This is the Satuday before Easter of 2009. It is the first Saturday in four or five years, and one of the few Saturdays in the last twenty-five years that I have not been preparing to preach the gospel of the resurrection on the glorious Easter morning. That fact brings with it both relief and a little bit of longing. For a preacher, there is no day like Easter. It is the day when everyone comes out to church dressed in their finest, when the news of the resurrection is spread across the world like no other day, and the day when a great deal is expected of the minister’s sermon.
Last year I received some pretty stiff criticism from a powerful few in the church who did not like a particular humorous story that I told. As usual these critics came not to me, but loudly stood in other areas of the church and made their views known to those who would listen. Eventually I heard and was somewhat hurt, though I tried not to let that kind of thing get to me. I saw my role at Coral Ridge as being the one who took the barbs, complaints, criticism, and hate mail for a reason. I took that in hopes that the new pastor would not have to. Don’t think that I am some great spiritual giant for doing that, I am not. I’m a wimp, but one who tries to do what he is called to.
There were times when I wanted to quit, times when I wanted to say “I have had enough, get someone else to beat up for a while.” But then I would remember the great suffering saviour and what he had endured on my behalf. The few slings and arrows that I took were nothing in comparison. The great English preacher Charles Simeon-who for years had a congregation that would not even allow him in their homes, and who locked the church doors so that he could not have services for those who would come and hear him- said it best. “We must not mind a little suffering for Christ’s sake.” Yes, Simeon suffered greatly for his faith (for more on the trials of Simeon see John Piper’s wonderful biographical talk at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1460_Brothers_We_Must_Not_Mind_a_Little_Suffering/ or a more complete version in The Roots of Endurance by John Piper
Taking a few shots so that our new pastor does not have to was a pleasure. It is a wonderful thing to be in the ministry-lots of joys, some trials-but all for the one who suffered for us. Tomorrow will be a great day of rejoycing at Coral Ridge Presbyterian. I will be one of those and if you are in the area I hope to see you there. Save a kind and gracious word for our new pastor, Tullian. After all, if a Christian can’t be kind on Easter then let’s just shut the place down.
It’s True! People do rise from the dead.
Easter Blessings,
DrSamLam