable?

Let me give you a quick tool for evaluating worldviews—one we’ll come back to often.

A true worldview will pass three tests:

1. Internal Consistency – Does it contradict itself?
2. External Evidence – Does it match the real world?
3. Practical Livability – Can you actually live it out without denying reality?

Postmodern relativism fails all three.

It says truth is relative… but then demands you affirm its truth.

It says no morality is absolute… until you disagree.

It preaches tolerance… but cancels anyone who disagrees.

The biblical worldview, on the other hand, passes all three.

It is coherent. It explains the world we actually live in. And it equips you to live with meaning, stability, and hope—even in suffering.

Preview of What’s Ahead: Meet the Contenders

In the next few episodes, we’ll compare the biblical worldview to several others head-on:

• Naturalism – The belief that only the material world exists. There is no God, no soul, no afterlife. Life is accidental.
• Postmodernism – The denial of objective truth and universal morality. Meaning is self-constructed.
• Pantheism – The idea that all is god. The self dissolves into the universe. Evil is an illusion.
• Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – The popular suburban religion that believes in a distant God who wants people to be nice and happy, but doesn’t make demands.

Each of these worldviews answers the four big questions (origin, meaning, morality, destiny)—but in ways that collapse under scrutiny.

They don’t fit the world God made.

They don’t explain the longings of the human heart.

And they don’t lead to the life God offers.

That’s why we must not only know what we believe—we must be able to discern what others believe. Because behind every cultural issue is a collision of worldviews.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” —Colossians 2:8 (LSB)

Truth isn’t just something to affirm.

It’s something to test.

And only one worldview passes the test.

Section 5: The Gospel: The True Story of the World

At the center of the biblical worldview is not just a set of doctrines or values.

It’s a Person.

Jesus Christ isn’t merely the founder of our faith—He is the lens through which all of life begins to make sense.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things came into being through Him.” —John 1:1–3 (LSB)

The Greek word for “Word” here is Logos—meaning reason, order, logic. Jesus is not only the Savior—He is the source of coherence in the cosmos. He’s the reason behind reality.

So when we talk about a biblical worldview, we’re talking about a Christ-centered worldview.

Creation → Fall → Redemption → Restoration… through Christ

Let’s walk that four-part framework again—but this time, with Christ at the center of each stage:

Creation: Christ is the Agent of Creation

“All things came into being through Him…” (John 1:3)

The world is not random—it was made by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Your identity isn’t self-assigned. It’s rooted in Christ.

Fall: Christ is the Truth the World Rejects

The world suppresses the truth not just in ideas—but in Him.

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11)

Fallen humanity doesn’t just deny morality—it denies the Moral One. And apart from Him, every worldview falls short.

Redemption: Christ is the One Who Renews the Mind

He doesn’t just forgive sin. He reshapes our vision.

“In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

He renews how we see suffering, justice, purpose, and eternity. He doesn’t just give us new answers—He gives us a new heart.

Restoration: Christ is the Coming King

He will return. And when He does, He won’t just bring clarity—He’ll bring consummation.

“Behold, I am making all things new…” (Revelation 21:5)

The biblical worldview has a telos—a glorious destination—and it’s Jesus at the center of it all.

The Fallen Condition: Suppressing the Truth

Romans 1:18–25 gives us the diagnosis:  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness… because that which is known about God is evident within them… but they suppressed the truth in unrighteousness.”

Humanity doesn’t lack evidence. We lack submission.

The problem isn’t the absence of truth—it’s the rebellion of the heart.

Worldview confusion isn’t first intellectual. It’s moral.

That’s why no amount of philosophical argument can replace spiritual transformation.

The Gospel Reframes Everything

In Christ, the fog lifts.

• Suffering is no longer meaningless—because we have a suffering Savior.
• Morality isn’t subjective—because we have a holy King.
• Identity isn’t fluid—because we’re image-bearers, remade in Christ.
• Hope isn’t vague—because resurrection proves that truth is real, eternal, and victorious.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Christian worldview is not just coherent—it is redemptive. It brings light, not just logic. Grace, not just clarity. Transformation, not just information.

Christ Is the Coherence We Crave

So what makes the biblical worldview different?

It doesn’t start with self. It doesn’t end with despair.

It starts with Christ—and ends with glory.

And that’s why we center this series, this podcast, and our lives on Him.

Section 6: Seeing Clearly in a Confused Culture

Let’s bring this down to street level.

It’s one thing to talk about worldview in theory. But let’s be honest—your worldview shows up when life gets messy. When the news is overwhelming. When your kids ask hard questions. When you’re trying to make sense of injustice, loss, or joy.

And that’s why worldview isn’t just about what you believe.

It’s about how you live.

Cultural Confusion: The Fruit of a Broken Lens

According to the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University:

• Only 6% of American adults have a biblical worldview.
• Most self-identified Christians hold blended worldviews—mixing biblical ideas with humanism, relativism, and moralism.

In other words: we’re not just surrounded by lies—we’ve internalized them.

We scroll through content all day long—and without realizing it, our souls are being discipled by a million tiny catechisms:

• “You are your own authority.”
• “The highest good is personal happiness.”
• “Feelings determine reality.”
• “God is useful—but not holy.”

When our worldview is shaped more by social media than Scripture, we become spiritually confused—even if we still go to church.

Real-Life Examples

Let’s look at some cultural flashpoints through the lens of worldview:

Identity and Gender

The secular worldview says: “Your body is accidental. Your feelings are ultimate. Create yourself.”

The biblical worldview says: “Your body is designed. Your identity is received, not invented. You are an image-bearer—fearfully and wonderfully made.”

This is more than a social debate—it’s a worldview war.

Education and Truth

In many schools, students are taught that truth is relative, morality is personal, and humans are the product of random processes.

That’s not neutral education. It’s discipleship into a godless worldview.

Politics and Justice

When people scream for justice but deny God, they’re left with power struggles, not moral standards.

Without a biblical worldview, even good instincts get twisted by bad foundations.

Pastoral Implications: Worldview and the Soul

In counseling and discipleship, distorted worldviews often show up as emotional baggage:

• Anxiety—because if there’s no transcendent truth, everything depends on me
• Despair—because if suffering has no purpose, pain becomes meaningless
• Shame or confusion—because without identity in Christ, I have no anchor for my worth

What you believe about God shapes what you believe about yourself.

And what you believe about yourself shapes how you respond to everything else.

Colson Fellows Connection: “Seeing Clearly to Live Boldly”

One of the most powerful takeaways from the Colson Fellows worldview training is this:

“Seeing clearly is the first step to living boldly.”

When you can name the lie, you can confront it.

When you see the narrative, you can respond with truth.

When you understand the worldview behind the argument, you stop reacting—and start engaging.

And this is where the biblical worldview becomes more than a philosophy.

It becomes a mission.

Practical Integration: What This Looks Like in Daily Life

Let’s get practical. Here are a few ways this plays out:

1. In Parenting
   Instead of merely correcting behavior, you train your children to love what is true, good, and beautiful. You don’t just say, “That’s wrong.” You explain why—with a view of God, truth, and identity that shapes their hearts.
2. In the Workplace
   You engage with integrity, honesty, and purpose—not because it’s profitable, but because your worldview tells you you’re working for the Lord.
3. In Conversations
   When someone says, “I just think people should live their truth,” you don’t mock them. You ask questions that get to the root:
   • “What do you mean by truth?”
   • “Do you think all truths are equally valid?”
   • “What happens when someone’s truth hurts someone else?”

These aren’t attacks. They’re worldview tests. And they open doors for gospel conversations.

Living with Clarity, Living with Courage

In a world full of fog, God’s Word gives us glasses.

In a culture full of noise, the gospel gives us a signal.

You don’t have to live reactive, defensive, or confused.

With a biblical worldview, you can:

• Think with discernment
• Speak with grace
• Live with confidence
• And love others with truth

Because clarity leads to courage.

And courage, anchored in Christ, leads to lives that shine.

Section 7: Walk It Out – Lenses, Lies, and Living the Truth

Let’s pause and catch our breath.

We’ve covered a lot today—from tornadoes and Romans 12, to cultural lies and gospel truth. But the goal isn’t just to learn more.

The goal is to walk differently.

So let’s land with clarity and give you something to carry into your week.

Truth to Remember:  You already have a worldview. The Bible wants to renew it.

You don’t need to “go get” a worldview—you’re already living out of one.

The question is: Is it shaped by the Word of God, or by the spirit of the age?

Romans 12:2 doesn’t say “try harder.” It says “be transformed.”

And that begins by renewing the lens.

Lie to Reject:  “You can live well without thinking deeply.”

That’s the lie of shallow Christianity. Of cultural conformity. Of emotional reaction without theological reflection.

But Scripture calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Don’t settle for soft faith in a hard world.

Think deeply. Live boldly.

3 Action Steps This Week:

1. Identify your current worldview assumptions.
   Ask: Where did I get my ideas about identity, truth, purpose, and eternity? Were they shaped by Scripture… or soaked in culture?
2. Read Romans 12 and journal through it.
   Write down areas where your thinking has been more shaped by the world than the Word. Be honest. Be prayerful. Be renewed.
3. Discuss with a friend or small group:
   “What does your worldview say about suffering? Purpose? Hope?”
   You’ll be amazed how much clarity—and gospel opportunity—comes from that conversation.

Verse to Meditate On:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception… but rather according to Christ.” — Colossians 2:8 (LSB)

Write it on a card. Put it on your phone lock screen. Let that verse become your filter this week.

Prayer Prompt:

“Lord, renew my mind. Help me to see life clearly through Your Word. Give me discernment in a world of confusion, courage in a culture of compromise, and joy in walking with You.”

You were made to see clearly. You were saved to live boldly. And you were sent to speak truth in love.

That’s why Walking with God exists.

So keep your Bible open. Keep your mind engaged. And keep your feet on the trail.

Because next time, we’ll dive into Episode 3: Meet the Worldviews—where we’ll compare Naturalism, Postmodernism, Pantheism, and Christianity head-to-head.

Spoiler alert: Only one of them can hold the weight of reality—and the hope of eternity.

Until then, I’m Chris Reighley. Thanks for listening to Walking with God.

Let’s keep walking—one step at a time.