Compassion Confession
True confession: My labor productivity units haven’t been as high this week as usual. I’ve been mesmerized by the devastation and suffering caused by Katrina. I’ve lingered too long on the morning news shows and shown up later than usual for work. During the day, I’ve drifted to the news websites to view the incredible images of flooding in New Orleans. I’ve spent more time than usual talking with colleagues about the reports we’ve seen and stories we’ve heard and tried to make sense of it all.
As a Christian, I am sometimes challenged to use the right words to explain to friends and coworkers why I have faith that our loving and benevolent God is here with us in these horrific times. And it always feels unsatisfying as I stumble through it. (“No, see, there were these two folks, Adam and Eve, and they had what we call original sin, and ever since then, bad things happen to good people, but God is there even when bad things happen and He grieves just like we do and He loves us so much He sent His son who also had to die but He’s alive now. Would you be interested in coming to church on Sunday?” That’s another problem with great teachers like Billy Graham or Max Lucado – they’re never standing there at my desk when I need them!)
A few years ago, I agreed to give the Sunday sermon while our pastor was on vacation. Tragically, one of the matriarchs of our church died unexpectedly in a car accident while on vacation that week. (I am always surprised when newscasters say someone died “prematurely.” Do you know of many people who felt they died “late?”) I had the incredibly difficult task of giving a message that could minister to the congregation and family in the face of the loss of our friend and family member. I prayed like a maniac that week, and God answered with a message built around Hebrews 12:26-29:
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
The fact is, we live in a shakeable world, with shakeable things that we’d better not get too attached to. That’s not always a message that’s easy to hear, but it’s an honest message that has proven accurate time and again. As a Christian, I’m grateful that there is also a kingdom that cannot be shaken. I’m looking forward to that (but not too early or prematurely, mind you). In the meantime, I watch the news, linger on the images, contribute what I can, and pray for the thousands of people affected.
As a Christian, I am sometimes challenged to use the right words to explain to friends and coworkers why I have faith that our loving and benevolent God is here with us in these horrific times. And it always feels unsatisfying as I stumble through it. (“No, see, there were these two folks, Adam and Eve, and they had what we call original sin, and ever since then, bad things happen to good people, but God is there even when bad things happen and He grieves just like we do and He loves us so much He sent His son who also had to die but He’s alive now. Would you be interested in coming to church on Sunday?” That’s another problem with great teachers like Billy Graham or Max Lucado – they’re never standing there at my desk when I need them!)
A few years ago, I agreed to give the Sunday sermon while our pastor was on vacation. Tragically, one of the matriarchs of our church died unexpectedly in a car accident while on vacation that week. (I am always surprised when newscasters say someone died “prematurely.” Do you know of many people who felt they died “late?”) I had the incredibly difficult task of giving a message that could minister to the congregation and family in the face of the loss of our friend and family member. I prayed like a maniac that week, and God answered with a message built around Hebrews 12:26-29:
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”
The fact is, we live in a shakeable world, with shakeable things that we’d better not get too attached to. That’s not always a message that’s easy to hear, but it’s an honest message that has proven accurate time and again. As a Christian, I’m grateful that there is also a kingdom that cannot be shaken. I’m looking forward to that (but not too early or prematurely, mind you). In the meantime, I watch the news, linger on the images, contribute what I can, and pray for the thousands of people affected.
posted by Tom Petersen at 8:32 PM
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