JULY 20, 2023

Perspectives

Article by

Jim Martin

“For as [a person] thinks within himself, so he is.”

How people view the world is the lens for how they interpret life. Their perspectives influence how they value or devalue people, things, and events. Their world-view informs their behaviors and interactions with others. If a person’s worldview is everyone for themselves, then it is reasonable to expect them to disregard others and act in their best interest. If their experiences have led them to believe the world is a place where they are defenseless and without support, it makes sense for them to be uneasy and frightful.

People’s actions reveal their world view. Behavior results from the thoughts people hold. If the thoughts are sound and pure, their actions are. If they are misled or have misperceived, their actions will show this. Consider this as you interact with others. Try to understand people’s actions as an expression of their inner person, a symptom that indicates their status, healthy, unhealthy, insecure, misled, etc.

Two situations come to mind where such an approach serves the cause of Christ. First would be the case of those who oppose Jesus. While I am sure there are some who destain Jesus for emotional or spiritual reasons (a whole other issue), Yet, many dismiss Him because in the manner they perceive the world, Jesus doesn’t fit. They’ve been taught another truth, another perspective of human existence. It’s not that they have anything against Jesus, He just doesn’t fit in their understanding of the world. With people in this situation, we need to educate them on an alternative to the perspective they have. We need to pray the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to life as it is, not as they perceive it.

Another group are those who are immature in the faith. There is a lot of folk theology out there. Beliefs acquired from others (including from some pulpits) that are twisted and barely recognizable as biblical truth. Such people, as all of us were at some point, are sincere in their desire to know Jesus and grow in His m. But, they have been misinformed, even misled (as Solomon was warning about). These people likewise need to be lovingly corrected in their errant beliefs. Doing so, their behaviors will follow.

Sadly, too many do not possess a Christ-centered, God honoring, world view. This results in camps defending their preferred perspective, again, out of a sincere belief that they are right. However, they are sincerely wrong. We may be sincerely wrong. As you encounter people who act differently, look past their behavior and try to understand their thoughts, the place from which their actions emanate. Speak to this, lead them into the light of a clearer understanding of who Jesus is and of God’s reality, presence, and love for them.