The "My Pastor Said" Christian

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I was at the movies on a cool breezy evening, somewhere in Kwara State Nigeria. A young lady who appeared to be in her mid twenties approached me. I wasn't exactly looking like a Pastor, but from her demeanor, it seemed she needed to speak to a "Man of God". She said, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I just want to know, is it a sin to come to the cinema? Because my Pastor said the cinema is worldy and we shouldn't do what the world is doing."

Do you have a personal conviction about what you do or do you just play along with what everybody believe?

As a believer, do you have a personal reason for doing what you do or is it just because an higher authority has mandated you to?

Many a christian when asked why they do whatever, can hardly give a personal reason why. They cannot give a definite answer simply because, they do not have the knowledge of what they are doing. "My Pastor said I should not eat at a fancy place", "My Pastor said....my Pastor said"

There was a time a certain Nigerian General overseer mandated his church members not to watch the television. For years, members of this particular church never watched the TV because their Pastor said they shouldn't. It was a sin to do so. Some years later, the said General Overseer apologized to his members and told them they could now watch the television. Today, the headquarters of this church has the biggest television screen installed.

The fact that everybody is doing  it doesn't mean it's correct and the fact that everybody is not doing it doesn't mean it is wrong either.

Many Christian are trained to be blind followers. Just because the Pastor says "it is wrong for a sister to put on trousers" you stop wearing it because its coming from  "YOUR PASTOR". I am not saying it is wrong or right, but my point is, you should have a personal conviction. Read your Bible for yourself and grow (Joshua 1:8). When you are asked why you do not wear certain clothes or do certain things, be bold enough to share your own convictions, your own reason as you have come to know the LORD more.

Christianity is not a call for us to be zombies. Thomas was a man that would never agree with other believers' personal revelation of Jesus Christ. He needed Jesus Christ Himself to convince him personally (John 20:24-29). You need to stop following the dos and don'ts of others, have a personal revelation. Other people's revelation becomes an information to you, do things because you know it is right not because you were told it is right. Read your Bible everyday, let God minister to you.

Free yourself of the "My Pastor said" syndrome. Know Jesus for yourself.

My name is Ayodeji Adebayo Aransiola, I live in Kwara State, Nigeria. Peace be onto you.

Photo credits: Walk by faith ministries

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