Life as a Christian Woman

As I have been reading this week about the tragedy at First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois, I can’t imagine the horror that has shot through that church. Not only have they lost their beloved, long-time pastor, Dr. Fred Winters, but they have lost him in an amazingly random and violent manner.

“Dr. Fred,” as he was known in the community, became pastor at FBC in 1987, taking the church from a membership of less than 50, to a church that now has more than 1000 members. In his nearly 22 years at the helm of First Baptist, he was a much loved pastor, husband and father of two.

On the church’s website, the leadership has requested prayer for the Winters family, the church, as well as the assailant and his family:

Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members who were injured when they stopped the assailant, for the assailant himself and his family, and for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss.

In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives. We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.

from the First Baptist Church, Maryville, Illinois website (fbmaryville.org)

When I read this message, I see sorrow, but I also see hope, the hope that abides in life through Christ.

And I see forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a hard skill to master. How do you forgive someone for killing someone you love? Yet as Christians we are commanded to forgive. We are told in Colossians 3:13:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Important words. Yet forgiveness is not a “one and done” issue. The process can be long and painful. In Matthew 18:21-22 we read:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Finally, what is the result of our forgiving others? Matthew 6:14-16 says:

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Years ago, when I was in high school, a dear friend of mine was killed, along with her fiance, in a car accident. As they were pulling through an intersection, a car sped through, killing both instantly. The driver was drunk.

Rebecca’s parents were devastated. But that very afternoon, Rebecca’s grandmother went to her son, Rebecca’s dad, and told him that he needed to go see the parents of the boy who had been driving the car. He needed to go pray with them, and let them know that he had forgiven their son. He was incredulous. He needed to grieve, he was broken and angry.

But Rebecca’s granmother pointed out that the offender’s parents were devastated, too. They were hurt and broken, too. And that we must forgive as Christ has told us to forgive, as He has forgiven us.

Rebecca’s dad grimly got into his car and drove to the next town, where the driver’s family lived. He spoke with them, prayed with them, cried with them. And the healing began right then and there.

Forgiveness may be hard, but it will set your spirit free.