There is a difference between perspective and truth.
Perspective is somebody’s individual point of view, opinion, or way of looking at things. It’s influenced by their experiences, beliefs, values, culture, and personal history. It’s the diverse and subjective way a person sees the world.
Meanwhile, truth is a statement of fact. It is objectively independent of personal opinions or perspectives.
Both matter, but it’s important to acknowledge that truth is the universal and unchanging standard for perspective to be measured. When it goes the other way around, we meet relativism – the belief that truth changes depending on who you ask.
When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Colossae, they were surrounded by a society that had muddled perspective and truth so much that the Colossian Christians were facing pressure to profess relativism. It was okay to be interested in Jesus, but too much to suggest that he could be the one, true God.
But that’s exactly what Paul said: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation” (Colossians 1:15).
According to Paul, Jesus isn’t a perspective: He’s the Creator of all things that shape our perspectives, and his unchanging truth is the foundation that holds everything together.
Perspectives are a good thing that help us understand the world we live in and the people we share it with, but hope is found in the truth. Sure, it’s easier to avoid conflict if we say, “To each their own,” or, “Truth is relative,” but if each of us is left to stand on our own perspective, we’ll eventually isolate.
Jesus is different. He is the truth that works to redeem and reconcile people of all perspectives to himself and together.
“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20).
Every person has a perspective, and that’s a good thing. Jesus is the truth, and he has every person under his care, working to reconcile them to himself.
As Christians, we don’t dismiss perspectives. We welcome them to make us more compassionate for others and stand firm on the truth, trusting that he is the one, true God, who is working to redeem and reconcile us to him.
Questions for reflection:
- Why is it important to have an unchanging truth to rely on, especially in a world with shifting perspectives?
- What are some challenges you’ve faced when trying to stand firm in the Gospel in the face of relativism?
- How can our understanding of Christ’s truth influence us to be more compassionate in the way we interact with others who hold different perspectives?