Be A PeacemakerSýnishorn

Understand the Worldview of Others

Have you ever heard the expression, “Never bite off a man’s nose and then give him a rose to smell”? Well in the context of sharing your faith, it translates to, “Don’t attack someone and then tell them the Good News of Jesus.”

You see, hearing the Gospel can cause discomfort for someone who doesn’t agree; whether it be an uneasiness or a feeling of outright hostility. Similarly, pointing out the falsehoods in someone else’s religion, or trashing their worldview, only serves to put them on the back foot. Once someone has adopted a defensive posture, no argument will hold ground, no matter how sound or true it is. So try to understand the worldview of others when in a conversation about faith.

Understanding doesn’t mean agreeing, but it does mean you care for that person regardless of their worldview, simply because you’ve taken the time to understand them.

A wise man once wrote; “If you try to take a bone from a dog, the dog will defend his bone with all the strength he has; but if you offer him a lovely piece of meat instead, the dog will drop the bone immediately.” Likewise, people will always defend their religions, opinions, and beliefs because they know nothing better. Jesus is awesome, and whatever else they’re holding onto will never be as rewarding as a relationship with Him; they just don’t know it yet.

Proverbs 15:1 says, "A sensitive answer turns back wrath, but an offensive word stirs up anger."

So next time you're in a conversation like this, steer away from negative themes and keep the conversation on Jesus and His offer of salvation through a relationship with Him.