BY ANDREW CONRAD

In Social Studies class in the fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Harrington, was discussing different cultures from around the world.  I learned that the Spanish drink coffee late at night and dance until the wee hours of the morning; the gauchos of Argentina wear elaborate hats and ride their horses while hurling their three rock “bolas” at cattle; and the French drink wine and concentrate on good food and beautiful women.

            I was concerned.  I said to myself, “I don’t have a culture!”  It took me several class periods of worry before I realized one does not recognize his or her own culture because it seems so normal.  I consider worldview to be similar to culture: everyone else has one, which is why they believe and practice weird things!

            As a child, my worldview was formed by the private school I attended, the catechism classes we held, the Wednesday morning devotional, and praying with my parents every night. Every Sunday I would go to church and see different magnificent scenes in the stain glassed windows.  Below each scene was a scripture verse.  I remember reading about Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, the great flood in which only Noah’s family was saved, and the Good Shepherd who cared for my soul.  I fell deeply in love with Jesus, and his love for me. My parents’ upbringing, and my school’s training developed in me a conservative evangelical worldview at an early age.  I developed an understanding of the Triune God and the sacrifice he made for me.

            In a Sunday School class my teacher asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up.  I listened to different answers, and when it was my turn, I blurted out, “I want to be a missionary!  I want to tell other boys and girls about Jesus!”  My church did not have missionaries.  I don’t even remember learning what a missionary was.  But obviously, God knew, and called me to serve him in a culture, a worldview, and a society different from what I was raised in so others, especially little boys and girls, could hear about his wonderful love!

Andrew Conrad is a Trinity student and author. His book, The Macho, is available HERE.

This blog article was originally written as part of the course “Issues in the Modern Church,” at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary. You can audit the course or talk to us about starting your own journey at Trinity today by filling out the evaluation form to the right of this article.