The Value of Altered Perspective

After spending four years in bible college, five years in seminary and twenty years in ministry; some scripture is too familiar.  Familiarity erects an impressive blockade against truth that we may need to rock our world.  When we are able to recite the profound truth God wants to say to us even as He wants to get our attention, sometimes our minds intercept what our hearts most need to hear.  Our mouths are moving, but our souls are in neutral.  The motor is running -- yet we're not getting anywhere.

What is particularly unfortunate is that often the most familiar truths are also the ones we most need to be told.  We may not recall well what is in Leviticus 14 or Zephaniah 2; but we also probably don't need to consider those words as desperately as we need to reflect on Matthew 5 or Philippians 1.  Too much familiarity with the most profound truths and experiences God gives us can innoculate us against the divine infection we're supposed to be carrying.  I suspect we all know this -- but the solution is far more problematic.  It is easy for the David Lettermans of the world to critique what is wrong.  But it requires wisdom to offer guidance in the face of daunting spiritual hurdles.

I don't pretend to be an expert in such things.  But I read things smarter people suggest, and several of them seem wise.  If this diagnosis seems accurate as you examine the state of your heart, allow me to make a couple of suggestions.

1.  We NEED routines, but they must change.  Don't downplay the importance of routine simply because familiarity can be harmful.  We need patterns of behavior to reinforce positive actions.  I'm indebted to David Crowder's little book "Praise Habit" for this thought.  Whatever you regularly do to connect with God -- do it regularly.  Go back to it over and over.  Just know that sooner or later the routine will need to change or it will become stale.

2.  Look at truth from a different ANGLE.  This can be done in several ways.  One way I've begun doing recently is reading very familiar books of Scripture from a different version than I'm used to.  I started reading Philippians today and used the NLT.  I found that the wording forced me to rethink what God wants to say to my heart through Paul.  Another way to do this is to discuss spiritual topics with someone who is a Christian but isn't from the exact same background.  Perhaps they are from a different culture, perhaps they are from a different denomination.  Either way they may jumpstart your ability to think through what God may want us to hear.  A final thought on this concept is to avoid books that you completely agree with.  Outside of Scripture, it is often valuable to seek books that will challenge what we believe.  I'm not talking about complete rubbish, but things that will provoke serious consideration.

3.  Associate with PECULIAR individuals.  We often gather friends and associates around ourselves who make us feel good about what we think.  But finding Christians who see things you miss will often open up whole vistas I would have never otherwise even realized existed.  In my case, as a logical, analytical type of thinker, it helps to be married to a left-handed artist who works at a fabric store.  I have friends who are visionaries, poets, musicians, counselors, and work with young children.  They all view a world that is largely invisible to me.  But I'm convinced their perspective is often something God wants to use to show me things He wants me to see.