WE need to develop a proper framework
and angle for all
our thoughts, views and reactions to things. Especially these days
when many confusing elements present themselves, we cannot remain
oblivious to this need. We need to have a good sense of perspective.
The sense of perspective starts with a worldview of
things, enabling us to relate events, experiences, insights,
observations, to an over-all picture of our life and its purpose.
It enables us to relate parts among themselves to form a
certain whole. It provides us with a sense of confidence and serenity,
a sense of dominion and responsibility, and therefore of freedom, over
our life.
It’s what builds a person’s character, since it springs
from a body of core beliefs and convictions, from where we put our
faith on, generating a corresponding hierarchy of values to guide our
thoughts and actions.
It gives us a sense of right and wrong, of good and evil
in all aspects of our life. It endows us with a moral and ethical
vision of our life.
Thus, there is such a thing as a Christian perspective,
based, of course, on the Christian faith. There are also ideological
perspectives, whether leftist, rightist or centrist.
There’s the liberal perspective where freedom dominates
over responsibility. There’s also the secularist perspective where
things are assessed without any consideration for anything spiritual
and supernatural.
Whatever it is, what is important is that we have a clear
idea of the perspective we are assuming. We have to continually assess
and develop it, because it is a living thing that has to contend with
the vital flow of new elements and factors.
Much of our problem these days stems from the fact that
many people do not realize this. Though there is a natural albeit
hidden yearning for this sense of perspective, the reality is that
many people are not aware of it and do not know how to develop it
properly.
As a result, there is a lot of shallowness and narrowness
in the grasping of reality, leading one to simply be reactive rather
than pro-active, if not to behave in on-the-spot improvisations, prone
to knee-jerk responses.
The Christian perspective is what Christian believers
should have. This has Christ as the constant reference point. His
perspective is none other than that of his Father. He said:
“The Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something
He sees the father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also
does in like manner.” (Jn 5,19)
St. Paul describes it this way: “We have received not the
spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God, that we may know
the things that are given us from God.
“These things also we speak, not in the learned words of
human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
“But the sensual man perceives not these things that are
of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him, and he cannot
understand, because it is spiritually examined.” (2,12-14)
our thoughts, views and reactions to things. Especially these days
when many confusing elements present themselves, we cannot remain
oblivious to this need. We need to have a good sense of perspective.
The sense of perspective starts with a worldview of
things, enabling us to relate events, experiences, insights,
observations, to an over-all picture of our life and its purpose.
It enables us to relate parts among themselves to form a
certain whole. It provides us with a sense of confidence and serenity,
a sense of dominion and responsibility, and therefore of freedom, over
our life.
It’s what builds a person’s character, since it springs
from a body of core beliefs and convictions, from where we put our
faith on, generating a corresponding hierarchy of values to guide our
thoughts and actions.
It gives us a sense of right and wrong, of good and evil
in all aspects of our life. It endows us with a moral and ethical
vision of our life.
Thus, there is such a thing as a Christian perspective,
based, of course, on the Christian faith. There are also ideological
perspectives, whether leftist, rightist or centrist.
There’s the liberal perspective where freedom dominates
over responsibility. There’s also the secularist perspective where
things are assessed without any consideration for anything spiritual
and supernatural.
Whatever it is, what is important is that we have a clear
idea of the perspective we are assuming. We have to continually assess
and develop it, because it is a living thing that has to contend with
the vital flow of new elements and factors.
Much of our problem these days stems from the fact that
many people do not realize this. Though there is a natural albeit
hidden yearning for this sense of perspective, the reality is that
many people are not aware of it and do not know how to develop it
properly.
As a result, there is a lot of shallowness and narrowness
in the grasping of reality, leading one to simply be reactive rather
than pro-active, if not to behave in on-the-spot improvisations, prone
to knee-jerk responses.
The Christian perspective is what Christian believers
should have. This has Christ as the constant reference point. His
perspective is none other than that of his Father. He said:
“The Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something
He sees the father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also
does in like manner.” (Jn 5,19)
St. Paul describes it this way: “We have received not the
spirit of this world, but the Spirit that is of God, that we may know
the things that are given us from God.
“These things also we speak, not in the learned words of
human wisdom, but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
“But the sensual man perceives not these things that are
of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him, and he cannot
understand, because it is spiritually examined.” (2,12-14)
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