Book Review: (Re)Thinking Worldview

Just finished a book by J. Mark Bertrand called (Re)Thinking Worldview for my Ministry in a Cultural Context seminary class. In the book, author J. Mark Bertrand poses a new perspective on a Christian worldview.  He takes the reader back to the beginning, defining (and sometimes redefining) the basis of a worldview, including culture, knowledge, wisdom, and interpretation. Once the key ideas are stated and defined, Bertrand rebuilds the concept of a Biblical Christian worldview, with an emphasis on how it looks in the real world.

I appreciate that Bertrand divides the book up into three logical sections: Worldview, Wisdom, and Witness. The section on Worldview introduces the concept of a worldview, telling us exactly what a worldview is to do (and what it is not to do). I had never thought about if one can change a worldview, but after reading this section I believe people can. Since a worldview is based on experiences and beliefs of each individual person, a worldview naturally would change as a person goes through life.

The second section on Wisdom helps root the reader’s worldview into a Biblical basis. The key to any Christian worldview is a Biblical foundation, and that is only gained through wisdom (as defined by the Bible). By using many of the common Biblical passages on wisdom (Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Job 28), Bertrand shows the reader that true wisdom is from God, but is something to be desired and sought by all people.

In the third section, Bertrand helps the reader understand how to use a Christian worldview. The idea of a Christian worldview is not to hide behind it, but rather to use it to engage the culture and to be a Christian witness to the world. We need to use our worldview to become a useful contributor to culture. This section especially helped me take these theoretical concepts and put them into concrete, practical ministry applications.

Overall, I felt that the book served as a helpful guide to a Christian worldview. For the novice, the author not only provides a guide, but also explains why a Christian worldview is important. And for someone familiar with studying worldviews, Bertrand challenges your thinking and causes you to reevaluate your own worldview.  While reading this book, I was constantly looking at my own life and evaluating how I see the world. I have now been noticing more how I view the world, and how that affects myself, my relationship with others, and in my role in my ministry. I felt this book was fitting as an introductory text into the art of developing a Biblically based Christian worldview. Rating: 4/5