A Sliver of Encouragement

“We lost more than Belle yesterday. And one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement is the fact that Belle was surrounded yesterday by her church family that she loved fiercely and vice versa. Our church was not comprised of members or parishioners, we were a very close family. We ate together, we laughed together, we cried together and we worshipped together…our sweet Belle would not have been able to deal with losing so much family…”  Sherri Pomeroy

  Like many of you, my heart was breaking and head reeling as I watched the tragedy unfold at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. 26 people were murdered in last Sunday’s church shooting with another 20 wounded. Among the dead was the 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle or “Belle,” of Steve and Sherri Pomeroy, the church’s Pastor. Pastor Pomeroy, and his wife, Sherri, were traveling out of state when the massacre occurred.

  As I watched Sherri Pomeroy share the above statement to the media, tears flowed down my cheeks. Because even in the face of a senseless tragedy and horrible violence like this, a biblical church is first a family. Others may dialogue about guns and violence, or the lack of funding for mental illness. I agree though with Sherri Pomeroy, the church as a family is “a sliver of encouragement.” It’s something that church had. It’s something our Heavenly Father wants us and every church to have.

  We are not a club. We are not together because we have so much in common. A church is not monolithic. The Apostle Paul wonderfully unpacks this God-given reality in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” A true church is a place of great diversity, (ethnic, economic, age, gender, occupation, political ideology, tradition, etc.) What brings us together and keeps us together is not us, it’s the Gospel. It’s the fact that we’re so unworthy and yet so loved – that Jesus shed His blood and died for us and we are redeemed because we trust in His sacrifice alone for forgiveness and assurance of heaven. We’re literally blood brothers and sisters. The church is not for good people or even nice people. It’s for those who are so very needy, who know it and are trusting in a loving, gracious God to meet their greatest need, their sin and guilt.

  We are not a store. We do not come together so our shopping list is taken care of. Scripture has no understanding of coming together because of “felt needs.” We’re not consumers looking to be enthralled by the music, challenged by phenomenal teaching, entertained by a program or even to have our children cared for in an exceptional way. We’re here because we’re givers, not takers…because we, ourselves have been given so much.

  That means we love each other. We love each other, even when humanly speaking, we might be repulsed by each other. We love because we’ve received undeserved love. Families love each other and no one thinks it’s strange. In fact, it’s very strange when they don’t.

  It means that we pray for each other. Oftentimes, we don’t know what to say. Recently, we’ve had some of our families who’ve suffered great losses. We feel so inadequate in those situations but we can always pray. When we see a couple that’s obviously having marital issues or struggling with a wayward child, or having emotional or other issues – the right words may not be there. Our Heavenly Father knows what they need and we must always bring their needs before Him.

  It means that we give to and for each other. Sometimes we see a financial need and give money. More often we give of ourselves in the form of serving. It means we befriend young children or elderly saints. It means we serve the children of parents so they can have their souls fed in a worship service or small group. It means we give precious time up for each other.

  Can you imagine a Mom telling her family, “Do you know how much time it took me to make dinner and wash clothes today?” Or a Dad saying, “Do you know how much time it took me to pick you up from practice and to help you with your homework tonight?” No, they’re not clock watchers – they give out of love. And so we are to give to one another. It’s not a bother or inconvenient, it’s a privilege.

  It means that we sacrifice for each other. If you called your brother in the middle of the night and said, “My car broke down. Can you come get me?” He’d come because that’s what brothers do. In a local church it means we sacrifice our expectations and our heritage for the sake of the family. Many of us have a mental picture of what church is supposed to be, usually what we grew up with. But for the advance of the gospel and the glory of God, we willingly sacrifice our preferences, even what we feel comfortable with.

  It means that we problem-solve. One of the saddest indicators in the American church that we don’t understand the biblical model of a church family is that we bail without seeking to problem-solve. We’d be horrified if someone came to us and said, “I’m not going to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner because I’m mad at my sister.” The first question out of our mouths would be, “Have you talked to her? Have you tried to work things out?” How would we respond if they said, “No, I’m just looking for a new family”? No wonder a lost world mocks us. If the gospel can’t help us love and get along with one another, what do we really have to offer it? 

  Last Sunday a church family gathered to worship together in Texas and ended up worshiping together in heaven. A church family knows what it means to live with each other. And sometimes King Jesus even calls us, as He did last Sunday at First Baptist of Sutherland Springs, to die together.  

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.