Weekly Word 11/2/26

I do not know what attendance in your church looked like last Sunday, but for our church, I did not notice any difference; at least in the early service. I have seen many people commenting on the amount of new people seeking answers after the assassination of Charlie Kirk and going to church to find them. Some for the first time and others after many years of absence.  I have heard many good reports about people seeking for answers in the Bible and turning to God’s people; because of what has happened to Charlie Kirk. I have not experienced any of that for myself, but I am glad that it has had a positive reaction for so many. And of course, there is the negative reactions and people celebrating his death; who did not agree with what Charlie stood for. They did not like his answers. I did not follow Charlie per se, but I did watch some short video takes from time to time and I did watch one sit down debate in a room with about 20 college kids who held opposing opinions. He was very out spoken about his faith and courageous in defending it.
There have now been many people who celebrated his death and were very cold and demeaning towards his assassination. Quite a number of these people have lost positions or jobs because of these responses. Most probably deserved it, I am sure. Though we ought to be careful about casting quick judgments and making knee-jerk reactions without running them past the Lord first.  And then there was this interesting response from a number of Christians who said, because their pastor did not talk about or mention Charlie Kirk in last week’s service that they were leaving and looking for another church. Most comments to these reactions tended to agree with that decision.
I can understand the people who are in darkness and those searching for God to react in this manner and be very moved by their emotional responses to Charlie’s death; which came on the heels of the video of the young woman, Iryna Zarutska who mercilessly was killed on the subway in North Carolina. At first, I tended to agree with the Christians who said their pastor should have addressed the recent events, but to just leave the church over that one incident did not sit right with me. Switching churches should be a solemn event, taken very seriously and prayerfully. It should not be a flippant act, done on the spur of the moment; or in response to the large wave of emotion sweeping through our nation. When you leave a congregation, you are not just leaving the pastor/preacher for another; you are leaving the people and the relationships you have developed there; hopefully over many years. This should not be taken lightly. If, on the other hand, this is the last straw and you have contemplated leaving for a while and have been seeking God through this process, then God may just be using this to help you make the transition. And if that is the case, I should have hoped that you have been seeking and looking into someplace else to sink down roots. You don’t want to be just floating around out there. “The banana separated from the bunch is the one that gets peeled” – Gary Zarlengo. Or the lone sheep is the one the wolf goes after.
A zealous response is not always a bad thing and Lord knows many of us need a boot in the rear to get going; myself at times included. But our zeal should be according to knowledge and most of the time we do not have to rush to make decisions or post a comment. But the strength of the wave of emotion can get the better of us and we can get swept away with many others who are giving vent to their anger and frustration. I know the Lord would have us guard our hearts (Prov. 4:23) and choose more carefully our responses in word, attitude and deed. At least that is what we should do; I am not always successful in catching myself before I react out of the wave of raw emotion.
And in response to the many seeking after God, we should give some grace, especially to those to whom Christendom may be new. Their language may be a little colorful and they may have a different definition of what is modest apparel or have way more piercings or tattoos that are comfortable for you. In response to those who act out of malice; there might be a greater need to watch over our hearts. Even in the middle of a conversation we can be praying for the right words to bring in the gospel, to point them to the only one who can give us hope in this life and in the next. And there are times when a conversation just turns into a heated argument; at that point it is best to disconnect and humbly bow out. Easier said than done, I know. Take your time in your social media responses. There is no need to rush to a fire to put it out, until you know where you are going. 
While all this is happening in our nation and in the church, let’s not overlook the fact that God is using what the devil meant for evil and causing the exponential growth of His kingdom in the world; as only God can. (He took a symbol of execution and torture and made it into a symbol of hope for billions – the cross). Stay positive and walk in light. Stand firm and honor Christ with all you say and do. I am not saying you need to back down or walk away at the slightest hint of confrontation; heavens, NO. But I am saying to be “wise as serpents, but gentle as doves” (Matt. 10:16). May God grant us to be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”. (Romans 8:14).
And lastly let us keep Paul’s admonishment to Timothy in mind:

Have a blessed week seizing the opportunities to point others to the one and only True God – Jesus Christ.
Living His Life,
Bruce