This is Part 1 of 2 of Lesson 12: Gifted for Service: Philip. The material has been contributed this week by Michelle. Click here to return to the introduction of this lesson.
Worldview is a pattern of assumptions people hold about reality that determines what they think, feel, and do. Worldview permeates everything we think or do, but we are usually not aware of it. Behaviours, ways of communicating and customs reflect deeper, less visible, aspects of culture. The least visible, but most influential level of any culture is worldview. It is like a pair of glasses, but each culture has developed its own set of glasses that they use to see the world.
In Acts chapter 6 Philip is one of the seven men chosen to look after the administrative needs of the church, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word (and not “to wait on tables” – Acts 6:2, NIV). To be chosen for this role the main selection criteria was to be “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3 NIV). Soon Saul got really active in persecution of the church. Acts 8 opens with the terrible picture of Saul going from house to house looking for Christians to imprison or kill. All the new believers scatter.
Philip flees to Samaria. There he no longer works as a church administrator, but is suddenly in a position where he needs to be an evangelist in a cross-cultural context. Acts 8:4-8 records that Philip was very successful in his change of role. In his notes on this week’s study Jonathan Gallagher writes about Philip’s approach: “Certainly there was an adapting to local circumstance and practice, a widening of perspective, and an understanding that God’s message needed to go beyond the original setting.” Philip may have had one advantage in this regard, as he was a convert to Judaism who had converted again to Christianity. I think that Philip had already considered his own worldview and was able to reflect on his values and the values of others. He would have used this knowledge in his evangelism in Samaria.
Below are several proverbs that illustrate different cultural values. Look them over and think about what kind of values are contained in the proverbs.
English:
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Waste not, want not
God helps those who help themselves
Asian:
The nail that stands up gets pounded down
Be like the bamboo, not the oak
When you drink with an old friend, a thousand cups is not enough
African:
There is no blessing for those in a hurry
When elephants fight, it’s the grass that gets hurt
The rump of the visitor is made to sit upon
Are you aware of any cultural stereotypes that you may have? Are you able to separate your faith from specific SDA creeds and formula (I had to explain nutmeat recently to a non-Christian who picked up a copy of the Record in my house and saw the big nutmeat advertisement on the back cover). Have you thought about the different worldview that your friends and neighbours from different cultural backgrounds may hold? What aspects of your faith can be seen instantly by those with a Buddhist or Muslim worldview?
Click here for the last part of our discussion this week: Philip and the Ethiopian
2 Comments
September 19, 2008 at 9:21 am
Hi Michelle
It’s a good point that worldview is fundamental and influences everything else. I like the fact that that in many images of Jesus, He is depicted as looking just like the cultural group that created the picture, rather than having a first century Jewish look.
I guess the trick for those involved in cross cultural ministry is to understand what parts of each culture are healthy and unique, and what parts need to change or conform to the teachings of Jesus.
This applies to us as well. We need to get rid of unhealthy stereotypes and get back to the basics of what Jesus has revealed to us.
Western Christianity is sometimes associated with a lack of grace and sympathy. We need to present the world with the same balance of truth and mercy as Jesus demonstrated.
If this was done, then our creeds and doctrines wouldn’t suffer under the weight of our own culture but would shine out as a living reflection of what Jesus has taught us.
Craig
September 19, 2008 at 11:46 am
I have been reading this morning about community development and change. The article stated that there was no point trying to bring change to a community/individual that had not already commenced on the process of exploring change and development itself. I could see a parallel to the lesson study. We can’t force people through our witness. We must join with them in the journey, and provide help in the early steps.