Dear Mt. Olive Family and Friends,
I remember as a student,
home for Easter vacation, sitting in church with my parents. After the service, my pastor included in the
announcements, an apology. He said that
he had been short and terse with people and had apparently snapped at some
folks. He told how the Lenten season
and Holy Week can be rather stressful for pastors (not to mention long periods
of time without sunshine!), but that that was no excuse for his lack of good
judgment and poor choice of words. He
apparently felt that he had hurt enough people with his words that the
situation required a public apology.
If
I have wounded any soul today,
If
I have caused one foot to go astray,
If
I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear
Lord, forgive!
Year’s later, same congregation, another
pastor. This pastor was awarding gifts
in Bible class, and presented a comb to an active member of the
congregation. The problem: the man was bald. He took such offense at the pastor’s
seemingly good-natured gesture that he refused to return to church.
If
I have uttered idle words or vain,
If
I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest
I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear
Lord, forgive!
I’m absolutely certain that neither pastor
intended to hurt the people he loved in the Lord. In fact, once these men realized what they had unintentionally
done, I know they must have felt terrible.
Forgive
the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive
the secret sins I do not see;
O
guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear
Lord, Amen.
It’s not only pastors who say things they
shouldn’t say and thus hurt the very ones they cherish in the Lord. Sinful beings that we are, we all hurt and
offend each other with thoughtless words and careless deeds. We don’t mean to wound or injure one
another, but regrettably, we do. Please
forgive!
On the other hand, should you be the one hurt by
the words of others, maybe you need to “lighten up” and “let it go”! Forgive!
Save your anger for the big things!
Turn it all over to the Lord and get on with your life! “Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love,”
(Ephesians 4:2).
Brothers
and sisters, go in peace.
Live
in harmony with one another.
Serve
the Lord with gladness.
Some wise advice: Respect the feelings of your
brothers and sisters in Christ. Be
careful in what you say, and be just as careful in how you say it. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a
harsh word stirs up anger,” (Proverbs 15:1).
As the manner in which you say it.
It's not so much the wording you use
As the tone in which you convey it.
"Come here!" I sharply said,
And the child cowered and wept.
"Come here," I gently said --
He looked and smiled
And straight to my lap he crept.
Words may be mild and fair
But the tone may pierce like a dart.
Words may be soft as the summer air
But the tone may break a heart.
For words come from the mind
Grow by study and art --
But tone leaps from the spirit
Revealing the state of one's heart.
So, would you quarrels avoid
And peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your words --
Keep it out of your voice.
Go in peace and serve the Lord!
Pastor Carl Henkel