He is a friend, a pastor, and yesterday, he wounded my
heart. His words flowed out of deep, passionate conviction and I knew it. Still,
as he talked about his belief that Christians have authority to heal and that
those not healed are either sinful, lack faith, or the one praying for them
lacks faith, I felt his words fall on me like a club; accusing, judgmental. I
heard them only in the context of the loss of my Dad, my Mom, and my wife – all
of whom died young, cancer slowly stealing their earthly lives in spite of fervent
prayers of faith offered by many for them. Did he intend to hurt me? Not at
all. I left that little gathering with a
jumble of emotions- anger, confusion, self-doubt, to name a few.
My intent
today is not to debate the issue of healing. Selected texts from Scripture can be
used to support differing conclusions. I do
most certainly believe that God acts to heal, but also know that He is God
and I am not, that His no is as much an answer as His yes!
As I thought about that morning meeting, I realized anew the
power of words and the care with which I must use them! How do you use ‘truth’ in your life?
Truth exists! For example, I am convinced that Jesus Christ
is the Way to know God, the Father, the only One who can restore us to a right
relationship with Him and give us eternal life. That is a non-negotiable Truth for
me. But, how I communicate it is
critically important. Many years
ago, my little brother, then about 5 years of age, heard the gospel and in a
childish way felt the need to challenge everyone he met with a question about
their eternal destiny. He made grown men squirm when he publicly asked them
point-blank if they knew Jesus and were going to Heaven. That’s fine for a
child, but if I take the wonderful Gospel and, in a childish way, turn it into
a challenge about Heaven and Hell, I am unlikely to bring many to the life
offered in Jesus, am I?
Another example comes from a place of deep conviction about
human life. I am avidly pro-life believing that abortion is a sin. But, I would
never stand on the street and wave a sign proclaiming my conviction because I
also know that women who are considering that choice are usually feeling
pressures that I, as a man, cannot even imagine. So my convictions, though unwavering,
must be shaped by compassion, communicated in ways that they can be heard by
someone in crisis.
Truth is not to kill or condemn. It is to bring life,
wholeness, and restoration. Paul urges us to "speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like
Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." (Ephesians 4:15,
NLT) When we talk about God’s Word, about our convictions about what He has said
to us, we must do so with great grace, with the love of Jesus shaping every
word. In all of noisy bombast that has become our divided world, this gentle
kind of context for our message is even more important.
Yes, of course, I know that the truth will offend some, regardless of our care and compassion. Jesus acknowledged that He would become a source of division, that some would hate us because of Him. We know that, but we do not have to go looking for a fight, do we?
Yes, of course, I know that the truth will offend some, regardless of our care and compassion. Jesus acknowledged that He would become a source of division, that some would hate us because of Him. We know that, but we do not have to go looking for a fight, do we?
Know the Word. Hold tightly to the eternal truth. Focus on the
Good News of the Kingdom Come! And let
us take this word from Paul to young pastor Timothy as our guide. Here is a
word from the Word. Lord, give us ears to hear and a heart that understands. "A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but
must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult
people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change
those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to
their senses and escape from the devil’s trap." (2 Timothy 2:24-26,
NLT)
___________
Wonderful Words Of
Life
Sing them over again
to me
Wonderful words of
life
Let me more of their
beauty see
Wonderful words of
life
Words of life and
beauty
Teach me faith and
duty
Beautiful words
wonderful words
Wonderful words of
life
Beautiful words
wonderful words
Wonderful words of
life
Christ the blessed One
gives to all
Wonderful words of
life
Sinner list to the
loving call
Wonderful words of
life
All so freely given
Wooing us to Heaven
Philip Paul Bliss
© Words: Public Domain
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