​​​​

​

​​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

 

A Christian Worldview Makes Three Commitments

​

See the Truth
Sees what is true and refuses deception.

Love Your Neighbor
Treat others with dignity, compassion, and justice.

Plant for Tomorrow
Work today for a better future for others.

​​​​​​​​

 

​A tree illustrates well what a worldview is. The roots are what we believe and hold to be true. Roots are underground and unseen, but are the source and reason from everything that grows above the ground. Roots represent what is true.

​

The tree trunk speaks for what is best, valued, or good. What people and cultures value and call good is determined by the roots from which they came. The trunk is what is valued.

​

The branches represent behaviors—how people act.  And behavior springs from what is valued.   

​

Leaves represent what is seen, or fruit.  Careers, inventions, discoveries, well-being, and community health are some of things that are seen. 

 

The whole tree models human flourishing.

​

One method of producing "fruit" in a community or in an individual is to introduce incentives intended to change behaviors that will lead to the desired outcomes (fruit). Often, that method falls short because as soon as the incentives are withdrawn or exhausted, behaviors revert to old patterns and the previous conditions return, and because underlying spiritual issues were not addressed.

​​

The other method is to concentrate on root beliefs (what is true) and values.  Christian agencies and churches do this very well.  However, behaviors and the desired outcomes often do not occur over the long period because of a reluctance to engage in "works."

 

At this point, it needs to be pointed out that the tree analogy is just an analogy. Worldviews are complex, the process of community change is many faceted, and admittedly, this illustration is simplistic.  However, it does make clear that a worldview is holistic by definition.  The Christian faith must address what is true, what is valued, what is done, and what is seen.   

​​

If worldviews shape what people believe, value, do, and ultimately become, then understanding worldview is essential for faithful Christian living. The questions facing Christ followers today are not merely personal or spiritual. They are cultural, historical, economic, and global. Christians need wisdom to understand the world around them and to engage it faithfully.

​

Worldview Challenge Today

​

​​GoodNews4OurTime was created with a simple conviction: the good news of Christ speaks not only to the soul, but to the world we actually live in.​

 

Today, events from across the globe reach us instantly. ​​Our smartphones and TVs expose us to diverse cultures, histories, and people. It is a remarkable time to be alive.​ Never before has it been so easy—or so affordable—to learn about the world.

 

This site's purpose is to help understand those events within a Christian worldview that fosters cross-cultural understanding that transcends language, historical, and political boundaries.

​​

We hope this can be a resource for lay believers, students, pastors, and teachers to support their walk and work with Christ. 

​

Here you can find devotionals, stimulating articles, moving sermons, and links to inspiring work that God's people are doing around the world through a variety of Christian organizations.  ​​

​

You will also find a curated collection of books that engage questions such as:​​​​

​

What resources support spiritual formation?

What events in the past have shaped our present moment?

Why is human development uneven across the world?

What opportunities and challenges are influencing the modern church?​​​

​

In addition, I have written several books exploring how the message of Jesus speaks to the world today, including:

​

How Jesus Changes the World, Restored Dominion, The Kingdom of God, Good News for Our Time, and

​​

Believers in the Age of Empire: Christian Faithfulness in the Age of Power.

​

​​​We hope you will find this site helpful, and I would be grateful if you would Like and Share it with others. It is a work in progress and new resources will be added each month.​

​​

I have tried to capture a Christian Worldview with this tagline: Tell the truth, Love your Neighbor, Plant for Tomorrow.  Truth, Love, and Hope. 

 

I think the world needs and wants encouragement to do those things.  If you would like to join in the movement, email me at the address below and in the subject line write "I'm in."  

​​

​​I’m Gary Fairchild, and this site grows out of cross-cultural ministry and a desire to continue to share the Gospel of Jesus as widely as possible. To borrow from the Apostle John, "These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name." John 20:31.

​