Rejoicing and Weeping

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Rom 12:15 KJV)

When I accepted my first call to pastoral ministry my husband asked me how I was ever going to be able to officiate at funerals. You see... I tend to get emotional. I cry a lot. I cry for joy at weddings. I weep to see such grief at funerals. 

Growing up, as some of you were taught, I was taught that tears show weakness. That is a fallacy. Among other things, they show empathy. St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. At the death of Lazarus "Jesus wept." He did not weep for Lazarus. Jesus knew that in short order he would be commanding Lazarus to rise and come forth from the grave. Jesus wept to see such sorrow and grief among those who loved Lazarus. (John 11:1-44)

We usually associate grief with the loss of a loved one. But, any sort of loss can bring us grief. 

There is another kind of loss that burdens the heart and brings the strongest of men and women to their knees in tears. That loss occurs when we recognize that we or those whom we love may have turned their backs on God to worship other gods. The loss of faith and or faithfulness when recognized hopefully turns to contrition and that humble contrition will bring us to tears of repentance and ultimately rejoicing with tears of joy in the forgiveness that we receive through the sacrifice of Jesus our Savior and Lord.

Weeping with and for others is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of empathy. It is witness of love. Do not be ashamed of your tears. Rejoice that you are able to feel or bear the pain with others. There are way too many in this world who are not able to feel the strength of love that walks beside not only those who rejoice; but, those who grieve, as well. It is a strength, it is a gift from God to be able to love and to walk alongside others in their griefs and in their joys. Be not ashamed of Christ who abides and loves so greatly through you.

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

                                                                                               (2 Cor 1:3-5)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Main Thing

Pr. Stephen Lien, LCMC Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil 2:1-4 NIV)

Yesterday, the members of Christ Lutheran Church joyfully attended a 3-hour workshop on Evangelism following Worship and a lunch together. Yes, we spent the whole day at the church like in years gone by and those who stayed appeared to thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the time together learning what it means to be an evangelist.

Rev. Stephen Lien, Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry for LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) preached in the morning and led the workshop in the afternoon. He proved to be a living example of what he taught:  "People don't care what you know until they know that you care." He showed that he cared about Jesus. He showed that he cared about ministering to others. He showed that he cared about the members and visitors to Christ Lutheran in both what he said and what he did. And, not just at Christ Lutheran. I had dinner with him and his wife, Joanne, the evening before and witnessed first hand how he put others before himself; asking staff where they were from, about their lives, calling them by name. By the time we left the Golden Lion, on Flagler Beach, one would have thought they had known each other for years.

Evangelism, you see, is not a program. It is a way of life. It is a lifestyle formed when we keep the "Main Thing The Main Thing." When we begin to truly realize how much love God has for us and for all people; we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to love and care for others; to show genuine concern. We reach out to others, sharing that love of God, in word and in deed. As Paul tells us in Philippians, we value others above ourselves, not looking to our own interests; but, we find out, we ask questions, we communicate with others, to find out about their interests and their needs. By showing that you care about them, as Christ cares about all of humanity, then they will care about what or rather who you know, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Evangelism is a lifestyle not a program. Live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J