The Problem With Perspective
For about three years, I have been writing my thoughts on the subjects and scriptures outlined in the Come Follow Me manual. Some weeks I read the scriptures, and ideas and impressions come to me with great clarity and impact. On other weeks I struggle to find new insights or ways to implement and apply the message of the scripture. This shouldn’t be difficult because the truth is timeless and has multiple layers to peel away that reveal more profound meaning and give us complete understanding.
The teachings of the Savior are challenging to comment on because he is the master teacher. He says things in ways that cannot be improved, surpassing any commentary offered by scholars and theologians. Because I am neither of those things, providing anything valuable is particularly challenging.
The four gospels in the New Testament contain much of the same history and recount most of the events of the Savior’s earthly ministry. However, they come from differing perspectives and perhaps were meant for different audiences. Emphasis is placed on some stories of Jesus’ ministry and mission to make an overall point to the reader. For example, John focused on convincing the reader that Jesus was the Son of God and that his mission started at the beginning of creation and will extend to the final judgment. Luke focused on his miraculous birth and contained more teachings and parables.
Thankfully, we have the life of Jesus, as seen from four different perspectives. This helps us form a more complete picture of the Savior’s life. We don’t have a personal view of his life because we were not eyewitnesses of the events, especially not the private moments of the Savior’s mortal journey. We know he said things to his immediate circle of friends and disciples that he did not share publicly. Access to the great intercessory prayer in John 17 is one of the greatest blessings of this insider knowledge.
But what about us? How do we view things? Do we approach the scriptures from the perspective of saint or sinner, believer or cynic, disciple or Pharisee, worldly or eternal? Imagine the Savior’s teachings at the center of a vast sphere, and we are situated somewhere around the periphery looking in. On one side of the sphere is darkness or evil, and on the opposite side is light or good. As we read the gospels, we see that some viewed the miracles and teachings of Jesus and proclaimed, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” while others were “sore displeased.”
Are we offended by the teachings of Jesus or empowered by them? I think it depends entirely on how we view them. Living the teachings of Jesus always blesses the lives of those who do it. If we are offended by people we deem to be self-righteous and put on a false front of following Jesus, chances are that we are not coming at the problem from the proper perspective. If we think we are righteous, standing on higher ground, and have a better view than others, perhaps our philosophy is off. It is probably best to be only concerned with improving our metaphorical eyesight.
As I read the parables, I understand some, and some are vague. Is that because my perspective is good, wrong, or maybe somewhere in between? Are there things I want to see and others I do not? As we change throughout our lives, we drift around the sphere of truth, sometimes coming from the light side, sometimes from the dark. The trick is to get to the center of the truth, understand the gospel, and reap the blessings of living in its glory.
If our perspective is off, we can correct it. Faith is the key. When we have faith, we act with purpose. When we work purposefully, our lives have more meaning, and we see things differently. If we lack faith, our lives become increasingly mundane and meaningless. This matter of perspective is entirely up to us. Where we come from along the spectrum of darkness or light can be used to our advantage if we recognize our place in it.
I hope we can all recognize the principle of perspective and use it to our advantage to get us closer to the truth.