Perspective

Perspective and It’s Inherent Problem

What is perspective? It’s the way we see things - our point of view

Your perspective helps you understand the world - but it isn’t comprehensive

Personal example:

When I see myself in pictures or hear my voice on a recording - it’s jarring. Why?

The recording and camera are providing a different perspective

We all encounter clashes of different perspectives

How many times have you argued with someone because you meant different things by the same words?

How many times have you been disappointing because someone didn’t see things the way you did?

“Perspective” is really more than just a point of view - it’s a constructed translation algorithm

It is the lens through which you interpret all the information you receive

All our perspectives have the same problem: they are wrong or, at least, fundamentally flawed

Humans lack all the information, awareness, and experience needed to fully form a correct perspective

Therefore, God’s perspective is the only one that is completely correct

The problem is compounded by the reality that we can only perceive things with the perspective we have

When confronted with a different perspective, we assume it is wrong because "my eyes wouldn’t lie to me”

As a result, we are unable to correct on own perspectives - so what do we do?

The Only Way to Fix Perspective

Philippians 3:4–15 CSB

4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. 7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

Our past, our values, our experience all shape our perspective

To receive what God has promised, we must let go of these

How do we correct our perspective?

We must choose to trust a different perspective over our own - a.k.a. what someone else is seeing over what we are seeing

Therefore, perspective can only be corrected through a trusting relationship

Example of the Beautiful Mind movie

The perspectives we must learn to trust:

God’s Perspective

Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”

Wise and Trusted Others

Proverbs 18:17 “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.”

Proverbs 12:15 “A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.”

What Should You Do?

Be humble. You are wrong a lot. Its ok :)

Actively invite: correction, alternate viewpoints, and discussion

Be quick to listen and slow to speak