Cognitive Affective Worldview

A teaching seeks to define the rules in which to interpret life fails if it does not result in affection for God. We can cognitively know all that God wants from us and the tenets of the Gospel yet have no love for Him in our hearts. Paul said to Timothy, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” All that a Christian thinks, speaks, and does should be to that aim: loving God and loving our neighbors. That which is loved most, is that which is glorified most as well. Therefore, the Christian’s worldview should lead him to love God. This expression of love should not only be inward; it should be evident to the onlooking world. Our affections and allegiances should be beautifully clear.

In relation to culture, the Christian should interact with culture in a manner that shows the supremacy of Christ. As any follower of Christ should know, glorifying God in all of our lives is not a simple process. As the Lord sanctifies the believer, he will give up certain things or transform how he views and uses other things. The point being is this: It is a process that does not fit into a neat box or paradigm. It involves consistent self-examination and prayerful thought.

I want to propose the pursuit of a cognitive-affective worldview. It is a way of thinking that promotes and displays love of God and Christ-honoring service to others. The process of developing and living out a God-honoring cognitive-affective biblical worldview hinges upon the acceptance of the basic tenets of a Christian worldview as revealed in the story of redemption as well as a Biblical view of culture. Culture is not inherently evil. In fact, it is impossible to live without culture. The bible does not call for complete withdrawal, nor complete synergism with the culture. This worldview calls for distinctions that show the glory of Christ and contextualization that makes the glory of Christ known in a manner that the broad culture can interpret.

The ancient African Saint Augustine says, “He loves thee too little who love anything with thee, which he loves not for thy sake.” In this hour, the church in America either loves portions of biblical ethics more than God as displayed through use of the of power in place of gentleness (as seen on the right) or loves culture and cultural acceptance more than God (as seen on the left). All things were created for His glory and how the Church uses them should reflect that. Many in the church would be convicted by Augustine’s exhortation: “If the things of this world delight you, praise God for them but turn your love away from them and give it to their Maker so that the things that please you may not displease Him.”

Culture is just a tool to show the Lord’s worth.