The Christian Perspective on Life

What is the Christian perspective on life? How does it differ from that of the non-Christian? In a word, the Christian perspective is transcendent, whereas the typical non-Christian view is secular.

As the British Christian writer, Harry Blamires*, expressed it,

A prime mark of the Christian mind is that it cultivates the eternal perspective. That is to say, it looks beyond this life to another one. It is supernaturally orientated, and brings to bear upon earthly considerations the fact of Heaven and the fact of Hell…

The Christian mind sees human life and human history held in the hands of God. It sees the whole universe sustained by his power and his love. It sees the natural order as dependent upon the supernatural order… It sees this life as an inconclusive experience, preparing us for another; this world as a temporary place of refuge, not our true and final home.

…Modern secular thought ignores the reality beyond this world. It treats this world as The Thing. Secularism is, by its very nature, rooted in this world…Secularism puts its trust in this life and makes earthly happiness and well-being its primary concern (pp. 67-68.)

This is why the Scriptures identify non-Christians as those who “dwell on the earth” (or, as the NIV translates such passages as Revelation 11:10, they who are “the inhabitants of the earth.”) This earth is their home, this life is all they take into consideration; in the words of the apostle Paul, they are “without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12.) In striking contrast to this, the Christian is reminded that he is an alien in this present world (1 Peter 1:1,) his citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:21,) and his whole perspective on life is foreign to the thinking of the world (1 Corinthians 2:14.)

Dr. Blamires goes on to ask, “Do we, as Christians…mentally inhabit a world with a Heaven above it and a Hell beneath it; a world in which man is called to live daily, hourly, in contact with the God whom neither time nor space can limit?” (p. 76)

For more on this topic, check out the Bible study courses on The Christian Perspective on Life.

*Harry Blamires; The Christian Mind; Servant Books, Ann Arbor MI, 1978.

THE CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE

This Bible study course discusses the Christian’s transcendent perspective on the kingdom of God, as that perspective is manifested in the life of Abraham.

This Bible study course, based upon Jacob’s final address to his sons, assures us, as well as warns us, that we shall finally receive all that we deserve.

This Bible study course considers the Christian’s ultimate heavenly destination as it is typified in Moses’ joyful reunion with his family at the foot of Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God.

This Bible study course, based upon the teaching of Isaiah 2:22-4:6, urges us to hold a God-centered view as opposed to living in conformity with the secular worldview of society.

This Bible study course, based on the teaching of Isaiah 10:5-34, informs us of what Christians may expect to encounter from the Lord if they allow themselves to become secularized on their thinking and conduct.

This Bible study course, based on the teaching of Isaiah 20:1-21:17, directs us away from the various false hopes entertained by the world and points us to the one and only true hope.

This Bible study course, based on the apostle Paul’s teaching found in 1 Corinthians 7:17-31, instructs the Christian how to maintain a transcendent perspective, focused upon the kingdom of God, as he lives in this present world.

This Bible study course, based upon the apostle Paul’s teaching contained in Philippians 1:12-26, urges the Christian to live a Christ-centered life as the one true formula for ultimate success.

This Bible study course, based upon the apostle Peter’s teaching contained in 1 Peter 3:18-4:6, discusses the Christian’s truly radical lifestyle, in comparison to the lifestyles of the world.