Letters to My Congregation
Healed People Heal People
Each week (usually Tuesday afternoon), I send out a letter to the congregation at ClearView Baptist Church. It’s a tiny way I hope to shepherd them during the week. Perhaps it might encourage, help, or challenge you as well.
ClearView Family,
“Hurt people hurt people. And healed people heal people.”
I heard someone say this recently and immediately thought of how true it is. Those who have been and are hurt, tend to lash out and (intentionally or not) hurt others. But those who have been healed, and live out their healed lives, use their healing to heal others.
Believe it or not, there is a significant insight I left out of Sunday’s sermon out of Luke 24. I am guessing many of you wonder if we are ever going to move beyond this chapter. Yes. We will. But I promise you there are a half dozen or so additional sermons that could be preached from this remarkable passage.
If you recall, the first words out of Jesus’s mouth to His disciples (post-resurrection) were “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). This, of course, is massive on a host of levels. Consider that in the mind of a Jew, “peace” didn’t just mean “I hope you have a restful evening.” Biblical peace carries much more weight. It means wholeness. Complete. Flourishing. Thriving. Being a fully alive human. Shalom y’all. When Jesus emerged from the tomb, the curse brought on to the cosmos in Genesis 3 was being reversed. In other words, the resurrection of Jesus means shalom is available to the world.
Pair this thought with whom we are called to go: “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations” (Luke 24:47, emphasis mine). This means all people. Red and yellow, black and white. All are precious in His sight. Friend. Enemy. Family member. Stranger. English speaking. Urdu speaking. Dog lovers. Cat lovers. Republican. Democrat. Privileged. Underprivileged. Married. Single. Widow. Single again. Widower. Poverty. Wealthy. All nations means all peoples.
Here’s what I didn’t take time to stress on Sunday: Sharing the Gospel with others is so much more than just telling them about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. IT IS THAT! Yes and amen. But we, as followers of the resurrected Jesus, are called to usher shalom/peace/flourishing to everyone. This means we don’t just share the Gospel. We show the Gospel. We seek the welfare, the flourishing, the wholeness of our neighbor. The vulnerable. The helpless. The lonely. The hopeless. The least. The undignified. We run to them and work to bring shalom to their lives and circumstances.
So yes. We intentionally consider who the Father has put in our lives to have a Gospel conversation with. But we also, just as intentionally, consider what power/privilege/influence we possess that can be used to help bring shalom to the world. Hurt people hurt people. Yes. And healed people heal people.
ClearView, as we walk with Jesus, with others - we are agents revealing the kingdom. We take note of those in our midst who are without peace (spiritual, emotional, physical, and social) and live to bring the shalom of God where He sends us, with the resources He has provided us.
Yes. Your purpose as a Christian is to proclaim “repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations.” And this includes a posture of “peace be with you.”
Please note that we are going to pause Wednesday night ministry for adults during the summer. The plan is to bring it back in August. For now, let me encourage you take a Wednesday evening over the summer to fellowship with your small group; invite a neighbor over to dinner; bring shalom to someone you have a burden for; etc. Just because we take several Wednesdays off here doesn’t mean ministry can’t be done in our city.
I’ll see you Sunday with my Bible open to Luke 24:50-53. Last one from this chapter - I promise.
Shalom Y’all,
Pastor Matt