Today's Devotional Thought
April 10, 2013 by Rachel Piferi
Love, Don't Hate
As I am sure many of you were, I was shocked when I heard that the son of Saddleback Church Pastor (and author of "A Purpose Driven Life") Rick Warren had committed suicide. In a beautiful letter to his congregation on Saturday, Pastor Warren wrote, "No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now ? He struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts." Pastor Warren continued by saying, "In spite of America?s best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided" and "after a fun evening together with [wife] Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life."
When I read this on Saturday, I was shocked and deeply saddened for this dear family. I imagined the struggles that this couple would endure as they experienced their personal pain in their very public position of ministry. As a very successful pastor and national figure, I suspected that people would begin to speculate on his son?s suicide and would likely criticize Pastor Warren in the process. But, I had no idea how bad it would get.
As the last couple of days have unfolded, I have been so shocked and angered by some of the hate speech that I have heard. From both those outside of the Christian faith and those inside the Christian community, I have read so much hate directed at this family that it has made me very angry. Some have blamed Pastor Warren for his son's death. Some have claimed that Pastor Warren deserves to feel this pain for some of the positions he has taken on issues in his life. And some have simply criticized him in the midst of his darkest hour.
While I may expect this from non-Christians, I was absolutely appalled as I read this sort of hate speech from within the Christian community.
From our very own brothers and sisters in Christ.
As I thought about this over the last couple of days, it made me reflect on how we treat each other within the Christian community when someone suffers tragedy or makes a bad decision that has dire consequences.
Do we love?
Or do we hate?
Oh how I hope we love.
Right now, I can think of a few people who are going through some very heavy situations. And as I think of their situations, the last thing that they need is hate from their Christian brothers and sisters. They need love and support and wise counsel and grace. They need to be shown Jesus.
Even if they have sinned and have caused the situation they are in, they need us to show them Jesus' forgiveness and they need us to urge them towards Christ and his plan for their lives.
They need redemption. Not condemnation.
The death of Pastor Rick Warren's son is so sad. And this couple needs love and support as they grieve. The same is true for those in our lives who are traveling through life's valleys.
Don't spread hate when someone is at their lowest. Love them. Extend grace to them. And help them believe in the power of redemption and healing and victory in their lives.
December