Today we are starting a conversation through the book of John. John in the last part of his letter states a specific purpose, but before we get to that, think about the concept of worldview.
Worldview: a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world.
This is not necessarily a moment to dig deep into what your worldview is, but to dig into the things that have contributed to the formation of your worldview.
What things have shaped your worldview?
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31
This alludes to the recurring theme that comes from Daniel's vision in Daniel 7 about the Son of Man.
This purpose of this letter is that you may believe and trust in Jesus the Savior and have life to the full through relationship with Him.
Can you feel a worldview in John’s purpose in the letter?
John is not focused on telling every story about Jesus but rather giving enough context to who Jesus is. He highlights who Jesus is by showing miracles not mentioned in the other gospels. He gives us Jesus’ own words about Himself, including some very poignant “I Am” statements. He gives us testimony of other witnesses to the person of Jesus and creates a layered, intentional, poetic, worldview-shaping picture of Jesus and invites us to believe and be transformed.
John’s writing isn’t light. It’s meant to be read, re-read, studied, dissected, reflected upon.
The goal of this series will not be to give all the answers to questions that arise but to process the right questions. What questions do we need to think through to walk toward this objective of believing in Jesus and being transformed?
What does it take to nudge or change worldview?
It would be nice if changing worldview was as easy as just getting the right answers. But that doesn’t work. And John’s objective in his writing is not to force anything, but to invite readers into the process of being changed.
As I think about my own relationship with Jesus and my own faith journey I see that the best parts are not when I’ve just gotten all the right answers. The best moments and growth points have come through challenge and tension and working through unknowns.
Thinking about worldview more, what are some differentiators in a Christian worldview?
What are some key elements to a Christian worldview?
For me, I think of some very specific things. A lot of what’s in place for me is what I’m used to and what I grew up in--a “biblical worldview” as it would be called in my college experience and Christian circles:
Moral truth is something that exists and has its source and definition within Scripture.
Jesus Christ came and lived and died and resurrected and did it all without sinning.
God created everything in the universe.
Salvation is a gift from God that can’t be earned.
Satan is a punk.
All kinds of things that we believe or don’t believe make up our worldview. And looking at my own list of things, there is a looooooot of defining that needs to happen for it to be clear what I actually see as my worldview.
I mean, this is a moment where we could stop conversation today. There is a lot to talk about here.
But we want to take it a bit deeper and open up this conversation to be something we keep in mind throughout these coming months and over this next year. When a worldview leads to negatively impacting the least of these or hurting people in general, maybe it’s time to reexamine. Especially if it’s something we would consider to be a Christian worldview.
The gospel of John doesn’t start with the narrative of the birth of Jesus but instead is full of imagery. The Word. Light. Dark.
John is doing several things in the first part of his writing. Establishing a worldview, if you will.
God is. As in, He exists.
Jesus is God but is distinctly Jesus in God.
In Jesus is life for all people.
And there is an introduction of the theme of light and darkness.
The initial hearers or readers of this would have drawn the parallel between this and Genesis (or even other creation narratives.)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
But they wouldn’t have stopped there in the connection. The Greek use of the word “Word” would have given people the picture of God literally speaking the world into creation, as is seen in the beginning of Genesis. This repetition of “And God said.”
John is building on some faith assumptions. And remember that the objective of John is to encourage anyone who reads that they may believe and trust in Jesus the Savior and have life to the full through relationship with Him. And it’s not something instantaneous John aims for, but to engage with the process in belief and toward growing in belief.
Think about some things that are “unbelievable.” Things that have made you literally say “I don’t believe it.” What causes you to see something as unbelievable? What are some roadblocks to belief that you have encountered?
Zoom out and think about people and worldviews in general. What are some common roadblocks to worldview or to engaging in the process of belief?
What are some common roadblocks to engaging in the process of defining belief and worldview?
What does it take to believe in and/or have faith in complex things?
Belief is complex. Faith is complex. Why is “deconstruction” essential to faith, but not to other relationships? Deconstruction is a process we go through when we discover that the faith we carry is not actually our own, when we realize we have been carrying someone else’s faith, beliefs, or understandings.
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:31
John is not saying “I am sharing these things so you know exactly how they happened, so that you have proof about Jesus, so that nothing can be questioned or doubted.” Rather, he says, “So that you may believe.”
What do you need in order to live out John’s objectives?
What is your part in living out John’s objectives?
Take It Deeper Questions
Read John 1:1-18
Have you ever had a nickname? How did it start? Does anyone still use that nickname for you?
Put verses 1-5 and 14 into your own words--words that someone who doesn’t have a Christian background could understand.
Are there prerequisites to believing in and/or having faith in Jesus? If yes, what are they?
Why does John start here? How does this help in getting to his final objective found in John 20:31?
Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 15
Genesis 16
Genesis 17
Genesis 18
Genesis 19
John 1
John 2