One’s perspective should be born from experience, shaped by context, and molded through empathy and a desire to understand.

Perspective is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, giving someone the benefit of the doubt about something they did and allow perspective to influence our opinion might be a good thing.

Think about it… If someone stole your credit card number and used it to buy food for their malnourished baby, would that perspective matter?

What about if someone says something hurtful to you and you find out that their spouse just left them for someone else? Would it matter that their life is in shambles? Could that have impacted their choice of words that hurt you?

See what I mean? Perspective helps us understand people’s actions better. Having said that, it can also provide someone with an avenue to blame their actions on things “beyond their control”.

So, is it a good thing or not? The answer is, “It depends.”

Personally, I find that I tend to consider perspective in judging what people do. Maybe that’s because, when the shoe is on the other foot, I’d want that same prism applied to judging my own actions. In other words, don’t judge what I did until you understand why I did it.

Actually, after saying that (or writing it) – it doesn’t really sound like a very good idea, especially if someone steals your credit card.

Notwithstanding criminal actions, what about using perspective to help understand how someone views the world? Think about upbringing, social class, and ethnicity… Can you see how those factors can influence how someone might view their lot in life?

Sure, there’s always the thought that people are solely responsible for their actions… and they are. But what role should perspective play in our own minds–as far as judging their actions?

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, the application of perspective can’t be avoided. We can’t help it… We all apply our own interpretation of “good vs. bad” to the things we encounter. It’s part of the human condition.

As Christians, we should use perspective when trying to forgive someone who did us wrong. Does that mean we should hand over the credit card to someone who wants to steal it? Of course not, but it does mean that we should apply perspective in our own heart so that we can forgive them.

So what about God? Does He use perspective when judging our actions?

Absolutely not.

Let’s look at the Bible… Perspective is not mentioned. If you think about it, if it was, it wouldn’t be the same book. Why? Because perspective is a moving target. It’s different from one person to the next. All sorts of experiences and emotions are wrapped up in perspective.

Perspective is not a Godly concept. In God’s eyes, there’s right and there’s wrong. The Bible spells out very specifically what’s good and what’s bad. It doesn’t matter what your reason is for doing something sinful.

So fast forward a little bit (or a lot hopefully…). Imagine you’re at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. An angel greets you and begins to search the Scroll of Life to see if your name is in it.

After checking the list, he looks up and says, “Sorry, I can’t find your name. It appears that the choices you made on Earth have caught up with you.”

You’re stunned. Wait a minute! Those things I did, that was because… You start to list the reasons that you did those things–trying to change his perspective.

Of course, it doesn’t work. Besides, an angel doesn’t hold the power of eternal judgment. That’s God’s rightful prerogative alone. So, the angel promptly presses the “Down” button on the one-way elevator and away you go.

Therein lies the problem with perspective on Earth and in Heaven. They never quite sync up. Reasons and excuses don’t matter in Heaven.

The best advice from Tiny Words. Big Life. is two-fold: First, give grace to others by considering perspective when judging their actions. Second, live your life in a way that perspective is not needed once you reach the Pearly Gates. Reading and obeying God’s commandments, as found in the Holy Bible, is the only way to avoid the one-way elevator headed south.


James 2 : 3 – 5

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?