Reclaiming the Christian Worldview | J. Richard Middleton

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson sits down with J. Richard Middleton, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University. With decades of scholarship spanning theology, philosophy, and cultural analysis, Middleton offers a compelling exploration of what it truly means to hold a Christian worldview—and how that concept has evolved, been misunderstood, and often distorted over time.

Drawing from his seminal work The Transforming Vision (1984) and his forthcoming book Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws: The Christian Worldview in a Conflicted Age, Middleton challenges listeners to move beyond tribalism, cultural conformity, and rigid doctrinal packages. Instead, he invites us to embrace a biblically rooted, lived orientation toward the world—one that is shaped by grace, community, and spiritual formation.

Topics include:

· The difference between worldview as a lived orientation vs. a set of ideas

· How cultural norms have overtaken biblical foundations in many churches

· The role of deconstruction and reconstruction in spiritual growth

· Why diversity in Scripture points to a deeper unity

· Practical questions to help uncover and reshape your worldview

Whether you're a student, pastor, educator, or curious seeker, this episode offers rich insights into how we see the world—and how Scripture invites us to see it differently.