Unbelievers typically distort God’s grace to fit their false worldview.
Acts 14.11:
Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
See how strong is the blinding power of unbelief! These people saw something they had never seen before, and, rather than listen to Paul as he explained the reason for this miracle, they interpreted the event according to their existing worldview, and sought to absorb the miracle into their views and beliefs, on their terms and for their purposes. Paul and Barnabas resisted mightily, but even so, they could scarcely keep the people from their chosen course.
This is what unbelievers do consistently. They receive the good gifts of God, the daily bounty of His common grace, and, instead of giving thanks and seeking the Lord, they fold His gifts into their own worldview, explaining their bounty in their own preferred terms. Our calling is to maintain a witness for the Lord, to set all the blessings of men within the framework of His goodness and love. This won’t always have the desired result of people coming to faith in Jesus. But this is what we must do. We must challenge every false worldview and proclaim the Good News of Christ and His Kingdom into the everyday situations and things of people’s lives.
