Missionary Renegade

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

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Daily Guide/Daily Devotion grow. pray. study. from The Resurrection United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 - “'All in' for the kingdom of heaven"

Daily Scripture: Matthew 13:44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, hid it again, then in great joy went and sold everything he owned, and bought that field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. 46 On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it.

Reflection Questions:
In these compact stories, Jesus told of two people who “laid it all on the line” in order to gain a one-of-a-kind treasure. Their actions seemed odd in the short term—we can imagine their friends and family asking, “What do you think you’re doing?” Yet in light of the treasure they had found, their initially puzzling choices and values were right on target.

What changes and choices have felt (or feel) to you like the “costs” of following Jesus? Jesus' stories taught that this temporary, temporal world is a drop of water in the spiritual ocean of eternity. How has Jesus added inner richness, meaning and beauty to your here-and-now life? What is helping you grow into a deep-seated trust that eternity in God’s kingdom is worth whatever it might “cost” you today to follow Jesus?
Jesus said the man who found the treasure went “full of joy” to obtain the field. Far too many people have experienced faith in Jesus as a source of guilt and heaviness, not of joy. What parts (if any) of serving Jesus, and others in Jesus' name, have brought you the most joy? In what ways is this joy deeper than the surface happiness our world tends to offer?

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for using these short stories to teach big ideas about your kingdom and its value. Guide me through your Spirit as I seek to live into those big ideas in my everyday life. Amen.Insights from Wendy Connelly

Wendy Connelly, wife to Mark and mom to Lorelei & Gryffin, is Community Outreach Director at the Leawood campus, a graduate student at Saint Paul School of Theology, Faith Walk columnist for the Kansas City Star, and co-leads the “Live and Let Think” dialogues at Resurrection Downtown.
Being “all in” for the kingdom calls to my mind the experience of falling in love. The initial, wrecking waves of emotion; the swooning, exaggerated gestures nauseating passers-by; and the tunnel-vision that so fills the attention and faculties of the love-struck can leave those on the outside dumb-struck, scratching their heads. But for the pair caught up in romance, they are happy fools–all lesser things fall away.
“To be wise and love,” writes Shakespeare, “exceeds man’s might.”
So it goes, I think, with the divine romance. God, like a great lover, pursues us. Rescues us. Wrecks us. The entire biblical narrative, from the first question of the Torah, records this quest: “Ayeka, Adam?” “Ayeka, Eve?” … Where are you?
When we, the beloved, recognize that God laid it all on the line for us, and grasp the weight of this cosmic gesture, we become wooed to the kingdom. It’s why the saints were known as “God’s fools”—they were “all in,” entranced by love, willing to risk everything for the One who Is everything. And in this strange and upside-down kingdom, the treasures of life belong to God’s fools.

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The L'Arche Canada Foundation in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada Daily Thought by Jean Vanier for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 "Avoiding the Cancer of Community Life"

One of the greatest sins of a community is perhaps a sort of sadness and moroseness. It is easy to spend time with a few friends, criticizing others, saying that we are fed up and that nothing is like it was in the old days. This state of spirit, which you can read on people's faces, is a real cancer that can spread right through the body. Sadness, like love and joy, comes in waves which immediately spread. We can nourish people with trust and love or we can poison them with sadness and all sorts of criticism.[Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, page 185]
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Daily Hope with Rick Warren from The Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, United States "Do You Clean the House Before the Maid Gets There?" by Rick Warren — Wednesday, 1 July 2015

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES
40 Days of Love

“God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT, second edition)
Everything that Jesus did for you he did out of love. The Bible says that God made you to love you. The only reason you’re alive is because you were made to be loved by God.
God didn’t just say he loved you; he showed it. The Bible says, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”(Romans 5:8 NLT, second edition). It says while we were still sinners. Before you even knew God, before you even knew you needed God in your life, Jesus died for you.
There’s a myth that says you’ve got to clean up your act before you can come to God: “I’ve got to get it all together. There are a few things I’ve got to get right in my life first, and then I’ll go to God.”
It’s like when we brush our teeth before we go to the dentist to have a teeth cleaning or when we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher or when we pick up the house before the maid gets there!
God says, “No, no! You don’t have to clean up your act. Just bring it all to me. Bring me all your problems. I have all the answers. Come as you are.”
The Bible says, “You will be saved, if you honestly say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others” (Romans 10:9-10 CEV).
God is not asking you to make a promise you cannot keep. God is asking you to believe a promise that only he can keep.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over:

What are the things you’ve been trying to clean up before you approach God?
How do you think it makes God feel to be rejected by his creation?
What does it mean to you that God accepts you just as you are?

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The Harvest Ministry Daily Devotion by Greg Laurie from The Harvest Church in Riverside, California, United States for Wednesday, July 1, 2015 "Let Him Lift That Load"

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.[James 2:10]
The Ten Commandments were not given to make us holy; they were given to show us that we are not holy. The commandments were given to show us that we need Jesus. The Bible says they are like a schoolmaster (kind of an old King James word). The idea is that of a disciplinarian. The commandments were given to say, in essence, "You can't do this on your own."
They are like a moral mirror. When you look at them, you say, "Uh-oh. I'm not measuring up." Every one of us has broken the commandments.
Someone may say, "Yeah, that might be true, but I haven't broken that many. I've only broken a couple of them."
Maybe. Or maybe not. The Bible says, "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws" (James 2:10). If you have broken even one commandment, it's enough to keep you from God and to separate you from Him.
The commandments were given to drive us into the open arms of Jesus. That's why Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Have you ever been carrying around something that was very heavy and had someone say, "Here, let me take that from you"? That is what Jesus is saying. "Let Me lift that load. Let Me ease your pain. Let Me give you relief. Right now. Come to Me," He says.
That is the message of what happened at the Cross. He died for our sins and paid the price for every wrong we have ever done. And if we will turn from our sins and believe in Him, then we will be forgiven.
Share this today:

Have you ever been carrying around something that was very heavy and had someone say, "Here, let me take that from you"? That is what Jesus is saying.
Today's Bible Reading
Isaiah 1:1 This is the vision of Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz, which he saw concerning Y’hudah and Yerushalayim during the days of ‘Uziyahu, Yotam, Achaz and Y’chizkiyahu, kings of Y’hudah:

2 “Hear, heaven! Listen, earth!

For Adonai is speaking.

“I raised and brought up children,

but they rebelled against me.

3 An ox knows its owner

and a donkey its master’s stall,

but Isra’el does not know,

my people do not reflect.

4 “Oh, sinful nation,

a people weighed down by iniquity,

descendants of evildoers,

immoral children!

They have abandoned Adonai,

spurned the Holy One of Isra’el,

turned their backs on him!

5 “Where should I strike you next,

as you persist in rebelling?

The whole head is sick,

the whole heart diseased.

6 From the sole of the foot to the head

there is nothing healthy,

only wounds, bruises and festering sores

that haven’t been dressed or bandaged

or softened up with oil.

7 “Your land is desolate,

your cities are burned to the ground;

foreigners devour your land in your presence;

it’s as desolate as if overwhelmed by floods.

8 The daughter of Tziyon is left

like a shack in a vineyard,

like a shed in a cucumber field,

like a city under siege.”

9 If Adonai-Tzva’ot had not left us

a tiny, tiny remnant,

we would have become like S’dom,

we would have resembled ‘Amora.

10 Hear what Adonai says,

you rulers of S’dom!

Listen to God’s Torah,

you people of ‘Amora!

11 “Why are all those sacrifices

offered to me?” asks Adonai.

“I’m fed up with burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of fattened animals!

I get no pleasure from the blood

of bulls, lambs and goats!

12 Yes, you come to appear in my presence;

but who asked you to do this,

to trample through my courtyards?

13 Stop bringing worthless grain offerings!

They are like disgusting incense to me!

Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations —

I can’t stand evil together with your assemblies!

14 Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh

and your festivals;

they are a burden to me —

I’m tired of putting up with them!

15 “When you spread out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

no matter how much you pray,

I won’t be listening;

because your hands are covered with blood.

16 “Wash yourselves clean!

Get your evil deeds out of my sight!

Stop doing evil, 17 learn to do good!

Seek justice, relieve the oppressed,

defend orphans, plead for the widow.

18 “Come now,” says Adonai,

“let’s talk this over together.

Even if your sins are like scarlet,

they will be white as snow;

even if they are red as crimson,

they will be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good of the land;

20 but if you refuse and rebel,

you will be eaten by the sword”;

for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.

21 How the faithful city has become a whore!

Once she was filled with justice,

righteousness lodged in her;

but now murderers!

22 Your silver is no longer pure,

your wine is watered down.

23 Your leaders are rebels, friends of thieves.

They all love bribes and run after gifts.

They give no justice to orphans,

the widow’s complaint doesn’t catch their attention.

24 “Therefore,” says the Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,

the Mighty One of Isra’el,

“I will free myself of my adversaries,

I will take vengeance on my enemies.

25 But I will also turn my hand against you!

I will cleanse your impurities as with lye

and remove all your alloyed base metal.

26 I will restore your judges as at first

and your advisers as at the beginning.

After that, you will be called

the City of Righteousness, Faithful City.

27 Tziyon will be redeemed by justice;

and those in her who repent, by righteousness.

28 “Rebels and sinners together will be broken

and those who abandon Adonai be consumed.

29 You will be ashamed of the sacred oaks you desired,

you will blush at the gardens you chose;

30 for you will be like an oak whose leaf fades,

like a garden without any water.

31 The strong will be like tinder

and [the idol’s] maker like a spark;

both will burn together,

and no one will put them out.”

2:1 This is the word that Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz saw concerning Y’hudah and Yerushalayim:

2 In the acharit-hayamim

the mountain of Adonai’s house

will be established as the most important mountain.

It will be regarded more highly than the other hills,

and all the Goyim will stream there.

3 Many peoples will go and say,

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Adonai,

to the house of the God of Ya‘akov!

He will teach us about his ways,

and we will walk in his paths.”

For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah,

the word of Adonai from Yerushalayim.

4 He will judge between the nations

and arbitrate for many peoples.

Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades

and their spears into pruning-knives;

nations will not raise swords at each other,

and they will no longer learn war.

5 Descendants of Ya‘akov, come!

Let’s live in the light of Adonai!

6 For you have abandoned your people

the house of Ya‘akov.

Now they are filled from the east,

full of sorcerers, like the P’lishtim;

even the children of foreigners

are enough for them!

7 Their land is full of silver and gold;

They have no end of treasures.

Their land is full of horses;

They have no end of chariots.

8 Their land is full of idols;

everyone worships the work of his hands,

what his own fingers have made.

9 A person bows down, a man lowers himself —

don’t forgive them!

10 Come into the rock, hide in the dust

to escape the terror of Adonai

and the glory of his majesty.

11 The proud looks of man will be humiliated;

the arrogance of men will be bowed down;

and when that day comes,

Adonai alone will be exalted.

12 Yes, Adonai-Tzva’ot has a day in store

for all who are proud and lofty,

for all who are lifted high to be humiliated;

13 for all cedars of the L’vanon that are high and lifted up,

for all the oaks of the Bashan;

14 for all the high mountains,

for all the hills that are lifted up;

15 for every high tower,

for every fortified wall;

16 for every “Tarshish” ship,

for every luxurious vessel.

17 The pride of man will be bowed down,

the arrogance of men will be humiliated,

and when that day comes,

Adonai alone will be exalted.

18 The idols will be completely abolished.

19 People will enter cracks in the rocks

and holes in the ground

to escape the terror of Adonai

and his glorious majesty,

when he sets out to convulse the earth.

20 On that day a man will take hold

of his idols of silver and idols of gold,

which they made for themselves to worship,

and fling them away to the moles and bats!

21 Then they will enter the cracks in the rocks

and the crevices in the cliffs

to escape the terror of Adonai

and his glorious majesty,

when he sets out to convulse the earth.

22 Stop relying on man,

in whose nostrils is a mere breath —

after all, he doesn’t count for much,

does he?

3:1 For see! The Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,

will remove from Yerushalayim and Y’hudah

every kind of support —

all reserves of food and water;

2 heroes and warriors, judges and prophets,

diviners and leaders, 3 captains of fifty,

men of rank and advisers,

skillful magicians and expert enchanters.

4 I will put children in authority;

capriciousness will govern them.

5 People will oppress each other —

everyone his friend, everyone his neighbor.

The young will be insolent toward their elders,

the insignificant arrogant toward the respected.

6 A man will take hold of his brother

in his father’s house and say,

“You have a coat, so rule us!

Take charge of this ruin!”

7 But on that day, he will protest,

“I don’t have a remedy,

I lack food and clothing for my own house;

don’t put me in charge of people!”

8 For Yerushalayim is ruined,

and Y’hudah has fallen;

because their words and deeds defy Adonai,

in open provocation of his glory.

9 Their very look witnesses against them!

They parade their sin, like S’dom;

they don’t even try to hide it —

all the worse for them! —

they bring evil on themselves.

10 Say that it will go well with the righteous,

that they will enjoy the fruit of their actions;

11 but woe to the wicked, it will go badly with him;

for what he has done will be done to him.

12 My people — children oppress them,

and women are ruling over them.

My people! Your guides lead you astray

and obliterate the paths you should follow.

13 Adonai rises to accuse,

he stands to judge the peoples.

14 Adonai presents the indictment

against the leaders and officers of his people:

“It is you who devour the vineyard;

in your houses is plunder taken from the poor.

15 What do you mean by crushing my people

and grinding down the faces of the poor?”

says Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot.

16 Moreover Adonai says:

“Because Tziyon’s women are so proud,

walking with their heads in the air

and throwing seductive glances,

moving with mincing steps

and jingling their anklets —

17 Adonai will strike the crown of the heads

of Tziyon’s women with sores,

and Adonai will expose their private parts.”

18 On that day Adonai will take away their finery — their anklets, medallions and crescents, 19 their pendants, bracelets and veils; 20 their headbands, armlets, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets, 21 rings and nose-jewels; 22 their fine dresses, wraps, shawls, handbags, 23 gauze scarves, linen underclothes, turbans and capes. 24 Then, there will be

instead of perfume, a stench;

instead of a belt, a rope;

instead of well-set hair, a shaved scalp;

instead of a rich robe, a sackcloth skirt;

and a slave-brand instead of beauty.

25 Your men will fall by the sword

and your warriors in battle.

26 Her gates will lament and mourn;

ravaged, she will sit on the ground.

Titus 3:1 Remind people to submit to the government and its officials, to obey them, to be ready to do any honorable kind of work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be friendly, and to behave gently towards everyone.

3 For at one time, we too were foolish and disobedient, deceived and enslaved by a variety of passions and pleasures. We spent our lives in evil and envy; people hated us, and we hated each other. 4 But when the kindness and love for mankind of God our Deliverer was revealed, 5 he delivered us. It was not on the ground of any righteous deeds we had done, but on the ground of his own mercy. He did it by means of the mikveh of rebirth and the renewal brought about by the Ruach HaKodesh, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Yeshua the Messiah, our Deliverer. 7 He did it so that by his grace we might come to be considered righteous by God and become heirs, with the certain hope of eternal life. 8 You can trust what I have just said, and I want you to speak with confidence about these things, so that those who have put their trust in God may apply themselves to doing good deeds. These are both good in themselves and valuable to the community.

9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile. 10 Warn a divisive person once, then a second time; and after that, have nothing more to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a person has been perverted and is sinning: he stands self-condemned.

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you. Do your best to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to help Zenas the Torah expert and Apollos with their arrangements for travelling, so that they will lack nothing. 14 And have our people learn to apply themselves to doing good deeds that meet genuine needs, so that they will not be unproductive.

15 All who are with me send you greetings. Give our greetings to our friends in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie
P.O. Box 4000

Riverside, California 92514-4000 United States

Phone: 1-800-821-3300
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 - God’s Restoring Truth" Scripture: John 18:1-18, 25-27

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 - God’s Restoring Truth" Scripture: John 18:1 After Yeshua had said all this, he went out with his talmidim across the stream that flows in winter through the Vadi Kidron, to a spot where there was a grove of trees; and he and his talmidim went into it. 2 Now Y’hudah, who was betraying him, also knew the place; because Yeshua had often met there with his talmidim. 3 So Y’hudah went there, taking with him a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Temple guards provided by the head cohanim and the P’rushim; they carried weapons, lanterns and torches. 4 Yeshua, who knew everything that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Whom do you want?” 5 “Yeshua from Natzeret,” they answered. He said to them, “I AM.” Also standing with them was Y’hudah, the one who was betraying him. 6 When he said, “I AM,” they went backward from him and fell to the ground. 7 So he inquired of them once more, “Whom do you want?” and they said, “Yeshua from Natzeret.” 8 “I told you, ‘I AM,’” answered Yeshua, “so if I’m the one you want, let these others go.” 9 This happened so that what he had said might be fulfilled, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

10 Then Shim‘on Kefa, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the cohen hagadol, cutting off his right ear; the slave’s name was Melekh. 11 Yeshua said to Kefa, “Put your sword back in its scabbard! This is the cup the Father has given me; am I not to drink it?”

12 So the detachment of Roman soldiers and their captain, together with the Temple Guard of the Judeans, arrested Yeshua, tied him up, 13 and took him first to ‘Anan, the father-in-law of Kayafa, who was cohen gadol that fateful year. 14 (It was Kayafa who had advised the Judeans that it would be good for one man to die on behalf of the people.) 15 Shim‘on Kefa and another talmid followed Yeshua. The second talmid was known to the cohen hagadol, and he went with Yeshua into the courtyard of the cohen hagadol; 16 but Kefa stood outside by the gate. So the other talmid, the one known to the cohen hagadol, went back out and spoke to the woman on duty at the gate, then brought Kefa inside. 17 The woman at the gate said to Kefa, “Aren’t you another of that man’s talmidim?” He said, “No, I’m not.” 18 Now the slaves and guards had lit a fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it warming themselves; Kefa joined them and stood warming himself too.

25 Meanwhile, Shim‘on Kefa was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Aren’t you also one of his talmidim?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the cohen hagadol, a relative of the man whose ear Kefa had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the grove of trees?” 27 So again Kefa denied it, and instantly a rooster crowed.

RG AUDIO 070115

"God’s Restoring Truth" by Author: Jennifer Woodard
In John 18 we read of Jesus’ arrest. In the fear of the moment, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus restores the servant’s ear and commands Peter to put the sword away. Jesus is taken away for trial. As the fearful night proceeds Peter denies Christ three times. When the rooster crows, he snaps out of his shock and is thrust into the reality of his own helplessness, imperfection, and failure.
Thankfully, there is something redeeming about this moment: Jesus had told Peter that this moment would come (John 13:38). Jesus had told Peter the truth about himself. This truth helped Peter to understand a greater truth: that perfection and strength are only found in the person of Christ.
In the garden, Peter had been sleeping when he should have been praying. He was taken off guard, literally. His spirit was not attuned to Christ’s. We cannot will ourselves to be faithful to Christ. We must remain in his truth. “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5).
Hymn for Today: "I Know Whom I Have Believe" by Daniel Webster Whittle

1. I know not why God's wondrous grace

to me he hath made known,

nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

redeemed me for his own.

Refrain:

But I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I've committed

unto him against that day.

2. I know not how this saving faith

to me he did impart,

nor how believing in his word

wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain:

But I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I've committed

unto him against that day.

3. I know not how the Spirit moves,

convincing us of sin,

revealing Jesus through the word,

creating faith in him.

Refrain:

But I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I've committed

unto him against that day.

4. I know not when my Lord may come,

at night or noonday fair,

nor if I walk the vale with him,

or meet him in the air.

Refrain:

But I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I've committed

unto him against that day.

Thought for Today:

"Faithfulness and betrayal is not an inescapable cycle for Christians. It is possible to live fully for Christ, putting sin behind"[Kerry Willis].

Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Guinea-Bissau.
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Leading Ideas: Leadership Lived: Clementa Pinckney and Open Doors from Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, United States - Special Edition for Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Leading Ideas: Leadership Lived: Clementa Pinckney and Open Doors from Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, United States - Special Edition for Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Leadership Lived: Clementa Pinckney and Open Doors by Lovett H. Weems, Jr.

As soon as I saw the television images of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston on the early morning news, my heart sank. The caption below said nine people had been killed, and soon there appeared the picture of the church’s pastor, my friend and student the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, one of the victims. This cannot be happening! People gunned down at a Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study, a weekly tradition across the South and elsewhere for generations now carried on by churches such as Emanuel. But it was true, and the reality of this unbelievably tragic event began to sink in.
Clementa Pinckney was called to ministry as a young teenager and soon began his expansive ministry. He pursued ordination in the AME Church, a powerful force in his home state of South Carolina both in numbers and impact. He was elected to the state House of Representatives at 23. Four years later he was elected to the State Senate where he still served at the time of his death. He was equally at home with the most humble and the most powerful of people, both of whom he encountered almost daily.

Rev. Pinckney, center, was enrolled in Wesley Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program in church leadership.
Many have spoken of the promise Clementa had — the humble man who asked us to call him “Clem” in the classes where I was privileged to be his instructor. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., wrote an article in the New York Times titled “If Clementa Pinckney Had Lived.” He wrote, “I have no doubt that had the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney lived, he would have become known — and celebrated — across our country for his leadership, rather than sealed immortally in tragedy ….” A clergy friend of Clem’s said that when you saw Clem it was like “seeing the future today.”
Yes, the future was virtually unlimited for a man of his character, ability, and experience. However, there is another story of promise that needs to be told. It is reflected in the witness of a congregation, nine victims, and their families. You see, most people view this incident through the lens of race relationships rather than Christian witness. Racial hatred, we are now told, caused the tragedy, but the reactions of the people of Mother Emanuel during and after this horrible event demonstrate to the world what it means to live according to one’s beliefs, even when confronted with such unthinkable evil.
Welcoming the stranger. When I learned that the shooter had spent an hour with the group before the attack, I knew immediately how he had been received. As one of the family members said to him in court a few days later, “We welcomed you with open arms to our Bible study.” That Wednesday evening Mother Emanuel Church and its members displayed the biblical witness of hospitality, as they have for generations. In fact, it is reported that the accused shooter said afterward that for a moment he considered not carrying out his deadly intentions because the people had treated him so well. I know that is how my friend Clem welcomed him — and everyone who came into his presence. A litany used across AME churches on the Sunday after the deaths repeated the phrase — “The doors of the church are still open.”
Forgiveness. If hospitality set the stage, forgiveness demonstrated that their faith was the real thing. The forgiving spirit of the families of victims and church members is a reflection of the church’s embodiment of a central component of Christian witness. While the world reacted with amazement and surprise at their forgiving spirits, such a response would be expected from those closest to the church, including younger people. It was the spirit they had seen in their pastor.
Public service and the common good. The African American church embodies what at one time was more prevalent across all churches, a strong identification with their communities and a concern for the common good of all. The tradition of a pastor serving in public office, as Clem did, is not unusual in the African American tradition, and active engagement with public affairs by clergy and lay leadership is even more common.
Humility. Virtually everyone who has spoken of their relationship with Clem Pinckney has spoken of his humility. He had so many claims to fame, yet one would never know it from his personal interactions with others. Gates, who interviewed him some years ago for a PBS documentary, called him “quietly impressive.” He was such a dear and caring person. His life was extraordinarily complicated and busy given all of his commitments. However, he never failed to give each person the respect and attention they needed.
Clem and those with him at the Bible study knew God as their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. So in the spirit of the psalmist they did not fear. In fact, accounts of what transpired in that church meeting room reveal that the victims faced danger with bravery and acts of self-sacrifice. Continuing in the language of Psalm 46, they knew that God was in the midst of the city just as Mother Emanuel had been for so long and that, despite whatever happens, God will be there when the morning dawns.
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership and the entire Wesley Theological Seminary community join the nation in mourning the loss of our student, the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, Jr., and the other eight victims of the Charleston tragedy as we continue to pray for healing, reconciliation, and justice.
Lovett H. Weems, Jr., is professor of church leadership and director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. The Rev. Clementa Pinckney was enrolled in the Wesley Doctor of Ministry program in church leadershipwhere Dr. Weems was his teacher and adviser. Pastor Pinckney had completed his course work and was working on his project and thesis on the tradition of bi-vocational ministry in the African American church tradition.
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Quotable Leadership:
"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"[Micah 6:8b]
Editors: Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Ann A. Michel. Production: Carol Follett
Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary.
4500 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016 United States

(202) 885-8757

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lewiscenter@wesleyseminary.edu |
Lewis Center for Church Leadership

Wesley Theological Seminary

4500 Massachusetts Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016 United States
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