While watching an unrelated Francis Chan video, I noticed this intriguing ten-minute piece from a peacemaking conference.
The speakers give their answers to this question posed by someone at the event:
How do we unify the church when the culture views our beliefs as oppressive, and without compromising our convictions?
Both come from different angles but meet in a hysterical middle!
Their insights are helpful for such a challenging issue.
The letter came today.
Voice of the Martyrs (Nancy and I receive their monthly newsletter and give as led to their ministry from time to time), fiercely devoted to serving the persecuted church across the globe since 1967, confirmed what I had already heard via the internet.
Executive Director, Tom White, took his own life last month. This husband, father, grandfather, and articulate voice for the persecuted (I know, I’ve read many an editorial by the man), himself once imprisoned for his faith in Cuba, did what to many, especially Christians, can only be described as the unthinkable. He committed suicide.
Not much is known about the circumstances. But, to VOM’s credit, they revealed that the day before his fatal choice, “allegations were made to authorities that Tom had inappropriate contact with a young girl.” Here’s what the writer of the letter speaking on behalf of VOM gave as his settled-upon explanation: “I personally believe that rather than face those allegations and the resulting fallout for his family and this ministry, Tom chose to end his life.”
What are we to make of this? How are we to respond?
I say let there be compassion. Only days ago I read in 1 Kings 19:4 of the great prophet Elijah’s plea, gripped with fear, for God to take his life as he fled into the wilderness to escape the threats of the evil Jezebel. God’s servants can and do know cavernous depths of depression. William Cowper, poet and hymn writer (he gave us, among others, God Moves in Mysterious Ways His Wonders to Perform) made multiple attempts on his angst-filled life. Believers do not escape the slough of despair.
I say let there be perspective. By that I mean providence perspective. I have no earthly idea if Tom White did anything untoward the girl in question. Of course that is possible. I admit, it doesn’t look good. But what if he didn’t? What if he was entirely innocent? What if the truth lies somewhere in between? Only eternity will tell.
But one thing is for sure. In interpreting the hard providence of dreadfully incriminating accusation, Tom White, who, from what I can tell, no one believes was a false professor of Christianity but rather a true believer, failed to count Romans 8:31 ultimately true for him – If God is for us, who can be against us?
Who knows how God was plotting for the man’s good through a Romans 8:28 kind of working out of things? And this cancer survivor and pastor of four churches over time does not say such a thing flippantly.
Naomi made the same mistake, an incomplete and inadequate interpreting of providence in her crushing circumstances in the book of Ruth. That is the subject of my Mother’s Day message this Sunday. I wish I didn’t have such a pertinent and recent illustration with which to work. But the truth is I do.
I trust the Lord will use it, the text, and my words somewhat to serve us all on the journey from bitter to blessed that will keep us from such a fate and oh so much more – deep, abiding, exquisite, even-in-the-hard-providences joy in Him.
Undaunted by the rain and wind, a bunch of us worked at Walmart today from 10 AM to 4 PM wrapping gifts for patrons for free.
Due to the inclement weather we got stuck under an overhang away from the main traffic going into the store.
So for a good bit of the afternoon I stood outside the main entrance announcing our effort and location. That helped things pick up significantly. We got to wrap a lot of presents, give out several tracts, and succeed in one more effort to build bridges into our community for the gospel.
I greeted a ton of people today outside that store. All kinds of reactions came back to me in return. Some seemed quite distressed. The absence of joy in some spirits was palpable. My heart went out to them.
As I reflected later this evening on the effort, I thought of this passage in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 9:
[35] And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
The word for helpless in the ESV comes from a word that means to throw something down with a forceful motion. The NASB translates it dispirited. That’s what I saw in far too many faces. Sheep without a shepherd can get struck down and dispirited and left looking like this:
Jesus answer? Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
We need more laborers and we need to get out into the harvest more often.
OGC, let’s keep pushing the edge of the outreach envelope. We’ve got lots of sheep on their backs that need the Good Shepherd.
Christian Audio is giving away this month a free download of Tim Keller’s Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road.
I have read this book. It is an important contribution to the conversation about the need for believers to show mercy to the poor and compassion to the needy.
If you need motivation for showing the gospel through deeds of mercy and want help in building bridges into the lives of unbelievers, this will help.
Don’t forget to use the coupon code “AUG2010″ when checking out.
Also, for the month of August, you can get Ministries of Mercy for half price ($6.49) at Westminster Bookstore, if you prefer reading your books.
Take advantage of either deal while you can.
curtheffelfinger.com 