WORLDVIEW Understanding Why We Are the Way We Are

What is Worldview? world-view or world·view n. 1. The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world. 2. A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. (From the American Heritage Dictionary) –Worldview is the framework of thought upon which our belief system is built

Facts About Our Worldview? –Worldview is so core to who we are that it is not easily articulated –Everything in our lives is based on our worldview –Worldview helps us make sense of the world around us –Worldview can be understood like the layers of an onion

Worldview Example: 1st Century Jews Jews are blessed/Gentiles are wretched –Jews believed that they were honorable and Gentiles were incapable of doing good –Jews valued their people and scorned Gentiles –Jews acted lovingly to Jews and attacked and/or avoided Gentiles

The Story and Worldview Stories not only define a group, but outsiders to that group Stories not only form our joint worldview, but cantransform it Shared Biblical Stories bind a group of believers into a fellowship

Biblical Worldview vs. Target Culture Worldview Biblical Target X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Here are a few tips for ministering in Latin America 1. Allow the Bible to reveal the heart of God Births, marriages, rites of passage, holidays, even names involve religion. It is not easy for a person to leave the Roman Catholic Church. 2. Seek to gain an understanding of their worldview Have you heard of evangelists going into a Latin-American country who come back reporting that hundreds had been saved? Were they really? What did that raised hand mean to the national? 3. Look for Bridges and Barriers The best solution is to direct the Hispanic to consistent Bible study. Be sure that they understand the meaning of Biblical terms. They may be familiar with them, but mean something completely different.

Syncretism: What is it? Syncretism is the process by which elements of one religion are assimilated into another religion resulting in a change in the fundamental tenets or nature of those religions. It is the union of two or more opposite beliefs, so that the synthesized form is a new thing. It is not always a total fusion, but may be a combination of separate segments that remain identifiable compartments.

History of Syncretism in the Americas… As Central and South America were colonized they were also “converted” to Catholicism. Many animistic beliefs were intentionally combined with the Catholic teachings.

Syncretism The ritualism of animism was easily transformed into Catholic traditions –Saints replace Spirits –Priests replace Shaman –Images replace Idols –Mary replaces Mother Earth –Ordinances replace Appeasements

We filter everything through our own cultural grid Reality C U L G T R U I R D A L Perception They don’t understand what I teach them; they understand their interpretation of what I teach them

Cultural Grid I have to be able to predict how their cultural grid will skew the truth I am about to teach them Example: Sex should be in the confines of marriage, but what is marriage? C U L G T R U I R D A L

Institution of Marriage Traditional Marriage Marriage for the Andean people was traditionally a question of estate, not love. It was an administrative act, not necessarily religious, that had as its purpose the furtherance of society as a whole. It was a necessary part of life to help it continue.

Institution of Marriage Civil and Religious Marriage For the Andean culture, marriage isn’t the signing of an agreement or an ecclesiastical blessing, but a verbal consent of the families. These forms of marriage are complied with when considered appropriate. In this aspect, Hispanic culture does not completely replace the indigenous. It adds layers that the indigenous can view as burdensome.

Guilt Cultures People in guilt cultures are taught to feel guilt from the time they are old enough to talk They feel deep guilt for all the bad things they have done Guilt cultures give rise to humanism – the potential value and goodness of man expressed by doing good for others

Guilt Cultures If someone is going to preach the gospel to them, he must preach a message about Grace that Justifies – that puts them into right standing with God and deals with guilt If you are presenting the gospel to a North American and your message does not deal with his guilt, his life will not be changed.

Shame Cultures People in shame cultures are taught to feel shame from the time they are old enough to talk It’s impossible to keep up with all the good things that God, family and other people do for them so they feel shame for failure Shame cultures give rise to religion – man’s best attempts to restore his broken relationship with God

Shame Cultures If someone is going to preach the gospel, he must preach a message about Grace that Restores – that fixes their broken relationship with God and deals with their shame If you are presenting the gospel to a Mestizo and your message does not deal with his shame, his life will not be changed.

Fear Cultures People in fear cultures are taught to feel fear from the time they are old enough to talk The spirits indwell everything that surrounds them. They live in fear of natural disaster as retribution. Fear cultures give rise to animism – worshipping the creation and not the creator

Fear Cultures If someone is going to preach the gospel, he must preach a message about Grace that Frees – that delivers them from their responsibility to and fear of the spirits If you are presenting the gospel to an Indigenous person & your message does not deal with his fear, his life will not be changed.

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