Truth vs. Perception
Truth vs. Perception… is’nt that a misnomer? I mean, not to say there isn’t truth, there certainly is truth… but in the human mind, when there is a perception, esspecially an unquestioned one, truth is irrelevant, isnt it? I have heard so many people (myself included) say “well thats not what I meant, and Im not going appologize for it.” Or “Its not my fault she/he misunderstood what I said.” Im learning more and more, who cares what they should’ve heard, or understood… if that’s not what they DID hear or understand it needs to be fixed. The little saying that says, “perception is reality” is true. If I percieve somthing to be true, it doesnt matter what the truth really is, that perception is what affects my thinking and actions.
So that would suggest that as Christians whose main concern is spreading truth… spreading THE truth… we should be aware of perceptions… perceptions of what we do, what we say, how we act, how we speak, and how all of those mesh with the truth that we know and proffess.
I think the chief of sinners (Apostle Paul) had somthing to say concerning how important a perception was to him… somthing like “Hey, if I know that there’s no problem with eating meat from a pagan butcher, but my brother percieves that it’s is somehow an admission of support for his pagan worship or somthing… then Ill give up eating steaks forever to avoid erroding his morals. (roughly paraphrased from 1Corinthians 8:9ff)
How many times I could have… should have been that caring, that concerned about how my actions, no matter how justified, could affect someone elses faith… or morals. How much of what I do, is painted with the realization that perception is reality to those who see it? How hard to I try to make them match… to make sure that what it looks like I am doing/seeing/saying/believing is in fact what I AM doing/seeing/saying/believing.
Maybe just a ramble… but hey, Im allowed, this is my blog dang it! Ill ramble all I want : )
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My perception has always come from actions. If you have to tell someone that you are a Christian you might not be a good Christian. As a coach it was always if you have to tell people you are a good team you might not be. Show people what you are. I just don’t put alot in what people say because it is too easy to say something and it’s much more to actually do what you say. Kids are great because they are so honest and they haven’t learned all the mind games yet…….OK I’m rambling and this isn’t even my blog.
I think Paul also said something like “All things are lawful…but not all things are profitable”.
Just because you CAN do something…and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it..in your eyes…doesn’t mean that you should do it, because it might make someone think less of you…and therefore less of Christ…because that is who we claim to represent.
Good rambling~~I enjoyed it!