My name is Brian Wellington Carter.
I am a native of Los Angeles and received my education from private schools and colleges most of my life.
I am a creative writer and journalist who enjoys sci-fi and fantasy.
My name is Brian Wellington Carter and I could’ve easily been the next Charles Manson.
Or Jeffery Dhamer.
Or Ted Bundy.
Or the unknown pedophile breaking young lives across the country.
What I’m trying to say is because I was born in sin and shaped iniquity, I could’ve been a monster — but, because of the grace of God and the blood of Jesus, I am not any of those men or descriptions.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” – Psalm 51:5
“And he said, ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’”- Mark 7:20-23
We are sinners, so all of the vile thoughts, tendencies, and actions that you see in the world and in other people, lives in you. No, you may not think of committing mass murders, raping children or cheating senior citizens out of their retirement money — but don’t think it’s because you have a moral compass, or you’re not sick in the head or incapable of those things because you are — it’s because of Jesus.
We’re not all prone to the same sins but we are still sinners and we all have our sin issues. It’s by the grace of God that you aren’t making headlines in the newspaper or on the evening news. But some of us do end up in the public eye or worse because we didn’t acknowledge our sin issues to the Lord.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
We have to confess our sins every day to our Heavenly Father for He is the only one that can see us through them.
That might not be your story — whatever tragedy or mental health case that makes the news – but it could’ve been.
Let’s all thank the Lord for His mercy and love over our lives, that it’s not a different story for us. And for those who have that story, don’t judge them, pray for them.
Because they are you under different circumstances.
Clergy and lay people are invited to share inspiring, 500-word messages for the “Words of the Week” column by emailing [email protected].
