Our Outward Identity

Malvern Community,

I’ve worn glasses since I started school at aged four.

From the moment they go on in the morning, I'm almost entirely oblivious to them. I don't think about them. I don't see them.

I see through them.

A worldview is like a pair of glasses. It’s not what we see, it's what we see the world through.

Our worldview has been shaped by personal experiences, a bit like how my lens prescription has changed with my eyes. But it's also shaped by the culture in which we live. The way of being that we think is ‘normal’. Most of the time we don't think too much about it, we just see the world through the lens of our worldview. Some people see it similar to us. Others don’t.

Then, a couple of times per day, something stops my concentration. An obstruction is suddenly floating in front of my eye line, and I take off my glasses to wipe the lenses. On other occasions, I slowly realise I’m finding it hard to see something properly, and after squinting and leaning forward, I finally remember that it might be on my glasses. They’re dirty, dusty, or smudged.

Sometimes we can forget we have a worldview. We’re astonished that someone could see the same thing as us, and perceive it differently. What we’re seeing in the world today is a series of clashing worldviews. People talking ‘past’ each other, because they’re seeing things not only from different angles, but also wearing different glasses. 
 
There’s so much in the Bible about worldviews.

Proverbs teaches us to seek out varying perspectives, "Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed."

In 1 Samuel 16:7, we’re taught that our default view might be erroneous, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

The prophet Isaiah taught that our default way of seeing things is not always correct, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord”

And in Romans 12:2, Paul reminds us that the influence of our culture on our worldview is strong, but encourages us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

On Sunday I shared about how because of what Christ has done, we should no longer consider others from merely a human point of view. Every person is someone for whom Christ had died.

Perhaps in your interactions with others today, at work or at home, think about your glasses. What is my default way of seeing things? Where might there be a smudge?

I encourage us to pray, and ask God to help clean our lenses. To help us see people as they are, as God sees them. It’s wonderful how this can shift our response and the disposition of our heart, and allow us the room to enable understanding and grace to flow.

Have a meaningful week, 
Tim