To pastors, faith leaders, and followers of Jesus,
If you are anything like me, you have been through a tremendous series of emotions over the past 48 hours! Those emotions might have included deep sadness for the Kirk family, anger for the state of our nation and the tragic events of Wednesday, and many of you probably now find yourselves ready to enlist, charge the hill, and run through the wall. It is in uncertain moments like this that I think all of us need to be asking ourselves: What now?
May I humbly submit to you that for the believer or follower of Jesus, especially as leaders of faith and the church, I believe there are three fundamental questions that we should be asking ourselves in this moment…
1. What has Jesus taught us to do in moments like this?
To answer that question, we do not have to look very far or use our imagination. Because Jesus was fully man and tempted in the ways we are tempted, Scripture answers that question. We can simply look at how Jesus responded to the assassination of his cousin John the Baptist in Mark 6.
“When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now, many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
Mark 6:29-34 ESV
In Mark 6, we see that upon hearing the news of the murder of John the Baptist, Jesus first went away to rest and pray. He did not immediately react, but instead went to the Father, where he could be real and honest in his pain and probably his questioning. We must do this! God can handle our questions, our frustrations, and our anger, and He welcomes us into a relationship where we share openly with him. Next, Jesus returned to a waiting world, watching to see how He would act, wanting to learn from Him in this moment! It would be important to note that because Jesus often perceived the thoughts and hearts of man, He knew in that crowd many were against Him. Maybe there were even people in that crowd who had been part of what had happened to his cousin, and certainly, part of that crowd may be part of the group that crucified him in the near future. BUT in that moment, even knowing all that, Jesus was filled with compassion, knowing that they were sheep who needed a Shepherd!
May this be our prayer and remembrance, too!
So, pray, get alone with God, feel all the feels, but then remember there is a lost world in need of Jesus!
2. Is what I am teaching, preaching, and sharing worth suffering for, even unto potential death?
I believe that almost every pastor, faith leader, or person who is delivering truth from a platform has thought to themselves in the last 48 hours that this could’ve been me. I’m sure many of you have been asking the question, “What do I do with this?” I believe the answer lies simply in the question: “Is what I am preaching about worth it?” Is this my purpose, is this my calling, is what I am doing directly from God and for His glory? I would submit that if it is not, it is not worth it. However, if it is, although we know there is an enemy, we press on, aware of all that may be ahead.
A sobering reality of the Christian faith is that suffering is often the primary tool God uses to advance His Kingdom.
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,”
Colossians 1:24-25 ESV
We see in this passage that if we are suffering to make the Word of God fully known in the name of Jesus, we are to rejoice and consider it pure joy.
Simply put, HE is worth it!
3. Am I worthy to suffer?
“But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
Acts 5:39-41 ESV
This is where the rubber meets the road: Are we doing things, are we sharing truth, are we using our gifts, talents, and platforms to go against the enemy and advance God’s kingdom? And are those things making such a difference that we are on the enemy’s radar and he wants to take us out? We must ask ourselves, are we worthy of suffering? If not, moments like this should lead us into a time of prayer, reflection, and submission to ask God how we can be used more boldly for the advancement of His kingdom!
“By His Light I walked through the darkness!” Job 29:3
It is my deepest prayer that God would bring us and His Church across all denominational lines in all corners of the world into greater unity and boldness! May we use our platforms to advance His kingdom all to His glory alone!
Serving together,
Erk Dellenback
CEO, Florida Family Voice