Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday March 7, 2008

The other day I was talking with the manager of a famous chain Coffee shop in our area about the Lord and perhaps attending our church to see for himself the power of the Lord in the daily life of regular people, struggling much as he is, to see how the Lord helps and just how wonderful it is to see folks gathering around a man or woman in the midst of a life crisis. The point being that not only is the Lord good, but so are his people.

You already know what was happening as I talked about the grandness of faith and its adherents. A conversation from an adjoining table kept rising above the normal chatter and lighting at our table. It seems a local pastor really got out of line with a female church member, which in these strange times was at least a little blessing. The wife has left and gone home to Mom and for the next six months the pastor and his soon to be ex are attempting to work things out. The church has agreed and in a move of rare compassion is paying the salaries for a period. I know many find this a horrible thing to do, but I think it is right, and biblical to attempt to rescue this family and minister. I'll tell you why in a moment. Tragically this conversation seriously hindered my attempt to convince my prospect that God's people are like Jesus and have compassion for those who are from the practical perspective less than ideal. The two very holy Christians were eating the fallen man and the sensible congregation alive. Cannibals never had a grander feast.

Whether the man in question knows it or not this event in his life will be a defining act in peoples mind concerning him. If I mention the name of David many will associate him with the defeat of the giant. More will associate him with that woman, Bathsheba. May I mention that other than for teaching reasons, God does not define David with either event, but rather that David was a man after God's own heart. The true biblical defining moment in David's life from God's perspective is that He, God, loves David. And that is more important than all the nasty little, even very big events in David's life.

Several months ago my longtime friend, Pastor Otwell sent a email to me and told about his upcoming sermon, "Circling The Wagons." The good pastor used the practice from the pioneer days when wagon trains crossed the wide prairies to places of new hope and for safety they would circle the wagons when under attack from some of my ancestors. Other ancestors may have been in the wagons. No wonder I am confused. Brother Otwell, quoted Psalm 142:1-7, a Psalm dealing with great trouble when David was homeless and living in a cave, with emphasis on the latter part of verse 7, "The righteous shall compass me about."

Pastor Otwell said:

"To make a long sermon short, we better circle our wagons around each other to help each other in the coming days of the falling away and the persecution that is coming. We will need each other more than we think. Thank God for those faithful witnesses who stood faithful for the Lord and stood with each other, and are also compassed about us to encourage and give us hope. I hope and pray that I can remain faithful to my pastor friends, to my Christian Brothers and Sisters that I have learned to love and respect over the years."

My personal question is simple; will I compass about the Lord's people with compassion or slander?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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