By Rev Deb
Tunnel Vision- the prejudice cold fish
THERE IS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL
The narrow-minded believer can be compared to the hard heart of Mathew 13.
Tunnel vision is defined as a drastically narrowed field of vision, as in looking through a tube. An extremely narrow or prejudiced outlook- narrow-minded.
The Bible has this to say about tunnel vision.
“There is A WAY which SEEMS RIGHT to a man and APPEARS STRAIGHT before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12 (Amplified Bible)
Believers with tunnel discomfort often show an unwillingness to listen to or tolerate other people's views. Tunnel or narrow-minded believers have only one view- "their own." These viewers are the type that only feels good when voicing their own opinions. This type of believer lives by their own set of rules while having a stricter set of rules for everyone else. Failing to live up to this strict set of rules, results in severed friendships, problematic relationships and or even divorce.
Tunnel viewers are the "Pharisees'" of Christianity. They preach vehemently that God commands us to love and forgive, while they continue to hate and hold on to grudges and are unwilling to forgive others.
For them, it is their feelings that matter, not those of whom they offended. Because in their own eyes, they can do no wrong and therefore feel justified or vindicated for their actions.
But for these self-proclaimed do gooders’s, who hold everyone accountable, except themselves, the apostle Paul gives this warning:
"YOU SAY that you rely on God’s word, and YOU BOAST about your special relationship with him. YOU KNOW what he wants; YOU KNOW what is right because YOU have been taught his law. YOU ARE CONVINCED that YOU ARE a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. YOU THINK you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For YOU ARE CERTAIN that God’s word gives YOU complete knowledge and truth.”
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach YOURSELF? You tell others not to steal, but DO YOU steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but DO YOU commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but DO YOU use items stolen from pagan temples? YOU ARE SO PROUD of knowing the law, but YOU DISHONOR God by breaking it.” Rom. 2:17-23
A Limited View Point
These tunnel believers distort reality and insist their view is always correct and therefore must be the view of everyone else as well. For them, in order for there to be any harmony in Christ means to accept their reality as the only reality. It is a "my way, or the highway mentality!"
Always A Crisis
"He that is without sin, cast the first stone!!!"
With this pharisaic attitude, there's always a crisis at hand! Someone said something I didn't like, Someone did something I didn't like, someone, someone, someone...
This narrow-minded view of a tunnel believer cannot possibly imagine that they might have done something to offend a brother or sister. Or that they might have a pile of stones that could easily be thrown back at them. There is no room for forgiveness since they don’t feel they do anything that would offend others. They are cold to the teaching of forgiveness and agape love (a God-like love - unconditional - a love that looks beyond a fault and loves unconditionally).
I’m Vindicated
Their morally superior tunnel vision attitude feels vindicated at all times, and therefore can admit to doing no wrong! Even though occasionally they may say in an argument that they do admit to wrongdoing, while even in the argument itself they will not accept blame for anything.
"For this reason the Lord, Himself said, "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but does not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matt 7:3
" Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?" Matt.7:5
The apostle Paul said, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you"
Eph. 4:30-32
"GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Jam 4:6
The Dreaded Wall
Everything is viewed as an affront against them and therefore makes it difficult for them to see the greater purpose of God's plan!
Because God has such a great love for them, He must allow them to suffer discipline (Heb. 12) in order to bring them around to a place of blessing.
Many believers get so offended at hearing the truth in love that to them severing a friend/relationship is their only alternative. Humility is not in their sights, and therefore must be taught!
Jesus said, "whoever humbles themselves will be exalted and whoever exults themselves will be humbled." Matt 23:12
All is not lost!!!
God's message to the tunnel viewer-
Learn the lesson from Peter's life-
Boot Camp 101
Examples
"Simon was brought to Jesus to behold" Jn.1:40-
Simon means "listen or hear." Jesus called him by his name to grab his attention. Once he got a hold of his attention he told him that he was no longer to be called by that name, but rather by his new name "Petros" which means "stone."
The Lord was clearly demonstrating that he knew Simon very well, even though he had just met him. The switch in his name was to show that the Lord was preparing to put Simon through boot camp training 101.
As I said, Simon means, "Listen, Hear, pay attention or Discern!!"
By Jesus addressing Simon first by his birth name was to say- "Now pay attention to what I am about to say because it's deep and you are going to have to go through many disciplines to learn what my plan for you is all about!
Jesus then proceeded to explain to Peter in his tunnel like understanding that, "NO LONGER shall you be called Simon, but Peter (Petros "a stone") [not Petra as in Rock, for this is what Jesus is called, but rather, ”stone" as in a piece of a rock]
This was Peter's first lesson in boot camp!! He had no idea what this new name would entail.
The Lord was about to put him through a series of tests that would later lead him to write his experiences and lessons he learned in two letters- 1st and 2nd Peter...
Here are some limited examples of Peter's humbling experiences and subsequent conversion that are plain to see in his own words written in his two letters.
The Tunnel Believer’s corrective Lenses
Corrective Lens 1
"God the Father knew you and chose you long ago" (1 Pet.1:2)- Just as God chose Peter.
Corrective Lenses 2 and 3
"Though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Pet. 1:6-7).
Every Negative Action Needs a Positive Reaction
Peter knew this all too well. He went through many trials to learn truths that God wanted him to understand. One Lesson in particular that helped to refine him like silver was when he denied Christ!! (Lk.22:34). Jesus told him that "Satan desired to sift him like wheat, but that he had prayed for him." Jesus also told him that WHEN he was restored ( you see God knows all) that he was to strengthen his brethren."
And this is exactly what he did - He wrote: "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." (1 Pet. 5:10)
Corrective Lens 4
So think clearly and exercise self-control." (1 Pet. 1:13)- Peter learned this lesson from his lack of self-control when he cut off the soldiers ear (Lk. 22:50) and the time he lashed out at the woman for asking if he had known Jesus! (Lk. 22:57)
Corrective Lens 5
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. This lesson was learned when the apostle Paul rebuked him for reverting back to his old Judaistic practice of segregation.
Corrective Lens 6
Jesus asked His disciples an important question and it was Peter, God chose to answer it.
"...He asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘a piece of a rock’), and upon this rock (a different word meaning massive rock- who is Christ) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven."
Although Peter (in his tunnel vision) had no idea what that meant at the time- He did, however, come to understand that Christ had given him the privilege to be the first of his apostles to make the proclamation of the gospel to both the Jews and then to the Gentiles.
In a meeting at the church council in Jerusalem, the apostles and elders looked into the matter about Gentile salvation- The end result was as follows,
"...and the apostles and elders came together to look into this matter... Peter stood up and said, ' Brethren, you KNOW that in the EARLY days God MADE a CHOICE (Matt. 16 see above) AMONG US, that BY MY MOUTH the Gentiles should hear the WORD OF THE GOSPEL and believe..” (Acts 15)
It was also Peter, at Pentecost (Acts 2) who STOOD UP and spoke to ALL the JEWS present. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he made known Joel's prophecy and entreated them to believe.
The apostle Paul clarified this in Romans 1:16 when he said that it was to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.
The Power Of Confession
In other words, Jesus called Simon by his new name Petros (a piece of rock) to show that he was the first living stone (believer representing the Church) to be placed upon the solid foundation (Jesus), who is the chief cornerstone, the PETRA (massive Rock). This was done by confessing that Jesus is "the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16).
Therefore, giving him the privilege to be the first to share this great news and open the way to this brand new community of believers. Acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God opens the door to salvation and allowing entrance into the body of Christ (the Church).
Jesus said, that even the gates of Hell could not even prevail against it. Mat. 16:18
Christ's new Church, (also known as the body, bride, wife of the Lamb...) would now consist of, Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, Male and female- and that there would no longer be segregation's -Thus the revealing of Joel's prophecy!! (Acts 2)
Peter’s Transformation- He Got It!
The Lord’s corrective lenses rehabilitated Peter’s tunnel vision. The two letters he wrote to believers unveiled his new understanding of all the discipline he endured. Listen to the deep enlightenment he has about Matthew 16 now after his disciplinary correction lenses were put on his eyes.
Peter says, "You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for a great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests" (1 Pet. 2:4,5)
His life stands out above all in the New Testament because the Holy Spirit saw fit to use him as a complete example of a believers life from conception (new birth) to the grave.
It is meant to be a demonstration of how God moves in a believers life to transform them into the glory of Christ. Showing how we can truly depend on God for OUR EVERYTHING!!
Each one of Peter's trials took him from a narrow-minded tunnel viewer, to finally seeing through the most magnificent PANORAMIC SCOPE of an awe-inspiring God that is able to meet the smallest details of our lives and reveal His most amazing plan that He has in store for ALL who love Him.
Greatest Lesson Of All
" Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You " He said to him, "Tend My lambs. "He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You " Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.” (Jn.21: 14-17)
This was Peter's great achievement! He learned that agapeo (a God kind of love that sees beyond fault and loves unconditionally) love was the only way Christians would be able to transcend the human behavior of hatred, anger, jealousies, strife and other such attitudes to get along together as the body of Christ.
He finally realized that Christ’s Questions (tests) about feeding the sheep and lambs meant that he must master his own fleshly attitudes. He understood the getting his attitude in check was the way he was going to answer to his higher purpose that God called him to do - be a shepherd to the flock of believers. He needed the corrective lenses to be able to see his divine calling and also to be a great example to all those who would come to believe on Jesus as their Savior.
This was a serious lesson for Peter to learn. He didn't trust too many people, he had a stubborn spirit, lying lips, and a taste for denial- he knew this side of the track all too well. But the Lord used this hard exterior to teach him valuable lessons
The Lesson Of Love
Peter was angered by the questions Jesus addressed to him. Rather than being humble (since he didn’t even understand what Jesus was asking) Peter, his narrow-minded tunnel vision became exasperated. There are many believers that do the same thing today and cause unnecessary pain and conflicts.
Peter learned this the hard way! It was through his denial of Christ and remorseful weeping (Matt 26:75) that taught him the way of true agapeo love and what it meant to "LOVE from a PURE heart!!
He finally learned this lesson through Christ's love for him.
Jesus loved him in spite of all his faults and forgave him. Humility is the key to real love. This act of love and forgiveness taught Peter how and what God expected of Him as a believer and what it meant to be an example to the flock as an under-shepherd.
His letters manifest how all the corrective lenses (disciplines) he was made to wear truly put his perspective in the proper light. He learned his lesson of what it meant to be a real disciple of Christ!
"And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.”
“In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”
“In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.” (1 Pet. 5:1-8)
It took Peter a lot to learn the believers walk, but Oh once he did!!! He was transformed into such a mirrored image of Christ's likeness- and became a true blessing to God's people through the awesome reality that can only be found in Christ. That he learned his lessons well is seen in his two short, but power-packed books.
Truly who can refuse such love as this ???!!!
Until then, keep your EYES (focused) on the Author and perfecter of your faith!
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