Last night, at church, we had a great time of discussion with Marty and Melissa Childers in advance of the second mission trip to Bolivia, set for just a few weeks from now.  Their helpful input was focused on two areas to help us prepare for the trip and, incidentally, help us in our efforts to reach others here.  One key topic discussed was the concept of worldview. 

A short definition of worldview is the set of assumptions and beliefs that constitute a filter through which we understand the world around us.  As a 21st century, boomer, American, Christian who has spent many years overseas I have a worldview shaped by the events, experiences and teachings of my life.  Yours may overlap with mine, but also may differ in significant ways.  The key that Melissa presented to us is that our own worldview is, for the most part, invisible to us.  We see the world through it but don’t see it directly without effort and study.  The analogy is they are like the lenses of a pair of glasses.  My glasses affect how I see the world but I don’t “see” them as I look out.

OK, that is interesting, so what?  What difference does it make and what is its importance for grace?  It makes all the difference in the world.  A good deal of misunderstandings in our world stem from people with different worldviews interpreting the same events in different ways.  People respond not to events but to their understanding of the meaning of those events. 

In evangelism and witness, worldview differences account for a great deal of the frustration, failure and disappointment in our efforts.  We don’t understand why the things we see as obvious are not clear to others, we are surprised when they are indifferent or even angry about things we see as urgent, we see their objections and concerns as irrelevant to the core issue of salvation.

Worldview varies not just from culture to culture, but from age group to age group, from region to region in our country, and even in the personal experiences of individuals.  I’ve come to see that as I’ve spent many years away from where I was born, in circumstances that vary greatly, that I have a different worldview than my own twin sister back in New York.

Indeed, worldviews present such barriers that it would be easy to assume we can’t communicate at all, let alone witness.  But this is where grace comes in.  Grace tells us to relax and learn when people act or respond to us in ways that are puzzling or even insulting.  Grace tells us that a true understanding of the worldview of another benefits us even when we disagree.  Grace allows us to seek and find, with joy, common understandings with those with whom we disagree.  Grace allows us to communicate “with gentleness and respect” to those who hold values that are abhorrent to us. 

But grace does one more important thing.  It takes my weak and imperfect effort to communicate and, through the Holy Spirit, uses it to God’s glory.  This is not to imply that I shouldn’t care at all about how my efforts are received.  I shouldn’t just say what I have to say in the way I want to say it and not worry who gets hurt or angry.  But ultimately God is in control….even of my worldview-saturated communication efforts.