Perception and Reality

In this increasingly relativistic cauldron we call “the world,” a lot of anxiety and insecurity is fueled by the notion that everyone is entitled (encouraged?) to form their own reality based primarily, if not solely, on their individual perceptions. It goes something like this: “The way I see the world is the world as it is.”

“Perception is reality” has become an almost universal cultural assumption, leaving little room for things that may be objectively and ultimately real but don’t match perceptions. C. S. Lewis had little patience for this idea, noting, “You cannot go against the grain of reality and not expect to get splinters.” Reality is reality regardless of how I see things.

In this week’s Epistle, St. John, seeking to encourage seven churches struggling in the cauldron of the Roman Empire, writes something that’s objectively and ultimately real, but may not have matched the perceptions of his original readers much more than it does ours today: “Jesus Christ…the ruler of kings on earth”.

Really?!? Putin? Xi? Kim? Assad? Those closer to home who shall remain nameless? (I’m not foolhardy.)

Hmmm…

See you Sunday.

Steve+