I heard a story about a banker who continually told folks, “Given the right set of circumstances, everybody will cheat and lie – everybody.” And I also heard about a pastor who was continually telling his male pastoral staff, “You’ve got to watch the women in the church. They’ll get you in trouble.” It was no surprise to learn that the banker was caught embezzling funds and the pastor was caught having an affair. It’s amazing how as human beings we justify our actions by our own prejudices.
I write a weekly Pastor’s Column for several newspapers. Recently, I published an article on Same Sex Marriage. I received two responses from two ladies. The first lady told me that I had hatred in my heart, that I was an unhappy person, and that reading the article made her feel sad for me. She also said that she was going to pray that I learned how to be happy. The second lady told me that she appreciated the article, what I said was the truth and needed to be said, and that I chose my words so as to state my point without being mean spirited or offensive. She went on to say that the article blessed her and she was going to pray that I kept doing the good work of the Lord. What was the difference? Both ladies read the same article – through the filters of their own prejudice!
I am reminded of another story. A pastor went to visit one of one of his parishioners. He knocked on the door and waited to be recognized. A little five or six-year-old girl opened the door. The pastor noticed she had a large piece of red cellophane stretched over her eyes. She went running through the house shrieking, “Mommy! Mommy! We’ve got a red preacher! We’ve got red walls! The ceiling is red! The floor is red! Mommy, everything is red!” Was everything red? Of course not. But it was to her! Why? Because she was seeing everything through a red cellophane filter. Likewise, our core beliefs color us. No wonder Proverbs 23:7a(KJV) states, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …”
What we are at the core of our innermost being – determines what we see and do. A buzzard will fly over a beautiful field of lilies and never see the first lily. However, from hundreds of feet in the air, he’ll spot the carcass of a dead animal. It will captivate his attention and control his actions. Why? Because he’s a buzzard. It’s his nature.
Phillipians 2: 5(KJV) says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” As a Christian, this verse tells me that the mind of Christ should control my actions. 2 Corinthians 5:17(KJV) says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” As a Christian, this verse teaches me that my old nature cannot control me. If something is dead – it doesn’t control anything! And Romans 12: 2(KJV) says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” As a Christian, this verse teaches me that my personal walk with Jesus is an on-going work of transformation.
Abraham Maslow said, “If your only tool is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail!” Again, we see things through the filters of our own prejudice. Consequently, what we are – determines what we see and do.
As Christians, it should be our goal to make Jesus our life filter. He and He alone should determine what we see and do. Sadly, far too often, my humanity is the filter that controls what I see and do. I have a feeling I am not alone. Here is truth: What we are determines what we see and do! Let’s make sure we are Christians!
Brother Aaron
To schedule Brother Aaron to preach a Sunday service at your church, a revival meeting, or a special event, you may contact him at: 1-800-511-9536, 706-302.9162, or e-mail: freshfire@mindspring.com
