May 2012
Susan and I recently watched a fantastic film called “The Help”. It highlights some of the struggle of a community against prejudice and discrimination and the possibilities that open up when someone stands up and says “enough”. In the film it takes two women to begin to speak out. The strap line of the film could be:“change begins with a whisper“. A white reporter and a black servant in a white family take a step of courage to change things and a whisper becomes a shout.
The film moves me so much because it stirs in me my intense dislike of racism, bullying and injustice. When you look at the terrible things humans have done to one another over the centuries and the potential for hatred it is easy to point the finger and blame others and forget that injustice continues today. People are still discriminated against because of their skin colour, religious beliefs and convictions. Slavery is also very much alive in our world. People are held against their will, men and women are trafficked for the pleasure and profit of others and children are abused. In parts of our world, converts to Christianity are in fear of their lives and people live each day in pain. And in our own city bullying is real, people are crushed and damaged and the heart of God whispers out.
There is so much noise today and yet his whisper still speaks out to us.
What are the whispers in you that cry out? A single mum said to me recently how sad she was at the lack of strong men of God who will love God and commit to their wives and children to be faithful, loyal men. I agree and I hear the whisper of God. So today I stand up again and say that with God’s help I will be one of those men – are there other men who will join me in standing?
I spoke with a man recently who has found Jesus who explained that having tried most sin options he was left empty with an ache in his heart and a new desire to make a difference in the world and do something with his life. He has begun to hear that whisper. And what will we do for the thousands of people in Leicester who live without peace and forgiveness and do not hear the whisper of a loving heavenly Father?
In my life certain whispers are becoming a shout:
1. Every life is precious and every person is made in the image of God and made to have a relationship with him through Jesus.
2. Wherever you are right now, if you take a step towards the Father he will run to you and you can know a fresh start.
3. God cries out across our city: “THE FATHER LOVES YOU.”
4. The church exists for more than ourselves. We must become deeper worshippers, stronger believers, more healed and secure and reach out to the world.
5. Compassion to broken people has to be our business.
6. Whatever the problem, the leader of our church – Jesus – has the answer.
7. May our doors be open to everyone that you love God.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for I am about to pass by”…and then came a gentle whisper: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13
He whispers to you and me the same words as he did to Elijah: “What are you doing here?”
I pray your response is like mine and a growing army of people here at TLC:
“I am loving you, my life is yours, I am serving, giving, praying and active in my church and I am making a difference in my life”
And God is at work in TLC – people are being saved and discipled and loved and I sense that He is walking with us and whispering to us: “This is the right way, more of this”. TLC lets keep walking with him and listening to his whisper and just perhaps we might see what we have longed for.
Keep listening to any Sunday messages you missed by connecting to the TLC website.
The best is ahead
David