”Why do I keep doing the things I do?” His quivering voice and browbeaten look revealed the painful regret, the intense frustration, and the deep shame behind his question to me. His wife had told him she was finished putting up with his destructive behavior. The marriage was over.

While sympathizing with his failure and loss, I quietly explained, “All behavior is based on your system of beliefs. What you think determines the way you feel and act. Every time you act, even when that act is self-defeating or destructive to others, at that moment, you believe it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, we often believe things that are untrue. You shouldn’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are often lies we tell ourselves.”

I then explained to the man how our worldview shapes our lives, and how Jesus said, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

Everyone has a worldview. Do you know yours?

Your worldview is the set of perspectives, values, and convictions that you believe to be true. It is the foundation of your life. Every decision you make is consciously or unconsciously based on your worldview. It influences every moment of your life. Your worldview determines your level of stress, success, happiness, intimacy, and much more. It even has eternal implications.

Your worldview includes all you believe about life and death, right and wrong, pain and happiness, good and evil, time and money, God and truth, the past and future, yourself and others.

Unfortunately, not everything we believe is true. We pick up false and faulty ideas from culture, friends, parents, books, movies, music, the media, and many other imperfect sources that we’re not even aware of. Only God always tells us the truth. 

Most people never intentionally challenge the accuracy of their worldview. They just assume it is true because they believe it. That’s extremely dangerous because every time you make a decision—a choice—you unconsciously access the worldview databank in your brain. In a nanosecond, you ask yourself, “What do I believe about this situation?” and your worldview tells you how to act. If right now you believed you’d die tomorrow, or that your home was on fire, that belief, even if it was false, would instantly change what you’re doing.

This is why knowing what’s true and real, and what isn’t true and real, is so important. If you base your life on a faulty worldview, the results will be disastrous.

One of the reasons we created the Purpose Driven Connection is to help you clarify your worldview. The purpose of this magazine and all the other PD Connection tools—the Web community, the discussion group DVD studies and workbooks (found in the Spring 2009 issue of the magazine), the Word2U daily Scripture texted to your cell phone (sign up on the homepage), the Daily Devotionals, Pastor’s Connection, and other new tools we’re constantly launching—is to help you fulfill God’s purpose for your life by developing an accurate and healthy worldview.
 
Here are some ways you can get started:
1. Read the articles from the Spring 2009 issue by Os Guinness and Chuck Colson. Both of these men are friends and mentors who have helped me clarify my worldview for years.

2. If you have a subscription to the magazine, invite two or three friends, and form a Connection Group. Meet weekly for the next six weeks, and watch the six worldview lessons that Chuck and I share with you in the DVD on page 16 of this magazine. You should also use the discussion guide workbook on page 64. It’s easy! Your group can connect in a home or office or from anywhere you have a computer or DVD player available. We have more than 4,000 small groups meeting in Southern California, and my hope is that you will form one of the 50,000 PD Connection Groups we dream of soon having nationwide. Will you be the first in your community to launch a PD Connection Group? Please let me know so we can help you and connect you with other groups! When you begin your group, please e-mail me at rick@purposedriven.com.

3. Explore the Purpose Driven Connection website for additional help on developing a biblical worldview.

4. Read this book I highly recommend: The Good Life by Chuck Colson (Zondervan). It parallels the small group DVD studies we have recorded for you. You can also order the book by calling 1-800-723-3532.

5. If you are a pastor, e-mail me personally immediately. I want to help you encourage your congregation to develop a biblical worldview.
And please enjoy this issue, and tell others to join the Purpose Driven Connection. I believe the antidote to recession is revival!

God bless you.

Photo: Michael O'Brien