Dear Rinn
Church Family (and anyone else who stumbles across this on the great wide web),
Like many of you, I was greatly
alarmed and grieved by the events in Sutherland Springs, Texas last Sunday. The
fallout from it has plunged our church and greater community into an anxious period.
People are worried, angry, and feeling extremely vulnerable after what happened.
And in hearing from many of you, I wanted to write and assure everyone that Rinn Church is dedicated to keeping people
safe during worship, education, and fellowship activities. To this end, our
leadership team is currently discussing possible security measures, and we have
reached out to the Frederick Police Department for additional input. So please
know your church is diligently and proactively working on the problem, and I
will be sure to notify you of any developments.
Otherwise, know I also join you in feeling disheartened.
I’m sure I’ve been wondering the same question you are. “If a church isn’t
a safe space, what is?” My fear is causing some temptation. It has me looking
around and asking, “Should I curtail the time I spend around the office just in
case?” or “Should I shorten worship to make sure we limit the window people are
in the building?” They are disquieting thoughts, and after each one, I have to verbally
tell myself “NO!” Because if I don’t, if I give into the fear, the fear wins,
and that is definitely not what is needed now.
What is needed
is now is this: a reminder of the Gospel message. That God in Jesus Christ
tells us that evil never has the last word. Death gets swallowed up by life no
matter what.
It may not feel like it, but that’s the truth, folks.
And to help people see it, to help you better feel it, I challenge you to
remember Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion, which states, “for every action there [MUST] be an equal and opposite reaction”
We must respond to Sutherland Springs, Puerto
Rico, and all other disasters, because the church is the one organization capable
of perfectly reacting. Only the Holy Spirit working through the hearts and
minds of dedicated believers will inspire the sort of change that addresses human
brokenness. But, if we refuse to shine forth. How will grace spread to all the
places it needs to go?
So what I’m asking for, as hard as it may be,
is for you to keep the faith. Keep coming to worship, keep sharing your
beliefs, and keep living the gospel for all to see. It’s what our nation needs
in the current darkness. “Don’t quench the fire of the Holy Spirit,” as the
Apostle Paul says in First Thessalonians 5:19 ISV. Instead, reflect the light.
Let it grow in you and how you live so others see Christ!
Start with prayer. Pray for our Brothers and
Sisters in Christ in Sutherland Springs and for all those hurting everywhere. But
don’t stop there. For prayer to be fully realized, you must act. What you do depends upon the Spirit, and your
context. For me, I’m feeling called to support groups that advocate for
responsible gun ownership and laws. I know there is a way to balance the need
for protection with the demand for regulation. So by associating with an organization
that believes in this, or by telling our elected officials about it, I know I will
be acting on what God is putting into my heart.
So what will you do? I’ve heard church members
tell me that this tragedy is due to a mental health breakdown. So could you
support additional laws and funding for organizations in that line of work?
Others want to know how we can provide care to people grieving from the
violence. I have tons of resources on this topic. We could easily train a team
of people who specialize in helping people those who are hurting.
This is how the tide of shadows is turned back,
folks, by people channeling the Spirit’s light. So what is your reaction? How
can you act. Don’t just pray folks. Follow what God tells you in the prayer,
because we have a dark nation to illuminate with the joy of Christ.
I’m with you in all of this, folks. If you ever
need someone to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, I’m here. It’s like I always
tell you. I buy a mean cup of coffee. Grace is coming out of this situation.
Count on it. Now, let’s align with it and spread it far and wide, shall we?
Blessings to you dear friends.
In Christ,
Pastor Bryson
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