This service took place in a chapel. Why were people surprised and offended to hear the Word of the Lord?
Stephen serves the Lord as an associate pastor. He considers his role a privilege and a profound responsibility, first because he loves and seeks to exalt the Lord Jesus in all he does, and second, because he knows he will be judged by God with greater strictness (James 3:1). Every day Stephen prays to not only read and study the Word of God with humility and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but he also prays to handle the Word rightly as he writes, teaches, and counsels (2 Timothy 2:15).
A small, nearby community has an annual Memorial Day event where they remember fallen US soldiers and honor those who have served and are serving our country in one of our armed forces. Stephen received an invitation to give the invocation and benediction at the celebration. His opening prayer was short and, while he gave honor to the military personnel who served our country, he gave greater credence and reverence to the Lord Jesus as our Savior Who paid the greatest price for the salvation of our souls.
The program continued with a few songs, a hymn duet, and a short presentation by an elected county official who has an auspicious record of bringing the guilty to bear for the burden of their illegal acts.
As the official spoke, I could see Stephen mentally processing. He gets very focused, and many have seen him mouthing conversation scenarios and sermons as he studies and reads. Although he wasn’t animated, his countenance reflected what we’d seen in him many times as Stephen wrestled with passages and prayed to handle God’s Word rightly (again, 2 Timothy 2:15).
After the short speech by the officeholder, the emcee introduced Stephen to give the benediction.
The godly associate pastor walked with resolution to the pulpit. He spoke for five minutes, and his fervency would have reminded a Christian historian of the compassion of the pastor’s favorite preacher, Martyn Lloyd Jones. He displayed love for the people in attendance, and he spoke the truth of God’s Word to the hearts of all (especially unbelievers).
He could not deny His Lord by neglecting to share the gospel and the consequences if a person does not say “yes” to God’s kind invitation (Matthew 10:33; Luke 12:9; Romans 2:4). The Apostle Paul spoke these words, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). All attendees heard the gospel that day.
The crowd remained still as Stephen finished with prayer. As he took his seat, some who know and love him recognized his actions as being led by the Spirit according to Scripture and that he was humbled to be used by the Lord. The emcee made her way back to the podium, thanked the pastor, and dismissed the assembly.
At the dismissal, Stephen didn’t get more than a few steps from his seat when another of the elders of his church who was in attendance came rushing up to him, “When you finished, I said, ‘That’s our boy!’” (The other elder is over forty years older than the pastor, so he has the license to call him “boy.”) They rejoiced together.
A few more steps toward the back and a man unknown to Stephen walked up to the young pastor and extended his hand, “I’ve been coming to this event every year for the past thirty years. That’s the first time I heard to gospel proclaimed. Thank you!”
Thirty years. No Gospel spoken from the pulpit of a chapel for that event. Can you imagine?
Later, this servant of the Lord said he’d never felt such a peace before as he had when he shared God’s clear, strong message. He took the opportunity God gave him to share the good news.
But as happens to many Christians who boldly speak the truth, the backlash soon followed.
A number of people from his congregation also attended the celebration. One person made a beeline to the pastor the following Sunday, “You know, you came on too strong last Monday. Lots of people are upset.” He responded, “We will have to agree to disagree. I had to speak of the Lord while He gave me the chance.” She went on, “They probably won’t invite you back.” He said, “It’s a good thing I shared while I could, then, right?”
A few weeks later, another church member asked for a meeting with the associate pastor. She had attended the Memorial Day gathering, too.
“A lot of people were upset by your message. Why did you do that?”
He listened and then had the chance to further explain his role as a pastor and as one entrusted with the gospel.
“Well, they’re not going to invite you back.”
He answered, “I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d still speak the gospel. People are going to hell if they don’t surrender to Jesus. I have to answer to the Lord. How could I stand before Him and say I backed down when confronted by men?”
He’d be the first to tell you it was God who spoke through him (from Scripture).
This service took place in a chapel. Why were people surprised and offended to hear the Word of the Lord?
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b). No, it’s not like the tribulation experienced by Christians at the hands of bloodthirsty zealots from false religions, but it’s still an attack against the Lord.
Scripture says this time would come, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
We were that day in the presence of a Spirit-controlled pastor who lives that passage every day. He’s ready in season and out of season. And after both people rebuked him for being so bold, he was reminded of the Apostles who were released from prison rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:17-42).
A few months later, the elder who was at the service spoke to the unknown man who’d approached and extended his hand to Stephen. He told the elder he prays for Stephen every day.
1 John 2:4-6 is an encouragement, an admonishment, and a command for all who say they know the Lord Jesus Christ. He—Jesus Christ—is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. If we keep His commandments we show that we have come to know Him. If a person says he knows Him and doesn’t keep His commandments, “he is a liar and the truth is not in him.” We are to keep His Word (follow His commandments) and God will perfect our love for Him. Verse 6 is a perfect parenthesis to the beginning of this passage. It says, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
Jesus testified to the truth as He walked this earth (John 18:38). Stephen, the young associate pastor, gave us a lesson from 1 John 2:6 on Memorial Day. He walked in the same way as Jesus when he testified to the truth of the gospel. May we do the same.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/kadirdemir
