Monday, February 20, 2012

Truth or Fact??

I have been thinking about the difference between facts and the truth lately. This all started last Sunday during our pastor's sermon. You remember the story of the woman caught in adultery? It is found in John 8. The fact of the story is - she was indeed caught. It is also a fact that her accusers were hypocrites. But the underlying truth is that Jesus loved her – and He loved them.

Truth can be defined as the actual state of a matter. A fact is something known to exist by actual experience or observation.

And there is the rub. You see – we define the “facts” by our experience – our perspective. And while that fact may be true – we are not omniscient (all-knowing) beings. We don't know the actual state of things.

I have been working on writing skills with one of my children. It occurred to me that it is much like the difference in writing between the 1st person and the 3rd person. When we teach children writing, we may give them the assignment to write in the 1st person. They can only write the story from one person's perspective. The story can not delve into the thoughts and feelings of another character. On the other hand, when we ask them to write in the 3rd person – well then, they can write from an omniscient standpoint. They can write about each character, their thoughts & their feelings.

And this is where the challenge comes in real life. To have the mind of Christ. Not my mind, not my perspective, but Christ's eternal perspective. To view my current situation in the 3rd person.

Do I do this? Not hardly. I am the first person to beat myself up when I make a mess. And I am the first person to get mad when someone else makes a mess for me or injures me in someway.  Oh for the mind of Christ - 

                          remember - Jesus Loves Me

                          remember  - Jesus loves that other person too
         
                           remember - to give grace

                           remember -  the graces given to me


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