No, that’s not a spinoff of a popular credit card commercial. It’s an honest question, as well as a tremendously important one. It’s important because we live in the world, have individual perceptions ofthe world, and interact with the world around us on a daily basis.
So, what IS a worldview? Simply put, a worldview is:
A comprehensive framework of beliefs, values, and assumptions through which an individual or group interprets and interacts with the world. It shapes how people understand reality, make decisions, and approach life’s fundamental questions, such as the nature of existence, morality, knowledge, and human purpose. Worldviews can be shaped by culture, religion, philosophy, personal experiences, and education.
As Christians, shouldn’t we have a “Christian” worldview, shaped by our faith? (That’s a hypothetical question.) The bigger question might be “HOW do you develop a Christian worldview?”
If you haven’t already figured it out, a Christian worldview is directly connected to God’s Word! What does that mean? For an answer we can crank up the Bible’s way-back machine to the Old Testament book of Joshua and the very first chapter!
“1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel... 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-2; 7-9, ESV)
Joshua, a soldier, was commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into, and conquer the Promised Land (Canaan) after the death of Moses (vv.1-2). God then told Joshua that two things were of utmost importance: attitude (vv.7,9) and obedience (vv.7-8)!
What does that have to do with worldview?
Thanks for asking!
Remember our definition of “worldview”? We were given a list of things that can shape our worldview. One of those was “religion”. In Joshua’s case it was the Law that had been given Moses for God’s people in the Pentateuch. In our case, it’s our Christian faith, based on the entire Bible and specifically, the New Testament.
God gave Joshua principles for living by the Law of Moses that also apply to us today.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (v.8) (Emphasis mine)
I love the way one modern translation phrases that passage:
“This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed.” (International Standard Version) (Emphasis mine)
Did you notice the emphasis on meditating on God’s written word day and night? Of course, you did! This old soldier is convinced that it’s the key to developing a Christian worldview. Hear me out.
To meditate on God’s word means to read it, memorize it, and ponder it (think about it deeply and thoroughly). Our meditating in God’s word results in loving it more and more. Our loving God’s word more and more informs/shapes how we understand reality, make decisions, and approach all of life’s fundamental questions.
How long does it take to develop a truly Christian worldview? It’s a lifelong process!
The evidence that you are living with a Christian worldview is a passage or section of scripture coming to mind as you encounter ‘life’, or the question, “What does the Bible say about that?” when you aren’t sure what it says/teaches.
May God bless you richly as you continue to meditate on and live in his Word!
SGM Daniel Cartwright, USA (Ret.) is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces and long-time member of Christian Military Fellowship. Dan is a Local Rep at Ft. Carson. He currently serves on the CMF Board of Directors.
Non-Profit News
Legislation to Honor Giving by Nonitemizers Reintroduced
As tax-filing season begins—and a “Super Bowl” for tax legislation appears imminent on Capitol Hill—legislators are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to restore a charitable deduction for non-itemizing taxpayers. The Charitable Act would allow these donors to claim a deduction worth up to one-third of the standard deduction—$5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for joint filers in 2025.
“The charitable deduction sends a powerful message that America wants to honor and encourage openhanded generosity,” said ECFA President & CEO Michael Martin. “The Charitable Act wisely democratizes this proven incentive and supports habits of giving for all taxpayers regardless of whether they itemize on their tax forms or not.”
The century-old traditional charitable deduction remains a powerful giving incentive, but its reach has declined. The number of Americans who itemize their tax returns has dropped to less than 10 percent of filers in recent years.
The Charitable Act, however, would build on a successful pandemic-era experiment that had allowed a $300 above-the-line benefit for donations ($600 for married couples filing jointly). That small step helped fuel much-needed increases in giving in 2020 and 2021—$30 billion, according to Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), key sponsors of the bill. They said 90 million tax returns used that small incentive, and households with incomes between $30,000 and $100,000 showed the largest increases in charitable giving.
“America’s first safety net should never be the government—government is the least efficient caregiver by far,” said Lankford. “Our families, churches, and other nonprofits do incredible work to lift up those who need it most. Updating the tax law to incentivize giving empowers Americans to make an even bigger impact for the homeless, hurting, and hungry.”
“I am proud to reintroduce the Charitable Act with Senator Lankford to help the federal government encourage even more Americans to embrace the civic virtue of giving to those in need,” added Coons.
The Charitable Act was also re-introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Blake Moore (R-Utah), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.).
Churches and ministries that are members of ECFA know the value of individuals who selflessly give time and treasure to advance their Christ-honoring missions. Convinced that the government should honor and encourage all givers, ECFA will continue to be a voice in support of this important legislation.
Reprinted as a legislative update received from Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
ECFA advises that this information is provided with the understanding that ECFA is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from an accountant, lawyer, or other professional.
We thank ECFA for their standards, guidance, and oversight so that Christians may give in confidence to the ministries of their choice.
Military Trauma Healing
CMF’s trauma healing program continues to offer hope and restoration to active-duty military, veterans, and their families. Through a Christ-centered approach, participants engage in a 12-week course designed to help them process and heal from trauma.
With the rising concern of military-related suicides, our program is committed to addressing this crisis head-on. Many veterans and service members struggling with trauma feel isolated and hopeless, leading them to consider destructive behavior or worse as a solution. Our mission is to intervene before it reaches that point. By providing practical coping strategies and a supportive, faith-based community, we empower participants to rediscover purpose and hope through Christ.
This program provides a safe space for individuals to explore spiritual, emotional, and psychological wounds. By addressing trauma holistically, we see remarkable transformations as participants learn practical coping strategies, experience community support, and find renewed purpose through faith in Christ. We are blessed to witness the profound impact it is having on the lives of those we serve.
Please let us know f we can start a trauma recovery group in your area.
Upcoming Trauma Healing Sessions:
National (Zoom) — Ongoing Gulf Coast Region — Summer, TBD
Ft. Cavazos— Ongoing
CHRISTIAN MILITARY FELLOWSHIP
An Indigenous Ministry • Discipleship • Prayer • Community • Support
Encouraging Men and Women in the United States Armed Forces, and their families, to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian Report May 2025
What’s in YOUR Worldview?
No, that’s not a spinoff of a popular credit card commercial. It’s an honest question, as well as a tremendously important one. It’s important because we live in the world, have individual perceptions of the world, and interact with the world around us on a daily basis.
So, what IS a worldview? Simply put, a worldview is:
A comprehensive framework of beliefs, values, and assumptions through which an individual or group interprets and interacts with the world. It shapes how people understand reality, make decisions, and approach life’s fundamental questions, such as the nature of existence, morality, knowledge, and human purpose. Worldviews can be shaped by culture, religion, philosophy, personal experiences, and education.
As Christians, shouldn’t we have a “Christian” worldview, shaped by our faith? (That’s a hypothetical question.) The bigger question might be “HOW do you develop a Christian worldview?”
If you haven’t already figured it out, a Christian worldview is directly connected to God’s Word! What does that mean? For an answer we can crank up the Bible’s way-back machine to the Old Testament book of Joshua and the very first chapter!
“1After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel... 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-2; 7-9, ESV)
Joshua, a soldier, was commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into, and conquer the Promised Land (Canaan) after the death of Moses (vv.1-2). God then told Joshua that two things were of utmost importance: attitude (vv.7,9) and obedience (vv.7-8)!
What does that have to do with worldview?
Thanks for asking!
Remember our definition of “worldview”? We were given a list of things that can shape our worldview. One of those was “religion”. In Joshua’s case it was the Law that had been given Moses for God’s people in the Pentateuch. In our case, it’s our Christian faith, based on the entire Bible and specifically, the New Testament.
God gave Joshua principles for living by the Law of Moses that also apply to us today.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” (v.8) (Emphasis mine)
I love the way one modern translation phrases that passage:
“This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed.” (International Standard Version) (Emphasis mine)
Did you notice the emphasis on meditating on God’s written word day and night? Of course, you did! This old soldier is convinced that it’s the key to developing a Christian worldview. Hear me out.
To meditate on God’s word means to read it, memorize it, and ponder it (think about it deeply and thoroughly). Our meditating in God’s word results in loving it more and more. Our loving God’s word more and more informs/shapes how we understand reality, make decisions, and approach all of life’s fundamental questions.
How long does it take to develop a truly Christian worldview? It’s a lifelong process!
The evidence that you are living with a Christian worldview is a passage or section of scripture coming to mind as you encounter ‘life’, or the question, “What does the Bible say about that?” when you aren’t sure what it says/teaches.
May God bless you richly as you continue to meditate on and live in his Word!
SGM Daniel Cartwright, USA (Ret.) is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces and long-time member of Christian Military Fellowship. Dan is a Local Rep at Ft. Carson. He currently serves on the CMF Board of Directors.
Non-Profit News
Legislation to Honor Giving by Nonitemizers Reintroduced
As tax-filing season begins—and a “Super Bowl” for tax legislation appears imminent on Capitol Hill—legislators are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to restore a charitable deduction for non-itemizing taxpayers. The Charitable Act would allow these donors to claim a deduction worth up to one-third of the standard deduction—$5,000 for individuals or $10,000 for joint filers in 2025.
“The charitable deduction sends a powerful message that America wants to honor and encourage openhanded generosity,” said ECFA President & CEO Michael Martin. “The Charitable Act wisely democratizes this proven incentive and supports habits of giving for all taxpayers regardless of whether they itemize on their tax forms or not.”
The century-old traditional charitable deduction remains a powerful giving incentive, but its reach has declined. The number of Americans who itemize their tax returns has dropped to less than 10 percent of filers in recent years.
The Charitable Act, however, would build on a successful pandemic-era experiment that had allowed a $300 above-the-line benefit for donations ($600 for married couples filing jointly). That small step helped fuel much-needed increases in giving in 2020 and 2021—$30 billion, according to Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), key sponsors of the bill. They said 90 million tax returns used that small incentive, and households with incomes between $30,000 and $100,000 showed the largest increases in charitable giving.
“America’s first safety net should never be the government—government is the least efficient caregiver by far,” said Lankford. “Our families, churches, and other nonprofits do incredible work to lift up those who need it most. Updating the tax law to incentivize giving empowers Americans to make an even bigger impact for the homeless, hurting, and hungry.”
“I am proud to reintroduce the Charitable Act with Senator Lankford to help the federal government encourage even more Americans to embrace the civic virtue of giving to those in need,” added Coons.
The Charitable Act was also re-introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Blake Moore (R-Utah), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Carol Miller (R-W.Va.), and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.).
Churches and ministries that are members of ECFA know the value of individuals who selflessly give time and treasure to advance their Christ-honoring missions. Convinced that the government should honor and encourage all givers, ECFA will continue to be a voice in support of this important legislation.
Reprinted as a legislative update received from Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
ECFA advises that this information is provided with the understanding that ECFA is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from an accountant, lawyer, or other professional.
We thank ECFA for their standards, guidance, and oversight so that Christians may give in confidence to the ministries of their choice.
Military Trauma Healing
CMF’s trauma healing program continues to offer hope and restoration to active-duty military, veterans, and their families. Through a Christ-centered approach, participants engage in a 12-week course designed to help them process and heal from trauma.
With the rising concern of military-related suicides, our program is committed to addressing this crisis head-on. Many veterans and service members struggling with trauma feel isolated and hopeless, leading them to consider destructive behavior or worse as a solution. Our mission is to intervene before it reaches that point. By providing practical coping strategies and a supportive, faith-based community, we empower participants to rediscover purpose and hope through Christ.
This program provides a safe space for individuals to explore spiritual, emotional, and psychological wounds. By addressing trauma holistically, we see remarkable transformations as participants learn practical coping strategies, experience community support, and find renewed purpose through faith in Christ. We are blessed to witness the profound impact it is having on the lives of those we serve.
Please let us know f we can start a trauma recovery group in your area.
Upcoming Trauma Healing Sessions:
National (Zoom) — Ongoing Gulf Coast Region — Summer, TBD
Ft. Cavazos— Ongoing
CHRISTIAN MILITARY FELLOWSHIP
An Indigenous Ministry • Discipleship • Prayer • Community • Support
Encouraging Men and Women in the United States Armed Forces, and their families, to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mailing Address: PO Box 449
Veradale, WA 99037-0449
(800)798-7875
(303)761-1959
https://www.CMFHQ.ORG
office@CMFHQ.org