Perspective
- Jeff Kent
- Nov 17
- 2 min read
It is a well-known fact in the parenting and teaching literature that children will tend to fulfill the expectations made for them. If a child is encouraged to do well and are told they have talent and are praised for their work, then they will develop a healthy view of themselves and will persevere in life. If a child is never encouraged, and constantly put down and never praised, they will develop a negative view of themselves and find themselves on the road to mediocrity and even failure. Perspective is important.
This brings us to how we view ourselves as Christians. We hear the lessons and read the texts - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). John reminds us that even after being baptized that we still sin - “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8). So, then, Is there no difference between those outside of Christ and those in Christ? Are we all just broken humanity? Or does perspective matter?
If you are a Christian, are you just the same as the guy who gets plastered every weekend at the local bar? Or the woman who racks up credit card debt because she wants the best and wants more? Or the businessman who cheats his clients out of their money?
Of course you’re not! But has it been drummed into our heads for so long that we are sinners, that we carry that view of ourselves around like a weight around our necks? How do we see ourselves?
Paul wanted the church at Corinth to have the proper perspective on themselves. After pointing out some of their own blatant failures (sins), he reminds them of a whole list of “unrighteous” who will not inherit the kingdom of God. But then he writes this: “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” You are now different.
Cleansed and forgiven; set apart to God; declared righteous; all this in the name of Christ and through the Holy Spirit. This is you!
Why were so many letters addressed to “the saints” and not to “the broken sinners?” Hmmm? How do you see yourself?
><> Jeff
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