A Matter of Perspective
By Bob Mendelsohn, LCJE Coordinator for Australia/New Zealand
Two ladies were sitting on the porch in the US South one Wednesday evening. One was listening to the sound of the nearby church choir; the other was listening to the crickets. The first said, "Don't they make beautiful music?" The other replied, "Yes, I hear they do it by rubbing their legs together."
Life may be different depending on what you are hearing, or what you are seeing. Take for example Art, the French play by Yasmina Reza. British playwright Christopher Hampton translated the comedy to English, and Art has played worldwide to great reviews. And what is the show about? They say it's about friendships, but I aver it's about perception. As the old adage, "one man's 'trash' is another man's 'treasure.'" Marc mocks his friend Serge who bought an empty white canvas but considers it art. It's a remake of the "Emperor's New Clothes"I suppose, but highlights this concept without royalty. That in itself reflects our modern age.
What does perspective have to do with us as professional missionaries, teachers, and others involved in Jewish evangelism and mission?
How about that nagging question you get after a preachment or in your daily post from a donor or a future donor asking "How is it going?"or worse, "Are you having success?"I don't know what you do with such questions, but I always feel a twinge of angst. I've been in the "business"of sharing Messiah with Jews since the day I got saved in 1971, but professionally only since 1979. And I've been uncomfortable with this series of questions for 35 years. It's all a matter of perspective, isn't it? Who after all, defines 'success'? Is it the American version of big numbers?
Take Isaiah for example. God said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand'"(Isa. 6.9).
I get annoyed when I don't have people listen to me. Maybe I think that I have as much to say as others who are getting a following. It's frustrating to compare ourselves with the superstars of Jewish evangelism, like the Apostle Paul, or Joseph Rabinowitz. We are dwarfed by people who are significant (read: sell books in the tens of thousands) in the Body of Christ. In fact, it's useless to do any such comparison (2 Cor 10.12). But if you feel a need to compare success rates, you might want to compare yourself to the prophet Isaiah. He was guaranteed a return rate of 0%. He was assured that no one would listen to him. Yet he kept preaching, 66 chapters worth of preaching, including some of the most revered thoughts and descriptions of the purposes of God, the dysfunction of humanity and the salvation of Messiah. I'm glad Isaiah kept telling. I'm sorry for the stiff-necks of our people in those days, but some of us are ones who did listen, did perceive, and do understand. Thanks be to God that Isaiah bothered. Let's keep bothering for the folks who WILL listen, one day soon.
So what is 'success' for you? I believe the key is 'faithfulness.' We are responsible to share Messiah until He returns, in the most forthright, sensitive and authentic fashion. God help us to share from our own spirits and not from another's method, as the Almighty determines our perspective.
Bob Mendelsohn
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