I've blogged about my admiration for Rick before. Both from the large
influence over churches like ours with his books, sermons and 40-day
campaigns (they call him America's Pastor) to the smaller level of personal
interaction I've witnessed as he sat on a bench for three days and loved on
everyone who wanted a hug.
I
was sitting in communion at the 11:00 service on Easter Sunday after having
finished my 8th time preaching that sermon, mustering up the
strength to do one more – when I got a text that said, “I’m praying for you and
your services - I believe in you Rick Warren."
I
don’t want to try to give you a false impression that I’m BFF with the most
influential Christian leader of our time. He sent the same type message
to a lot of pastors that day. But that’s my point. He really cares.
It lifted me up. He had way more services to preach than I did. He
actually ended up with double pneumonia this week, probably from doing too many
Easter services and hugging too many people!
So
he had already asked his brother-in-law to preach this past weekend even before
the tragedy of the loss of his son. Ironically it was a sermon called
“Surviving Your Worst Day.” You can hear it here. Surviving Your Worst Day
Beth
Moore said it well. “These who serve us publicly also suffer privately. They
are not caricatures. They are not just personalities. They are people living on
a painful planet with the rest of us.”
I
live a public life. I understand this well. But I can’t imagine
having to live in the glass house Rick and Kay have lived in. It’s not
just the lack of privacy; there is something much bigger - spiritual
warfare. The more a leader does for Christ, the more Satan wants to
attack. I do understand this part.
What
I will never understand is how “so-called” Christian people allow themselves to
be used by Satan. Some are using this as a way to further attach this
brother, because they think they have some kind of spiritual
superiority. They mistrust the motives and methods of the guy who does more for
the Kingdom in his sleep than they will do in a lifetime.
On
behalf of well intentioned, sometimes mistaken, but Grace-filled preachers of
the gospel everywhere – SHUT UP. Stop working for Satan!
There
is nothing in the Bible that suggests that suicide is an unpardonable
sin. What part of grace is not amazing? If “nothing can separate us
from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39) – how could mental illness? Only
those who have not had a family history of mental illness could think such
things.
King
David knew what Matthew Warren felt.
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. (Psalm
69:1-2)
Unfortunately
I’ve had to do several suicide funerals. They are very difficult, but
they are ultimately a place where more of the healing hope of Jesus is needed
than ever before.
John
Piper says, “There is nothing unique or peculiar about the final act of life
that makes it determinative in validating or nullifying our salvation. Or let
me say it another way: The final season of faith with all its battles and failures
is not the only season of faith that will bear witness in the Last Day that we
were born again." Funeral Message for Luke Kenneth Anderson
I
know that many of my readers grew up in a theological system that decided that
suicide was a mortal sin that could not be redeemed. But that’s the
point. There is no such thing. All sins are “mortal.” (Romans
3:23). And Jesus died to conquer all sin. Can you say
"Grace?"
Which
part of John 3:16 is not true?
To
all my friends and church family, please continue to lift up Saddleback and the
Warren family.
To
Rick and Kay, I would say, please continue to listen to Jesus alone. When
Jairus’ daughter died in Mark 5, the people said the same hopeless things they
are saying to you.
I
love this text –
Ignoring what they
said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe…
The child is not dead but asleep.” (Mark 5:36)
Rick
and Kay and family - please ignore and believe.
Jesus
said, “I am the
resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though
they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe
this?” (John 11:25)
Grace,
therefore Peace,
Tim
PS
- Attached is the letter Rick sent to his church family about the tragedy.
Our Dearest Saddleback Family
And
this link is for an excellent post by Geoff Surratt about the inside testimony
of the life of the Warrens.
My Prayer for Rick and Kay Warren
Recent Comments