Comments on: Perception

By: Outta This World « SHARP IRON

Outta This World « SHARP IRON — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:37:51 +0000

[...] Brent and Buddy have been talking about them on their blogs. There appears to be a widely held Christian [...]

By: inWorship

inWorship — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:43:57 +0000

Amanda, you’ve brought up an aspect in this that we really haven’t focused on. That is our responsibility in it. If we see perception as damaging, we need to be cautious (as you have said) to not be the one creating the false reality. I agree. Thanks for jumping in!

By: A.

A. — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:26:28 +0000

We totally have to be careful with perception, i.e. our perception of others. As soon as we “perceive” something, we’ve often felt it in ourselves as reality. For example, one of your co-workers hasn’t said a word to you all day, which is odd for them, and you *perceive* that this is because you must have made them angry. You then could a) ask them to find out if this is the case, or b) expand on perceiving in your mind to worrying about possible situations that could arise from their anger, or at what you think you might’ve done wrong.

And in the end, you find out they aren’t mad at all and that their silence has nothing to do with you, instead, they either have a sore throat/lost their voice, or they are just having a hard day and don’t feel like talking!

That’s just my example of how perception can go wrong if we take our perceptions for reality when they might not be truth.

Me, I can do the above in situations. So, I’ll say for myself that, yes, I can give perception way too much power.

A.’s last blog post…Sunday Setlist – 08/24/08

By: inWorship

inWorship — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:03:13 +0000

C, Awesome! I’ll be anxious to read your thoughts.

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:43:50 +0000

You’ve encouraged me to post a little piece on this. I’m reminded of the outward appearances that the Pharisees felt were so important as well as the perception they had of Jesus and those ’sinners’ he hung out with.

Christian’s last blog post…“Oh. Is That All?”

By: inWorship

inWorship — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:59:08 +0000

Casey, I am seeing it as you see it.

Perception equals reality…even if it’s a false one.

Rather than be frustrated with it, I will choose to see it and confront it. I am always going to have a hard time making decisions because of it, but that is my hang up. I will truly pray for wisdom in how to face it.

By: Casey Ross

Casey Ross — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:30:54 +0000

Hey Brent! I had a Sr Pastor I worked for a while back who always said “perception is reality”. It drove me crazy. I would always silently (in my head) argue with him. The last few years, though, I think I am agreeing with him more and more. Yes, perception is not always true. Sometimes it is far from the truth. But the people who hold that perception think it is true, and that is a pretty significant thing. I pay attention to peoples’ perceptions a lot, and when then perception is incorrect, I always see it is an opportunity to cast vision, teach, etc.

Casey Ross’s last blog post…The Intangibles

By: inWorship

inWorship — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:58:04 +0000

Love, addressing the perception is something I am trying to do. even with this post. Trying to help us just think through how they can determine our choices and decisions. that’s not OK, unless they’ve been thought through first. Thanks for great insight.

C, I hear you. I did use “God as the Father” in my example, but my point is this. We do know what a loving and Godly Father looks like. The scriptures have given us a great example of what that looks like. So, it seems appropriate to share that with others who have not experienced it. The Japanese, may see the “light” and change their ways?

Carl, no issues there. I have never been one personally to run on image. That is why perception drives me nuts, cause they work hand in hand. I truly want to decide, based on truth. Thanks!

By: ckroboth

ckroboth — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:58:07 +0000

Brent.. As Love said so well follow God… Don’t do what is best for you, because you are afraid of ruining your image. Do what is best for God so that you can spread the image of Him through you.

Love ya Brother. Wonderful thought provoking post.

ckroboth’s last blog post…Faith leads to….

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:36:18 +0000

Love put this so well (particularly #22) I can’t really add anything to it. I just would like to touch upon one thing you said, Brent:

God is a loving father. Whether they understood that or not, didn’t change that. It sounds like Japan may have been better off today, if they had been taught what a loving Father looks like.

From a theological, not anthropological perspective, how is this done? Father God is a metaphor – a tool that is used to help some of us to comprehend just a little bit of God’s incomprehensible nature. It is no more a ‘fact’ than the concept of the Trinity. They are theological models. If God, in his wisdom, had chosen ancient Kyoto instead of Jerusalem, as the place for his incarnational sacrifice then the language might very well be different. Even so, the term ’son’ had a very distinct definition in Jewish culture that today is lost on many Western ears. Jesus’ “sonship” is not a ‘fact’ yet it is so much more than fact.