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Frank Viola | Beyond Evangelical
Official Blog of Author & Speaker Frank Viola. Digging below the surface and moving beyond the shallows in today's Christianity.
Life is Short, Making Things Right, and Eulogies
The Word “Radical”
The church has forgotten how we can bless each other. We have gotten so involved with things, we have forgotten that things are not blessings. We give stuff not care. We have harsh words for those with whom we disagree. We have forgotten what true kindness is. We have allowed our culture to color our church instead of letting the church color our culture and thus effect change. Cultures change when individuals change. Individuals change when they meet Jesus on a personal level. The more people are changed the more the culture will be changed. Politics is not the way. Group think is not the way. Jesus is. When Jesus is truly our Lord and we are truly listening, those kind words should come easily and quickly . Sadly, for too many, they don”t. We can say we were too busy or distracted or didn’t realize, but the truth is that in that lost moment we were following our own god(s) instead of the one, true God. I am just as guilty as anyone else. The key is recognizing that so that we change. I am changing every day and thanking God for doing all the hard parts.
My Grandfather passed away recently and at his funeral many people said some wonderful things about him and I got to know him even better. I had the thought of how much he would have been blessed if he knew what everyone had thought. Unfortunately life is so busy that it isn’t until something major happens that we choose to stop, reflect and forgive or bless someone. I hear you Frank, it is important to be aware that time is short and to stop and bless someone or clear your conscience through forgiving or restitution. Even if it is costly and painful it is always beneficial. “While it is yet today”
I can’t say that I need to make amends with anyone, but I can say that I have been indifferent to so many people from years ago. I have gently guided my path away from them so that we wouldn’t meet on a crossroad anywhere. My actions said I didn’t care, and didn’t love. But something broke inside me this year. I don’t know how or why- but I’m re-building old bridges again. I’m connecting with old friends, telling them what they mean to me and how much I miss them . I feel like I want to embrace everyone I’ve been hiding from and lavish them with love.
My father was so right when I heard him say once that the opposite of love is not hate- but indifference. I think I get it now.
this is great frank, I call this clothing the saints… the same way a nice suit/dress etc can make someone feel important… words have the same power!
through this cancer i have had the opportunity to be blessed by knowing how much i mean to people and how much i am loved. hearing these things encourages me so much and lets me know that my life was important and meaningful. in the same way, i have had the time to let those that i love how much they have meant to me. also there has been reconciliation in our family beyond what you could even hope or imagine. with my ex and johns kids. they all pray for me to get well and 3 of them have helped me financially to get treatment in mexico. 2 of them are coming to visit us may 1. so its never too soon and its never too late to forgive and be forgiven and love.
Thanks, Frank. Timely indeed. Nice to be able to wrack my brains and try to think of any situation fitting the categories you list. I do think Holy Spirit would instantly bring to mind such a thing, if only we ask….
One small point. What does ‘untimely death’ mean? I know it’s hard for family and friends, but surely if one is a child of God, all deaths are in His hands and therefore ‘timely’. Go on – tell me I’m wrong. I can take it.
We started a home group recently and the first thing we did was to go around and pray for one or two people each time we met. So many negative words have been spoken in our community over the last few years that it was a blessing to hear the words of God for each person, so loving and gentle and kind. We didn’t allow the person to talk first, we prayed and asked what was on God’s heart for the person, we prayed for their needs and wants afterwards. So often we rush into programmes and activities and don’t stop to listen to what God has to say first.
Having said that there are still issues that I am looking to move forward on. Trying to find the right way to move forward on an issue is hard, thank goodness forgiveness is a process as much as a single act. At least then I can move and not get tangled up with guilt in the process.