Good Shepherd -
We live in a very divided country, and this division didnt start
yesterday. It has been around for quite some time. And I don’t know if
you’ve noticed, but this division has not been absent in the midst of
this whole coronavirus situation. In fact, if anything, it seems that
this coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the division that was
already present. Among other debates, there have been and continue to
be many sharp divisions regarding what the best course of action is
moving forward.
It's certainly not wrong to have differences of opinion, especially
when there are still a lot of unanswered questions and everything
isn't obvious. The problem is when we begin to use our differences of
opinion against one another and they lead to hostility and division.
If we’re not careful, the division that characterizes the world and
our country can begin to creep into the church. There is nothing that
Satan desires more than to divide the Church, the precious bride of
Christ. Satan will do whatever he can to use this virus to create
dissension and impatience and quarrels within the Church.
It is during times like these that it is good for us in the Church to
reflect on the importance of humility and seek to cultivate it. The
truth is that we could all use more humility. Pride is one of those
sins that is always close by. JC Ryle has described pride as “the
oldest and most common of sins.” He also described humility as "the
rarest and most beautiful of graces." You see, pride and humility have
big impacts upon how we as Christians think, live, and interact with
others. Pride leads us to think highly of ourselves. Humility leads us
to count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).
Pride leads us to be exceptionally confident in our own opinions and
dismissive of the opinions of others. Humility leads us to recognize
the value of opinions and perspectives different from our own. Pride
leads us to be slow to hear and quick to speak. Humility leads us to
be "quick to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19). Pride leads us to
frustration and anger and discontentment when things don't go our way.
Humility leads us to patience and graciousness and love, even when
decisions are made that we don't fully agree with.
Brothers and sisters, in a time of great division, the Church ought to
be front and center in modeling humility. Let's all strive to clothe
ourselves with humility and love and graciousness. Let us remember
what true love is and seek to demonstrate this love in our very own
lives: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is
not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but
rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians
13:4-8).
In Christ,
-Pastor Brennan
Word of Encouragement, Friday, May 22
Good Shepherd -
We live in a very divided country, and this division didnt start
yesterday. It has been around for quite some time. And I don’t know if
you’ve noticed, but this division has not been absent in the midst of
this whole coronavirus situation. In fact, if anything, it seems that
this coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the division that was
already present. Among other debates, there have been and continue to
be many sharp divisions regarding what the best course of action is
moving forward.
It's certainly not wrong to have differences of opinion, especially
when there are still a lot of unanswered questions and everything
isn't obvious. The problem is when we begin to use our differences of
opinion against one another and they lead to hostility and division.
If we’re not careful, the division that characterizes the world and
our country can begin to creep into the church. There is nothing that
Satan desires more than to divide the Church, the precious bride of
Christ. Satan will do whatever he can to use this virus to create
dissension and impatience and quarrels within the Church.
It is during times like these that it is good for us in the Church to
reflect on the importance of humility and seek to cultivate it. The
truth is that we could all use more humility. Pride is one of those
sins that is always close by. JC Ryle has described pride as “the
oldest and most common of sins.” He also described humility as "the
rarest and most beautiful of graces." You see, pride and humility have
big impacts upon how we as Christians think, live, and interact with
others. Pride leads us to think highly of ourselves. Humility leads us
to count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).
Pride leads us to be exceptionally confident in our own opinions and
dismissive of the opinions of others. Humility leads us to recognize
the value of opinions and perspectives different from our own. Pride
leads us to be slow to hear and quick to speak. Humility leads us to
be "quick to hear, slow to speak" (James 1:19). Pride leads us to
frustration and anger and discontentment when things don't go our way.
Humility leads us to patience and graciousness and love, even when
decisions are made that we don't fully agree with.
Brothers and sisters, in a time of great division, the Church ought to
be front and center in modeling humility. Let's all strive to clothe
ourselves with humility and love and graciousness. Let us remember
what true love is and seek to demonstrate this love in our very own
lives: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is
not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but
rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (1 Corinthians
13:4-8).
In Christ,
-Pastor Brennan