The Heart of the Matter
Why Sire’s Definition of Worldview Matters for Biblical Counseling
The term worldview may sound academic, but it holds deep implications for everyday life, especially in the world of biblical counseling.
The word itself—Weltanschauung—originated in German idealism through figures like Kant and Hegel. It was later adopted by Scottish theologian James Orr in the 1890s as a way to defend Christianity against the rising tide of competing philosophies. Orr called it “the widest view which the mind can take of things and the effort to grasp them together as a whole.” In other words, a worldview isn't just one belief—it’s the lens through which we see everything.
But the idea of worldview didn’t stop with Orr. It grew, changed, and—most importantly for us—deepened.
From System to Story: How Worldview Grew Up
In the early 20th century, worldview became a tool for Christian apologetics—sharpened to battle rival ideas. But thinkers like Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck began developing two key approaches:
Deductive worldview: A top-down system, like Kuyper’s, that begins with core Christian doctrines and builds an all-encompassing structure of truth.
Inductive worldview: A bottom-up approach, as seen in Bavinck, that starts in the grit of everyday life and experience, showing how Scripture maps onto reality.
Both paths are vital—but over time, a third dimension emerged: the heart.
James Sire’s Game-Changing Insight
James Sire, in his later work Naming the Elephant, gave us what might be the most profound and practical definition of worldview to date:
“A commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions… which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.”
Sire understood something that earlier definitions missed: worldviews are not just ideas we hold in our heads. They are commitments of the heart—desires, loves, and loyalties that steer how we think, feel, and act.
This heart-centered vision makes Sire’s definition especially helpful for biblical counselors.
Counseling Through the Lens of Worldview
When we sit across from someone in distress, what we’re encountering isn’t just a set of behaviors or even bad thinking. We’re encountering a worldview—a vision of reality that may be fractured, misaligned, or deceived. And most often, it’s rooted deep in the heart.
That’s why David Naugle, in his brilliant work Worldview: The History of a Concept, complements Sire’s work by showing how worldview and the biblical doctrine of the heart go hand in hand:
“When worldview is reinterpreted in light of the doctrine of the heart, not only is its true source located, but it becomes a richer concept… a representation of the whole person—encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will.”
That’s good news for counselors. Because it means we’re not just challenging distorted thinking—we’re ministering to a whole person: a person whose loves and commitments shape their reality.
A Biblical Worldview: From the Inside Out
So, what does this look like in practice? Here's a reframing of Sire's definition tailored for the counselor’s toolkit:
A biblical worldview is a commitment expressed in allegiance to God. It is a fundamental orientation of the heart that loves what God loves and hates what God hates. It aligns itself with the truths of Scripture—truths we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently)—and it determines how we see the world, make decisions, and live our lives.
This isn’t just philosophy—it’s soul work. It’s a map for discipleship, a compass for transformation, and a mirror that reveals where we’re still clinging to the world’s stories instead of God’s.
Why It Matters
If you’re a biblical counselor, here’s why this matters:
It sharpens your diagnosis. Behind every presenting issue—anger, fear, shame—is a belief about reality and a love that drives it.
It personalizes your care. You’re not just teaching doctrine; you’re shepherding hearts back to the true Story.
It reframes growth. Sanctification isn’t just behavior modification—it’s the reorientation of the heart toward the One who is Truth.
So yes, worldview matters. Not just because it helps us win debates—but because it helps us win hearts. And that’s the real work of counseling.