I said yesterday in my sermon that in the United States, identifying with Jesus may get you outcast, it may get you ostracized from your family, but it doesn’t get you killed…or not on a widespread basis at least…

And then yesterday afternoon I heard about Pastor Fred Winters of Maryville, IL being gunned down while he was preaching his sermon yesterday morning at First Baptist Church of Maryville. It was a sobering moment for me. It could just as easily happen here in Jefferson City. I wanted to share some of the things that have been rolling around in my brain in the hopes that they may help us think Biblically about what happened yesterday:

*** The event is no doubt a shock and a trauma to his family, friends, and church. To have something so violent happen so fast and so publicly, it has undoubtedly shaken many people. And there is sadness and grief and many emotions to process. There will be difficult and heart-wrenching days ahead for his wife, children, and church. They need our prayer. The Bible says to weep with those who weep and to mourn with those who mourn. We should heed Biblical advice.

*** Identifying with Jesus is dangerous. Jesus said exactly that in John 15: 18 - 21

*** Fred Winters is not the first Christian to be murdered. He certainly won’t be the last. The Bible is not unfamiliar with events like what happened yesterday. There was a man named Stephen who preached and was murdered for the words he spoke. As we read the story of his death, it sheds important insight into how to process news stories we read today.

First, the hope we have as Christians is that by identifying with Jesus - when we die, whether that death is violent or peaceful in our sleep, we are not lost. We are received. More importantly…we are received by Jesus!!! And while the events that cause our death no doubt create hard emotions and situations, as followers of Jesus when we die, we are dispatched to paradise!!! Stephen was welcomed by God Himself and has been seated in paradise ever since. Fred Winters today, sits in the same place. Received by Jesus.

Second, there is a tendency in the human heart to cry out for justice when something like this happens. There is a tendency to hate. There is a tendency to want revenge. There is a tendency to demand retribution. Look at Stephen’s story closely…he didn’t demand revenge. He begged God to forgive them and not hold their actions against them. Stephen knew that the only thing worse than his death is for someone to not be forgiven of their sin and to perish in hell forever. Stephen’s cry is a profound echo of the Savior he saw ready to welcome him. Just as Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do..” , Stephen modeled for us that men perishing in their sin is horrific. It is a worse tragedy than any hurt they could inflict on a Christian. He saw heaven open up before him and passionately, even as he was dying, wanted all men to see the same glory rather than perish in their sin. It is at times like this that Jesus command to “Love Your Enemies” blows our minds…but the Bible does that..it breaks our natural tendencies and beckons us to God’s perspective…

*** Life is short…it is fragile…is can end at any moment. Do I live with that reality? Do I feel that reality? Does that reality affect me in Biblical ways? Or am I living like life will never end…

*** I thank God for the men who preach the Gospel every week and for the millions of Christians around the world who identify with Jesus even if it means that it will cost them their life. May God continue to grow our courage to lovingly identify with Jesus and lay down our lives for our enemies. It is the Jesus way…