Helping You Navigate Life's Challenges
Worldview and Ethics
What is a Christian Worldview?
- According to Roger Erdvig, a worldview is a way of looking at the world that leads to a specific way of living (i.e., guiding reasoning, interpreting perceptions of reality, influencing every area of life, and helping people determine meaningfulness). Ultimately, they live their lives, knowingly or unknowingly, according to their worldviews. [1]
- Erdvig also held that a Christian worldview is a framework of specific assumptions about reality in submission to Christ, based on the truth that God exists as revealed in Creation, the Bible, and the person of Jesus Christ. All other elements of a Christian worldview rely on this foundational truth. [2]
Is Counseling from a Christian Worldview Ethical?
- According to Courtney Evans, the counseling profession has more widely recognized and addressed integrating spirituality into counseling in recent therapy, training, and professional literature. She added, “Religion and spirituality are often part of the client’s problem but can also be part of the solution." [3]
- Evans also arrived at several conclusions about ethics, competencies, integrating Christian principles into professional counseling, and professional relationships with clients. Essentially, she said counseling from a Christian worldview means counselors (1) adhere to ethical codes for professional counseling, (2) remain aware of how their beliefs impact their approach and clients, (3) address faith and spirituality while developing their professional counseling competencies, (4) approach clients in a Christlike manner and treat them with genuine acceptance and respect, (5) maintain appropriate boundaries, and (6) with client approval, integrate religion, spirituality, and biblical principles into professional counseling. [4]