Points of View

(www.ambassadorsforJesus5.com)

Purpose: To show how the various “points of view” can serve as filters. This understanding, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, can help our lives and relationships flourish. In addition, it can also help us avoid the pitfall of buying into others' views, and even our own, as God's way, truth, and road to life.

     The other day I was looking for a needed ancient receipt. As I rummaged through the old files in my home thinking how I really need to cut back on my hoarding ways (do I really need to keep a copy of that 1995 income tax return?) I ran across some "back in the day" college work where I discovered what looked like a wonderful treasure.

     So what was this treasure buried in my closet for all these years? Notes on storytelling.

     As I looked over my notes I realized the Lord has taught me a good deal of these insights in his Word and by the aid of dreams. I also found the storytelling structure so wonderful I decided to share.  Beyond prayerfully considering these things as something that may aid us in understanding our dreams from Him, we should prayerfully consider how they also apply to our overall journeys in life. 

     Each of us has a personal history that has played a role in shaping our perceptions and developing our past associations. To illustrate, maybe we were once clawed by a cat and now find ourselves leery of them. Another may have had a bad experience within the four walls of a church and find himself guarded in a new one. Some, due to cultural upbringing and social classes may prefer to celebrate special occasions quietly while others are more inclined to throw a loud party. King David raised as a simple shepherd took great joy in worshipping the Lord by dancing with all his might amongst servants. We are told that his wife despised him for it in her heart and appears that social status played a role in her view.

     The point is, sometimes we filter what we see through our perceptions and past associations.  These can also manifest in our emotions.  I personally don’t see that as necessarily negative (sometimes one needs to get burnt to learn not to play with fire), unless it starts interfering with what the Lord is looking to do in and through our lives, or if it leads to prejudices. In our preferences and prejudices, we can start advocating our view as "the way, the truth, and the life" instead of pointing others to Jesus.

      To avoid being duped we should consider what point of view we and others are coming from before buying into it as truth.   It may be the truth as they have seen it, understood it, and experienced it, but that doesn't mean it is God's truth.  If the truth as we know it doesn't line up with God's truth, it is actually deception. Being deceived indicates that at heart we have bought into a lie.  This is important to understand because our genuine and auto-responses will flow from what we believe at heart.  If we believe something bogus we will live a lie.  In order for our lives to reflect the life of Jesus, our beliefs must be united to his.    

     You wouldn't buy just any vehicle on a lot just because the salesperson has a clever salespitch and is cute, or would you?  Even if the vehicle is fine it doesn't necessarily mean it is for you, at least not at that particular time.           

     As listeners and communicators, here are some questions to prayerfully consider:

     1. What point of view is the narrator coming from? 

     2. Does the narrator know the hearts and minds of different characters?

     3. How much does the narrator know about the characters?

     4. Are the characters interpreted/analyzed for us?

     Let us now review the four "Points of View".

     1. First Person - The story is told by a character in the story. The character/observer's view is from within the story. This character cannot enter into the minds of other characters in the story. We learn what happens to the characters through the eyes of the first person. It is based on what he sees, hears or knows by told or seen. If age, gender, occupation, is similar to ours, we put more stock/credibility into what he is saying. A disadvantage is that the story can be manipulated by this person.

     The "First Person" point of view is very crucial as it can reveal much about what is going on with us and our limited view.  For instance, if I have a dream that I am a participant in, my heart and thoughts are engaged in what is going on with me. The scene may include others where I observe their outward activities and behaviors but I don't know what is going on inside of them at that deeper level (what is going on in their hearts and thoughts). With this "First Person" point of view I try not to assume the condition of their hearts and what may be a motivating factor for them because I only know what is going on within me. My limited view can influence and distort those others things not revealed by the Lord. Even if revealed by Him, I know that the person(s) may have more from Him that I am not aware of. That seeing in part thing (1 Corinthians 13).

     How the "First Person" point of view can aid us in life:

     It helps us to understand what is going on with us, our perceptions, and the limitations of our view. The awareness of things revealed (fear, worries, hurts, etc) can be a great benefit as we can then take them before the Lord for healing so that they don't interfere with our lives and hearing from Him. Furthermore, it helps us become better communicators.  If we are only equipped with our view, our communication should reflect that.

     To illustrate, let us say you and another are looking to view and discuss a situation. It may be a general conversation regarding a certain topic or maybe it is about a conflict that may have occurred. In coming from the "First Person" point of view, we need to be careful about our approach.

     I can use the word "you" to let you know what I heard you say or saw you do. I am communicating the "surface" details as I saw them unfold. The problems arise when we use "you" to communicate things of the deep.

     Such as the case would be if one was hurt by another and are coming from the "First Person" point of view. It would not be appropriate to assume the other person(s) heart intention was to cause hurt or harm. To use terms like, "you were being mean" or "you deliberately" can be presumptuous about what was going on within their heart. A more appropriate response would be, "I felt hurt by what you said and did." By doing this we take responsibility for what is going on within us (even while we can understand how other factors can and do at times contribute to those things).

     On the other side of the fence, we as listeners shouldn’t read into another's use of the word “I”. “I”, if used appropriately means this is what is going on with me and what I see. This is my portion. We shouldn’t assume the person is self-absorbed and only thinking of themselves. It may be, but unless the Lord reveals those things “I” may just mean they are sharing their portion and are fully aware of it.

     2. Objective - The story is told by a narrator that is not a character in the story. The character/observer's view is from outside of the story. There is no middleman to interpret and/or manipulate the story. It is left up to you to discover what is going on by the dialogue.

     Sometimes I have dreams where I am viewing others from outside the scene and at a distance. It is an overall view.  Unless revealed by the Lord, I don’t know what is going on with them at a deeper level. At times these dreams can also contain some dialogue in it. The dialogue portion can be as if someone was watching the events and broadcasting news at a distance. This view can serve to detach the viewer from their past associations, perceptions and emotions.

     And we as believers should know we are not left to our own devises to discover what is going on within the story. Additionally, we need to also prayerfully consider how valid the dialogue is. 

     How the Objective “Point of View” can aid us in life:

     By detaching the viewer from personal filters that can influence and distort how they view others and events. 

     3. Limited Omniscient - The story is told by the narrator outside of the story. This narrator can also see into one of the character's mind. This character/observer's view is from within the story, and outside of the story. Objectivity is limited. When character is reacting to other characters, he is also limited. He can get into one of the character's mind and have a degree of understanding. Character is chosen for his influence and ability to shape the story. Very limited interpretation is going on.

     In a dream from our Lord I may start off as a participant and then find myself suddenly viewing the scene from a distance, while still seeing myself as an active participant.

     For example, one time I had a dream where I found myself dressed in shorts and a shirt that left my midriff somewhat exposed. In the dream I was concerned that my attire may be drawing the wrong attention (there was a male from my past following me). Then all of a sudden I was viewing myself from a distance. With this distant view I was able to see that my hair was really beautiful, like a perfect hair day and more.

     I feel the Lord gave me this other view to detach me from my perceptions and concerns and reveal that my covering was beautiful in Him and I need not get caught up in worrying about my attire. Considering the attire with this more distant view of my hair, I felt it revealed an openness about me that was more beautiful in Him rather than drawing the wrong kind of attention.

     How the "Limited Omniscient" view can aid us in life:

     It helps us to see what is going on with us while also giving us a view that detaches us from our personal filters and emotions.

     4. Omniscient - All knowing. Narrator can read into the minds of all the characters in the story.

     And this is who God is, all knowing.  This view gives an overall surface and in depth view. 

     Sometimes in dreams the Lord will give me revelation into what is going on with others at that deeper level. Sometimes that other person(s) is literal, or they represent someone/others. Other times I feel they speak of something with me or a part of me.

     How the Omniscient point of view can aid us in life:

     Knowing that God is the only one who sees the full picture, we can turn to Him to help us see more clearly.

     No matter what point of view we are experiencing in our journeys in life, or in a dream from Him, we know that God can and does also give revelation and discernment. In dreams, I can pick that up as a "knowing" while dreaming. Yet I feel it is important to understand the various "points of view" so that we don't assume we have a larger picture and / or deeper insight than revealed to us. This can also help us avoid misunderstandings and become better communicators.

     Let us also know "the truth" as Lord’s view. And with that acknowledgement we can remember that we are parts in his body, made to view and operate best as we come together corporately in Him.

Some Scriptural references:  1 Corinthians 4:3-5,

2 Corinthians 5:11-16, 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13,

2 Samuel 6:14-23