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 Mark 9:2-13

 

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi,it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son;listen to him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

 

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him."


 

 

 
(ESV)

 

 

 

Keeping Pastors Humble

Elisha

14 June 2012

The ministry of Christ overturns our human expectations again and again. This is clearly seen by His willingness to suffer and die on the cross of Calvary for miserable sinners like us. The ministry that the Lord Himself confers upon His church through those who are the properly called and ordained servants of the Word also must be shaped like the His ministry. His lot was persecution, blasphemy, mistreatment, vicious beatings, and finally an ignominious execution on the tree. Therefore the lot of His minister is also persecution, curses, mistreatment, vicious beatings, and finally, in some cases, an ignominious execution.

 

While overt persecution against Christians seems to be growing here and throughout the world, perhaps the more difficult persecution to face is that which is perpetrated against us by those who consider themselves our friends. Pastors and the faithful are often attacked by those who think they have the best interests of the holy church at heart. They are often just ignorant or are suffering great weakness of faith. Sometimes they attack pastors merely because they can; it gives them a sense of self-control and power, especially if they find themselves in a situation in life where they are powerless, such as a broken marriage, struggles at work, or economic struggles. People project their anger and frustration against those whom they think have no power to retaliate, such as pastors and other church leaders. This is called "triangulation" and it explains a lot of conflict in the church. Sometimes such people are driven by their concern (whether genuine or misplaced) for people in their own family. An old rural congregation, which was made up of a number of interlocked and intermarried families, simply made it impossible for their pastor to carry out church discipline for the wayward, because everyone defended their family members at any cost. Church leaders simply forbade the pastor to apply church discipline to anyone to whom they were related, which was everyone. Despite all their best intentions and their claims to having Christian love, family solidarity was more important to them than the divine truth.

 

Any of these situations can cause suffering, grief, and persecution in the lives of our pastors. How easy it is to lament such poor treatment and surreptitious persecution. One might even hope for more honest persecution that is overt and motivated by pure animosity and satanic hatred. However, like Christ our pastors ought to see such persecution and suffering as a source of pure joy; the cause through which our Lord's cross is being displayed in the world and His suffering is being glorified through our own. Our Lord uses such troubles to destroy our self-righteousness and our puffed up pride. He turns us back to Himself, by killing us through this suffering. We have no choice but to cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us (1Pt 5:7). Pastors sometimes complain about the "alligators" in their own congregations; the folks who spend all of their time carping and complaining about their ministry (or so it seems to him), we pastors should look at them as blessings from God sent to keep us humble and focused on the cross and suffering of our Lord.

 

Martin Luther

 

"Therefore let everyone who boasts of the Spirit see to it that he remains in order. If you are praised, know that you are not praised, but Christ is to whom all laud and glory are owed. That you teach the faith and live a holy life are not your gifts, but the gifts of God. Therefore you are not praised, but God is praised in you. Where you acknowledge this and you remain in order, you will not be puffed up with glory, 'What do you have that you did not receive' (1Cor 4:7)? But you offer what you have received to God. You will not be moved by riots, disgrace, or persecution. You will not desert your calling, etc.

 

"God daily overthrows by his singular grace our glory with disgraces, sharp disputations persecutions and the curses of the whole world, and on top of that the contempt and ingratitude of our own people, including the farm folk, city people, and the nobility, (who are hidden and secret enemies and persecutors against the gospel; greater enemies than those who persecute the faith openly), lest we should become proud about our gifts. This millstone of asses needs to be hung around our necks, so that we do not become infected with the disease of vainglory. For there are some among us who honor us on account of the ministry of the Word. But where is that one person who does honor us? On the other hand, there are hundreds who hate us, condemn us, and persecute us, etc. Therefore these blasphemies and persecutions of our adversaries and the colossal contempt, ingratitude, and the most painful and secret hatred of us among those with whom we live, are joyful sights, and they so exhilarate us so that we forget vainglory."

 

 Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians, 5.25    

 

Prayer       

 

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You suffered persecution, blasphemy, and an ignominious death for us. Grant those who lead the community redeemed by Your precious blood would accept in their lives similar suffering, that they may witness to the truth of Your gospel and bring the message of your love to the world. Amen

 

For John Hatteberg, that doctors and other medical professionals would properly diagnose him, so that health may be restored to him as a gift from God

 

For Jason Moreno, Jr., that the Lord would grant to him improved breathing

 

For all airline pilots and those who work in the air transportation system, that they would be kept safe in their travels

 

Art: D�RER, Albrecht  The Adoration of the Holy Trinity (1511)

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