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Our brother Charlie Kirk was assassinated because his love for Christ, for his country, and for others drove him to speak. He spoke openly and gave the microphone to whoever wanted to disagree with him. He was imperfect, of course, but he was gracious, kind, informed and increasingly influential.
I’ve watched him for years, and have watched his testimony become clearer during that time. Last Wednesday morning, I watched a couple of clips as I often do. In one of them, Charlie spoke so clearly of his love for Jesus. I thanked God that my brother was reaching so many with such a clear testimony. On Wednesday evening, Jesus welcomed him home.
Here are my thoughts about some of the things people are saying, in no particular order:
“It hurts“. I’ve seen many people expressing on social media, or to me personally, how much this hurts. People are saying they have never felt grief over the death of a public figure like they have this past week. Me too. God doesn’t expect us to respond to something like this with stoic resolve. If I saw a family member shot and brutally killed, it would stir all sorts of emotions. I did see that last week. I can’t unsee it. And it hurts. Let’s not hide our emotions; I’m sure that is not going to help. Obviously, we need to be wise with the swirling anger and rage that can be mixed in with the sorrow and grief, but pretending it doesn’t affect us would be a weird response under any circumstance. Let yourself grieve.
“Did I agree with everything he said?” Can I politely ask, what if I did? Why do we have to caveat anything and everything we say that might seem remotely political? Why do we often hesitate to speak up when others hold different opinions and might be upset? Self-censorship is becoming a crippling feature of society. I loved how joyfully confident Charlie was in the truth and, therefore, how little he needed to be defensive if someone disagreed with him or criticised him. I want to be more like that.
(Just for clarity, I do not agree with things taken out of context and attributed to him to smear him. Also, I have not checked his view on every issue, so I do not know if I agree with him on everything or not. My point is, what if I did? Are we allowed to have opinions? Or is it only permitted if we share those opinions deemed acceptable by the media?)
“The killer was just one mentally unstable person.” Thankfully, the murder of public figures is not an everyday occurrence in our society. It is in some places. It could become more common in the West. However, the problem may not be restricted to one lone gunman. This killer seems to have been radicalised by the same education system and cultural media that have obviously influenced countless thousands, judging by the disgusting reactions to Charlie’s death from so many. Why are we shocked when so many celebrate such a heinous act, or call for more of the same? Are our memories so short? It wasn’t long ago that significant numbers of people on social media, on mainstream media, and for some, in person, were wishing death on those people who chose not to take a certain medical intervention. Condoning or celebrating death based on opinions is a disgusting development of our time, but it didn’t start in the last week.
“Words are violence.” Actually, no, violence is violence. The prevailing ideology which says that words are violence directly feeds into this kind of atrocity. If words are violence, then physical violence can be justified as an act of self-defence. Feed that “words are violence” mindset with a constant stream of terrible slurs and lies, and there will be someone ready to perpetrate an evil act of violence. After all, the public are being repeatedly told of the danger to democracy posed by people like Charlie because they are __________ (you can guess the labels.) I think Charlie said something like, “The most important thing is to tell people about Jesus, and the second most important thing is to fight for the freedom to do the first most important thing.” We live in a society that is hurtling towards the loss of free speech, and I am perplexed that so many people seem so unconcerned about that, or think it is just a political matter that can be left for others to defend.
“This is all just about politics.” True, Charlie was an outspoken supporter of values that meant broad alignment with one side of the political divide, and he actively worked to campaign for one presidential candidate. Sadly, I don’t think people in Britain understand the American political scene, and many only see the twisted impression promoted by the British media. Nevertheless, we cannot keep acting as if politics and faith are totally distinct. Politics is not just made up of parties. It is also made up of issues: issues that impact the lives of people, issues that relate to morality, issues that matter to us as Jesus followers. I am not suggesting politics is the answer. No, Jesus is the answer. But many of the issues really matter, and we cannot, we must not, keep abdicating our responsibility to speak out about those issues appropriately.
Too many Christians act as if they are “above politics”, and they simply want to focus on the gospel. But for some, the driving motivation seems to be fear of ruffling the feathers of those who may disagree. I see that fear impulse in myself, too. Yes, let’s preach the gospel; it is the only hope for our world. But self-censoring out of fear is not the faith-filled approach to the life that we are called to as followers of Jesus. You don’t have to become a party-affiliated influencer, but let’s have the courage to speak about what is true, what is right, and what is good. Politics matters because people matter. We, of all people, should be ready to speak, precisely because we believe that people matter.
So we have a choice. Either we continue to shy away from anything that could be considered political, or we face the fact that there is an existential battle raging in our society that is much bigger than traditional left vs right policy squabbles. It is a spiritually charged battle of ideologies. It is about unaccountable control versus freedom. It is about death versus life. It is a clash of worldviews. We need to speak about issues that matter, even if we get labelled with a political slur (either way). No party will ever represent key biblical values perfectly, but can we stop hiding our heads in the sand and acting like we are somehow “above all that stuff?” We cannot be “above” freedom of speech, or morality and the redefinition of crime, or sexual ethics, or the protection of children, or assisted suicide, or abortion, or war, or terrorism, or compassion, or any number of other issues. Values drive agendas, which in turn drive policies, legislation, and ultimately, change, affecting people’s lives for better or worse. Some political issues are directly related to our Christian values, and so we must speak up.
“Charlie shouldn’t have been so outspoken.” Why? First, a lot of people are taking the British media slurs of “hateful”, “racist”, etc. as if they are accurate. Watch Charlie for yourself, don’t trust the BBC, Sky News, ITV, etc. Second, realise that if you or I were significant enough for the media to go after us, they would probably use some of the same derogatory labels for you and me. Unfair? That’s precisely my point. Third, many people, especially young people, admired Charlie for his courage in speaking out. Was it the silence of many church leaders on “controversial” issues that made so many young people flock to Charlie as a mentor from a distance? We would do well to consider that possibility and examine ourselves. I am doing that myself. Let’s not fall into the trap of fear. Speaking truth and the gospel may cost any of us our lives, but we should speak it anyway. With grace, of course. With kindness, absolutely. Christlike? Without a doubt. But silence, fear, and trying to be acceptable to a fallen world is not the Jesus way.
“If you live by the sword…” Can we be clear, please? Charlie lived “with two microphones” – he let people disagree, he listened to people, he encouraged dialogue, and he believed in open debate. He put people who disagreed with him at the front of the line. He spoke as a Christian, and he was killed for it. He didn’t live by the sword.
“There is hate speech and violence on both sides.” Can we find bad examples of individuals on all sides of political divides? Of course. Are there good-willed people on all sides of political issues? Absolutely. But this “both sides” line is a misleading and disingenuous summary. Compare and contrast the response to Charlie’s murder and other high-profile deaths. Where is the looting, the rioting, the destruction, etc.? Do we see Christians or political conservatives celebrating the deaths of others, or even worse, calling for the killing of more people they disagree with? No, we don’t. The way of Jesus is profoundly different. We are called to love our enemies and not to return evil for evil. Ideologies differ, and it shows. Let’s stop pretending every ideology is the same.
“He has been silenced.” No, he hasn’t. He has been amplified and multiplied. Charlie’s death is only going to raise up thousands of others like him who are ready to be courageous and speak for Christ and for the truth. God is going to build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
“What will the impact be?” We cannot know yet. I’ve seen people posting videos saying that they’ve been fearful in the past, but now they want to start speaking the truth, sharing their faith, and so on. I’ve seen people writing about buying their first Bible and beginning to read it. I’ve seen people asking where to go to church. When the five missionaries were martyred in Ecuador in 1956, nobody could have known the multiplication in missionary sending that would follow that atrocity. Perhaps Charlie Kirk’s death will turn out to be a turning point in history, too. Actually, not perhaps, but definitely. God knows what He is doing, even when evil seems to get the upper hand. He is building his church, and we know the end of the story. Somehow, in the midst of grief, indifference, and even evil celebration, God is working out His purposes, and we will eventually see that God does all things well.
“Things feel different.” My brother was assassinated, and I know many are feeling it deeply. However we’ve been impacted, may it make us all different. Perhaps more courageous, gracious, informed, and deeply committed to Jesus, to truth, to communication and to conversation. If speaking costs you your life on earth, is it worth it? I’m sure Charlie would say absolutely, Jesus is worth it.
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We sang these words on Sunday, words I am sure Charlie would have sung wholeheartedly:
The book of James is a fascinatingly practical epistle. Some have called it the Sermon on the Mount in letter form. On the one hand, we shouldn’t expect anything less than practical from the son of a carpenter. On the other hand, we don’t want to miss the profound theological thrust of the letter.
After addressing issues of suffering, true religion, favouritism, the use of the tongue, and the right kind of wisdom, we arrive at James chapter 4. Now, James drills below the practical matters of the letter. Yes, there is a gap between conduct and confession, which seems to bother James. We could frame this as a gap between past habits and new identity, but James presents a more significant gap that we must face.
In James 4:1-3, he goes below the surface to explain what is going on and what is going wrong with his readers. Why do they have conflict? Very simply, it is because of the passions that bubble away inside them. Their conflict comes from their wants, like shoppers fighting to get bargains at the opening of a sale, like children fighting over the happy meals in McDonald’s, or even like chicks pushing to be in prime position to receive the worm from the mother that is bringing food into the nest . . . we clash, because we want.
It is encouraging to see James give a glimpse of the heart of our Father. We only need to ask since he is willing to feed us. So, the problem is inside each one of us – our selfish desires cause havoc in our lives.
What is the solution? Our world and Western tradition tend to tell us that self-control is the solution to our passions. Yes, we have an engine that moves us along, but we need to get a grip on the steering wheel and take control of ourselves. Interestingly, James does not instruct his readers to get a grip. Instead, he gives them a glimpse of what is happening inside God.
In James 4:4-6, we see inside God’s heart. What do we find? We see his jealousy over his people; he calls them “adulteresses.” James is not focusing on the women of the church; he is focusing on the people of the church, who are the bride of Christ. As the bride of Christ, we are flirting with the world. And God’s heart is grieved. It is jealously yearning for us to come back to him.
Here is the real gap that we need to face. Not just the gap between our conduct and our confession, nor even the gap between our past habits and our new identity. It is the growing gap between our hearts and his. Where there is unfaithfulness, God yearns for us to return. Where there is drift, God yearns for us to come close.
James 4 is like God has sat us down in a chair and confronted us with our drift. “What is going on?” We seem to be far from him. We seem to be motivated by other things. It may be overt unfaithfulness, or it may be signs of drift. It may be something that is not bad in itself, but it has become more important than him. Our career, bank balance, hobbies, favourite sports team. Just as we see in Hebrews 12:1-2, there is sin that entangles and everything that hinders—bad things, “good things,” but alternatives to him.
So, how do we respond when God lovingly confronts us for the drift in our spiritual marriage? If we stick out our chests and get defensive, claiming the right to define our spiritual health on our terms, then we reek of pride. God opposes the proud (James 4:6), but will we humbly admit the drift?
In James 4:7-10, we have the wonderful invitation. If we humble ourselves, submit to God, and resist the devil, we can draw near to God. We deserve his rejection, but that was also true before the cross. God loves us and gave Jesus to win our hearts to him. And as we drift, he continues to love us and waits with arms open to welcome us back to him. There may need to be mourning and grief over our unfaithfulness. Turning to our heavenly bridegroom should break our hearts as we see our waywardness and drift. But as we resist the devil and repent, turning back to our bridegroom, we will find that he also draws near to us.
The most critical gap in Christianity is the gap that can develop between our hearts and his. He may take James 4, sit us down in a chair, and confront us with our adulterous drift. But he does so lovingly, longingly yearning for our hearts to draw near to him. And as we do, he will draw near to us.
Please check out the new Biblical Preaching Podcast – in this episode, Peter Mead and Mike Chalmers discuss the four most important questions for all in ministry:
We always preach to a mixed crowd. The mix may differ, but the one thing we can be sure of is that there will be a mix. Older and younger, male and female, biblically aware, newcomers to the Bible, church regulars and guests, and so on. In fact, in the latest episode of The Biblical Preaching Podcast, we work through six types of mix that we often have in our churches.
In this series of posts, I will share five principles to think through as preachers:
1. We must believe the Bible can be effectively presented to mixed groups simultaneously. Traditionally, many churches have targeted their preaching at either believers or not-yet-believers. So you might have an evangelistic event and a Bible study separately. However, it is possible to preach the Bible to believers and non-believers simultaneously. And if we do that, we might avoid some of the mistakes that come from assuming Christians have moved past the gospel (see Galatians 3:1-3 for a strong warning on this!)
2. We should assume a greater mix than we can see in a congregation. There are two reasons for this. First, because there is a greater mix than we can see. People may look similar on the outside but be very different in reality. And second, we should assume a greater mix because we want a greater mix than we can see. For example, how will people in a small church that often has no guests present be confident to bring guests in? One way will be for the preacher to consistently preach as if guests are present so that church members grow in confidence that they can bring a guest and it won’t feel awkward. Preach to the mix you have, and preach for the mix you want.
I am very pleased to announce that my new book, The New Birth, has now also been released in the USA.
If you would like a copy of the book and will see me in person during January/February, please ask. (I will be in Oregon, St Louis and Chicago.) To order the book from my affiliate link in the USA – click here. (To order the book from my affiliate link in the UK/Europe – click here.)
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the book! (Please comment on this post if you’ve read the book already, but I would also greatly appreciate any positive reviews on 10ofthose, Amazon, GoodReads, etc.)
Endorsements
“Peter Mead presents this essential doctrine in a way that warm, clear, rich, and readable. The book is accessible and engaging, and the addition of stories and reflection questions at the end of each chapter enables us to consider and imagine the way that the truth of the gospel can and should shape our lives. This is a lovely and helpful book—a great introduction to those new to or exploring faith, and a refreshing encouragement to those who have been Christians for a while.”
Ellidh Cook, Student Worker at All Souls Langham Place, London
“This tiny book conveys a huge reality: that Jesus came to raise spiritually dead people into abundant life! Peter Mead’s insights into the new birth that Jesus offers are both pastorally wise and profoundly helpful.”
Philip Miller, Senior Pastor, The Moody Church, Chicago
“When I became a Christian, I didn’t really grasp what had happened. It was an infinitely bigger deal than I realised-it was (and is) beyond my wildest dreams. Peter has given us an excellent primer into this huge adventure. This lovely, heart-warming book opens up the foundational truth of the new birth. As with the rest of the Essentials series, it is short and simple, yet full of deep and delightful teaching.”
Jonathan Thomas, pastor, author & broadcaster
“I found Peter Mead’s The New Birth contribution to the Essentials’ series most helpful, because it weaves together our story with the big story of Scripture through the lens of the work of the Holy Spirit. Taking as its anchor point Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, it wonderfully explains the theology and the felt experience of Christian conversion, and all along there are thrilling stories of how the Spirit transformed the likes of Spurgeon, Whitefield, C.S. Lewis, and modern men and women.”
I have noticed something strange. Many Christians will acknowledge the existence and the general agenda of Satan. They will affirm that he is alive and active on planet Earth. Yes, they recognize that he hates God and God’s people. Yes, he hates truth and wants to steal, kill and destroy. Yes, he wants to tempt us into rebellion, crush us under guilt, and destroy all that is good, beautiful and anything that has even the faintest reflection of God’s character.
And yet, oddly, as quickly as those affirmations are made, that awareness seems to evaporate just as quickly. For many Christians, the devil appears to be a very limited antagonist. He might get some vague credit (for want of a better term) for any temptation we consciously notice. Still, he gets specific credit for very little activity.
For example, suppose the subject of the occult is raised with the related concepts of devil worship, seances, fortune telling, etc. Many will shudder and point to the enemy’s works in that case. But is that the whole story? Is Satan just tempting us as individuals and running a relatively obscure dark religious operation?
Let’s take a few moments to review some essential biblical background.
Origins of Satan – The name Satan means adversary and came to be applied to the greatest adversary of all – the devil. It is a well-earned label!
What we know of his origins is described primarily in Ezekiel 28:11-19, where it is clear that prideful arrogance was the key driver of his original fall from perfection. Since his fall, his primary domain has been Earth and Sheol. We see him cursed by God in Genesis 3 – the one whose goal was to be the most high became the most low, eating dirt close to the underworld.
Influence in the world – The big question in this post essentially relates to his influence. According to 1 John 5:19, the whole world is under the control of the evil one. He is called the ‘prince of this world’ on several occasions (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). He influences through lies, especially the original lie that we humans can be like God, and he masquerades as an angel of light, deceiving people (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:14). There are plenty of people whose spiritual father is the devil, and it is possible to identify them by their actions and their lack of love (John 8:44; Matthew 13:36-40; Acts 13:10; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 3:10)
Influence over nations – He rules the nations and tried to strike a deal with Jesus in exchange for Jesus bowing down to him. Still, Jesus did not affirm his ultimate ownership of the nations and did not bow down. Jesus knew and trusted that, at the right time, the Father would give the nations to him. (See Matthew 4:10.) Jesus confronted the power of evil by casting out demons from people. It is evident that Satan commands the realms of darkness (see 1 John 3:8). What Jesus began in his ministry, he is continuing – building his church and the “gates of hell” continue to be unable to resist the onslaught. Satan is on the defensive.
Influence in the Church – Paul wrote to the Romans, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20). Yet, it would be naïve to assume that Satan does not influence the church. While our minds might go to Judas Iscariot, whom Satan influenced (John 13:2) and then entered (John 13:27), we do not need to live in fear of being taken over by the evil one. We belong to God, who is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4). However, we should recognize that discord, anger, unforgiveness and resentment can provide an opportunity to the devil, and we should actively resist him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9).
Our hope as the spiritual warrages – Because of Jesus’ victory over the rulers and authorities on the cross (see Colossians 2:13-15), Satan’s power of death is now broken (see Hebrews 2:14-15). We now know that death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). And yet, the one who comes only to steal and kill and destroy does not give up easily (John 10:10). His ultimate downfall is already determined; he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). In the meantime, he fights on. Indeed, as his time gets short, we might expect him to offer a big final push, but we know the end of the story.
The hole in our spiritual warfare – So, what is missing in our understanding of the spiritual battle that we are in? Satan exists and is active on earth. Yes, he does tempt us and would delight to see us derailed by sin and defiled by discord. And yes, the occult does exist, and some people are drawn into religious acts of pure evil. But at the start of this post, I suggested our view of Satan may be too small. Is Satan just tempting us as individuals and running a relatively obscure dark religious operation?
To be candid, I have been struck by how much we are inclined to bury our heads in the sand regarding evil in this world. “Oh yes,” people will affirm, “Satan is real, and we are in a spiritual battle.” But mention some specific aspects of society and watch the response change:
Could there be evil at work in news reporting designed to shape our thinking? “No way, we can trust the news media.”
Might the enemy be shaping education to harm children?
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
What about medical professionals who seem driven by something other than ‘first do no harm?’
“Of course not! The doctors I know are good people.”
What about government decisions that seem to benefit them but harm people and cost lives?
“Absolutely not! They have our best interests at heart.”
What about unelected and unaccountable groups of the hyper-rich and influential seeking to gain control over ordinary people?
“If such groups exist, then I’m sure they mean well.”
What about influential people who have publicly declared the global population needs to be reduced by whatever means?
“Of course not; they only want to help the poor!”
What about the entertainment industry that so fills our consciousness?
“Oh, but I like him, she’s my favourite, etc.”
It does not mean much to acknowledge that Satan is real and active if we then immediately deny that he could be at work in almost every layer of human authority and influence. And I would suggest we are utterly naïve if we don’t believe that the prevailing paradigm of our day, with its “lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God”, is influenced by Satan. (See 2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
In the past, Christians seemed ready to recognize the malevolence of hedonism or materialism as it confronted our worldview in the so-called “Christian West” or the evils of totalitarian regimes in the East. But today, too many Christians seem happy to play along with and believe the best about media-driven narratives concerning identity politics, critical theories, social justice, weather worship, globalist agendas, neo-communist ideologies, uncontrolled immigration and encroaching violent religion. Are we sure that we should ‘believe the best’ and ‘affirm the good’ in all the ideas swirling around and in all the layers of authority setting themselves up over us?
Perhaps it is time for us to fix our eyes on Jesus and recognize that we are genuine outsiders in this world and that we will be hated by it. And yet we are here as ambassadors to represent God’s truth, to share the hope of Jesus, to stand for what is right and to not love our lives even unto death. Let’s stop smiling at the devil as if he is an insignificant foe. Let us instead armour up, stand firm, be ready to speak, be prayerful as if we are in a war (for we are), and when we have done everything we can, to stand.
The book of Psalms tends to become a favourite for people who have faced some challenges in life. Perhaps you have experienced grief over the loss of a loved one, discouragement during a dark season of life, or any other challenges that set the Psalms into vivid colour in our hearts. Once we know of the soul food kept in that storehouse, we tend to find ourselves returning again and again.
Sometimes the Psalm writer has found words for the ache in my heart. Other times the psalmist points my heart to where it needs to be looking. The book of Psalms is a real treasure – a refreshing spring for the weary times we all have to endure.
The book of Psalms sits at the centre of our Bibles for the times we are just reading through. Maybe there is no experienced crisis that leads us to this vast collection of Hebrew poetry. Sometimes, we will find ourselves reading it simply because it comes next in our Bible reading. It can be a great experience to read it through with fresh eyes and notice the uniqueness of each Psalm and the recurring themes.
Let’s look at the first Psalm of book five – Psalm 107. This Psalm sets the tone for the section that will follow. It begins as you might expect, with a call to thank our good God for his enduring, steadfast love. This call goes out to all who have been redeemed and rescued by God (v1-3).
Then we find ourselves walking through four examples of challenging circumstances from which God rescues his people:
First, we read of the weary wilderness wanderers failing to find a place of sanctuary (v4-9). They cried to the LORD, and he delivered them. (Those words will come up again.) So, with stomachs full and souls satisfied, the psalmist encourages them to thank the LORD for his steadfast love.
Second, we read of the helpless prisoners, tired and broken by hard labour (v10-16). They cried to the LORD, and he delivered them. With their bonds broken and bodies set free, they are called to thank the LORD for his steadfast love.
Third, we read of the afflicted starving to death, suffering for their sin and facing their demise (v17-22). They cried to the LORD, and he delivered them. With healed bodies and joyful hearts, they are invited to thank the LORD for his steadfast love.
Fourth, we read of the fear-filled seafarers, tossed to and fro by the raging seas, despairing and at their wit’s end (v23-32). This example gives more vivid detail, but again, they cried to the LORD, and he delivered them (see v 6, 13, 19 and 28). With the storm stilled and safely brought back to the fellowship of humans on shore, they are encouraged to thank the LORD for his steadfast love (see v8, 15, 21, 31)
The final section of the Psalm underlines some of the points made throughout. God is in charge. Just as he can bring about change in nature (v33-38), he can reverse his people’s fortunes (v39-42). And so, the final verse ensures we have not missed the point. If we are wise, we will ponder what this Psalm says. Indeed, if we are wise, we will ponder, contemplate, consider and meditate on the steadfast love of the LORD (v43).
The Psalm begins and ends with the spotlight on the steadfast love of God. The Psalm invites us to consider four examples of people in dire straits who called out to God and discovered why they should thank God for that steadfast love.
Perhaps Psalm 107 is the food for thought that we need. It could be that we feel like we are close to death or tossed in every direction and despairing of life itself. Or it could be that we are calmly moving through the second half of 2022, thankful for God’s blessing and a season of tranquillity and peace. Whatever may be going on around us, Psalm 107 suggests what should be happening inside us. We should be considering the steadfast love of God. Honestly, it is hard to think of a wiser thing to do.
Charles Spurgeon wrote about the minister’s “fainting fits” in his first series of lectures to his students. He wrote, “Good men are promised tribulation in this world, and ministers may expect a larger share than others, that they may learn sympathy with the Lord’s suffering people, and so may be fitting shepherds for an ailing flock.”
The ministry of preaching seems to be fertile ground for discouragement. It is so easy to feel deterred, disheartened or hindered in some way. Sometimes it is only a feeling, but this doesn’t change its influence on us.
The New Testament has a lot to say about not fainting, growing weary or losing heart. Paul writes of the perishing state of our outward man, while at the same time the inward man is being renewed. But what about times when that doesn’t feel like the reality we are living in?
Tomorrow I’d like to ponder several factors that may be leading to discouragement. Then by the end of the week we’ll ponder some pathways forward.
According to John Stott, “Discouragement is the occupational hazard of Christian ministry.”
Let’s throw in a bit of Luther too, who apparently stated, “If I should write of the heavy burden of a godly preacher, which he must carry and endure, as I know from my own experience, I would scare every man from the office of preaching.”
Our experience agrees that these great preachers knew what they were talking about. Let’s ponder together what the contributing factors may be, and what might be done about it.
And let’s pray for others too. Perhaps you know a preacher who is facing discouragement in some form. Maybe one who is unwell, or who’s context is particularly challenging. Why not pray for their hearts to be encouraged this week? Maybe link to this post and tell them you prayed for them? The battle we are in is too much for any of us to go on alone.
Biblical Preaching 