WE STILL LOVE YOU, THOUGH

In Luke 19, Jesus was there when the corrupt tax collector Zacchaeus repented and became a charitable, honest, born-again believer.    Jesus rejoiced saying, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9)

In Luke 10, Jesus ordained 70 disciples to evangelize and minister to the communities where He preached.  They worked so hard.  When they reported back they weren’t perfect, but they had done well and Jesus was proud of them. 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,  “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. (Luke 10:21)

Jesus was also there when a young man declined His personal invitation to join the apostles because he didn’t want to leave his wealth behind.  Yes, Jesus told him to liquidate his holdings and give it all to charity, but the Lord also promised to be personally responsible for his daily bread.  Where Jesus had told others to go their way, He invited this man to “Come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10: 21)

Jesus watched the man just walk away.  But, Jesus didn’t go after him, even though He saw the young man’s potential and , looking at him, loved him, (Mark 10: 21)

As a pastor I often get to be present at the very moment when a person or a family turns their life around. 

I’ve been present when the light of love and commitment comes back on in a marriage.

I’ve been present when a young parent learns a better way to discipline her/ his child and bring out the baby’s unique gifts.

I’ve watched children independently choose to give their lives to Jesus.

I’ve presided over the moment when a gathering of church elders, without my intervention, debate and decide to make space for a younger generation to have power and prominence in their church.

And I have rejoiced in those moments! 

But I have also been present when a husband tells his wife that he’s done and that’s it, the marriage is over.

I’ve also been there when a man or woman decides to leave the rehab program and go back to the streets.
I’ve been present when the mother decides that she’s just gone let DHR take the baby because she prefers to live ratchet and she ain’t got time for no kid.

I’ve been there when the young person ignores every warning and offer of help and drops out of school because they can get food stamps, or an SSI check, or section 8, or a spot on the corner hustling, and they don’t need no school.

I’ve held the last session of couples’ consultation for 2 people who insisted on going to “the next level” with a relationship that scripture, common sense, and psychological examination had proven should never have begun.

I’ve been there at the precise moment when somebody makes the decision that begins the downward spiral for them and their family.

And I have sorrowed because I loved them.

But I can’t make the decision for them.  I can’t make them answer the Lord’s call to redemption and wisdom.   I can’t force them to take up their cross and follow Him.   And even when I followed behind them and begged them to do the right thing it didn’t work.  They just went back to the other things they valued more.

All I could do was look on them and still love them.
When Peter declared his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, the Lord rejoiced and praised Peter (Matthew 16: 17); and when Peter turned right around and said something stupid and totally the opposite of God’s will, Jesus turned right around.  He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mt 16:23)

But Jesus never stopped loving Peter.

I’m not always happy with what the people I serve in the church and community do with their lives.    Your foolish choices weigh on me and on my brother/sister pastors in ways that few people outside of the calling can understand. 

But even when you break our hearts, we still love you.

We may/ will rebuke you, but we still love you.

We may/ will look at you like you’ve lost your ever-lovin’ mind, but we still love you.

We may let your next couple of calls go to voicemail, but we still love you.

We can find resources for you.  We can distill hours of research and Bible study to answer a question for you.  We can fight the inertia of age-old church traditions just to help you.  But,  your pastor cannot do more to improve your life than you do to improve your life.

So when you insist on a making the worst possible decision available, don’t expect us to applaud, endorse, or otherwise validate your choice. 

But that doesn’t mean that we don’t still love you.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
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To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .

You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com  .

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Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116