Often in church leadership meetings where the people are discussing their purpose, vision, missions, and/or values, many will state that the reason they exist is to follow The Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)“ It is important to tell others about God and Christ, but many people forget the first lesson.
Earlier in the same Gospel, Jesus is asked what the Greatest Commandment is.
Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
First, we are to love God with everything we’ve got, every part of ourselves. Then as we love God and know that He loves us, we can share that love with our neighbors - any human being with whom we come into contact. If we don’t love people first, they won’t care to hear that God loves them. A common saying is “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” To paraphrase that, “People won’t listen about God’s love for them if they think you don’t care about them, too.”
This is one thing that excites me about C3. There are so many people sharing their lives with others, and inviting them to visit. It’s about relationships – not religion. After all, Love Wins.
I am thankful for the healing I have received. While I get discouraged from time to time, I don’t find myself in the dark places where my mind once dwelled. It’s nice that those memories have faded, but I can still recall the feelings, even though they don’t have the same intensity.
I came across a quote recently, and I find encouragement in it. It is by Dr. Paul Brand, who is renowned for his work with leprosy patients. Brand responded to the question, “Where is God when it hurts?” with this: “He is in you, the one hurting, not in it, the thing that hurts.” Yes, God is with us!
A family in our church recently suffered a loss through suicide. I cannot imagine the pain truly involved. One thing that kept me from following through on my suicidal thoughts was thinking through the pain that my parents and others would have felt. I couldn’t bear that outcome. I hung on a little longer and made it through one more day, and then another.
I have a book title The Art of Helping by Lauren Littauer Briggs. The subtitle is “What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting.” The books lists dozens of life situations where people can hurt, each with its own chapter. I looked up the chapter on Loss By Suicide, and found a wonderful contribution.
One of the best responses to a suicide that I have ever heard came through a sermon delivered by the pastor of a young man who shot himself. With great eloquence, his pastor was able to convey tremendous hope through these words: “Our friend died on his own battlefield. He was killed in action, fighting a civil war. He fought against adversaries that were as real to him as his casket is real to us. They were powerful adversaries. They took a toll on his energies and endurance. They exhausted the last vestiges of his courage, and only God knows how this child of His suffered in the silent skirmishes that took place in his soul.” (Originally published in “Helping Survivors Survive” by Victor M. Parachin, Bereavement Magazine, January, 1991.)
Those words ring so true to the inner battles I once faced. I pray for this family as they come to mind.
One closing thought. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato
