Patriots in the Churchyard

From moss-covered beds, they speak to us. Beside them, tiny flags wave gently in silent salute. They're gone from us in body, but their mighty spirit battles on. We owe them our freedoms -- not just the right to speak, and to print, but to assemble, to worship. There would be no Sunday service this week without their sacrifice. Thank God for them. Thank God for America. How blessed we are.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus Who......took upon him the form of a servant......." (so as to assume the guise of a servant [slave]) (Philippians 2:5-7)


If I have my facts right, the above verse refers to Jesus girding himself with a servant's towel. He "took upon" himself the actual role and garment of a servant. And we are called to do the same. Paul says to "let this mind be in you" or to "let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you" (Amplified)

Sometimes we are surprised when we are expected to serve. But isn't that a servant's role? Should we who have pledged to serve our husbands, families, and congregations be amazed when we are called to follow through? Society tells us that serving is groveling; Jesus teaches that serving is greatness. He served -- with joy and a willing heart.

"Lord, make me like Jesus."

What to believe

I cringe inwardly when I hear someone demean a preacher or his wife. For one thing, it's against Scripture because God wants us to honor those in spiritual leadership. For another, it flies in the face of Paul's teaching about the body of Christ.

Pastors and their wives are gifted people - but God threw in the element of variety: they are all gifted differently. Each will have ministry priorities that will come to the forefront during their pastorate at a given place. God has created it this way so that different areas of church life and administration will be addressed as time goes by. Our likes and dislikes don't really matter because preachers and their wives answer to God, not their fellow preachers or their congregations. Granted, there may be some times when, sadly, a pastor may really fail his church in some way. God has provided for these situations to be addressed in a biblical way, but I'm not speaking of these BIG failures but of more miniscule areas of misunderstanding.

I hope you adopt my attitude, and pay little attention to the criticisms you hear about other colleagues in ministry. God does not want us listening to gossip or slander. And, of course, you know that the person relaying the information sees the news from his or her own spiritual, emotional, and historical viewpoint. All these variables may color one's perception.

So, the old adage bears much truth -- "Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see." The church of Jesus Christ would be so much more effective if we followed this sage advice, don't you agree?