Pastor Murdered In Covington

Mon/03/Nov 2008

Every now and then something happens in life that works to remind us of our complete dependence upon the grace of God. I had one of those moments this weekend. A longtime pastor in Cincinnati was gunned down in broad daylight Saturday morning. At first I assumed it was a random killing by a stranger with no agenda, but I was wrong. Apparently, a man that had developed a vendetta against this pastor ambushed the pastor on the streets of Covington, KY, just prior to a funeral service that the pastor was attending. Here is the story.

This tragedy should make all of us take a step back from our schedules, emails, voicemails, and appointments, and remember how quickly all those things can become useless clutter. Beyond that, I can’t help but be moved by the fact that this man was a leader of God’s church. It seems very likely that his vocation placed him in a position that led to his death. In other words, he was murdered because he was a pastor. It is likely that he made a controversial decision that the gunman vehemently disagreed with. It is also likely, that he never intended to make enemies, but his convictions demanded that he make a choice that would necessarily cause someone to be hurt and/or angry. Such is the nature of spiritual leadership. This is not new. It is not a sign that our society has decayed. It is a natural consequence of the gospel being faithfully proclaimed.

I think every christian leader should take this event to heart, and ask themselves some hard questions. Are you willing to make choices based upon allegiance to Christ, while knowing that they will create enemies for you? Are you willing to truly carry your cross? Are you willing to selflessly drink the cup of Christ? Graciously, God will not ask many of us to become martyrs, but I do believe he has asked all of us to be willing to be martyred for His sake.

To be honest, I hesitate to answer when I ask myself these questions. I’m not really sure that I am consistently willing to lay down my life for Christ. Nonetheless, I think it is a healthy thing to stretch ourselves by probing our hearts and intentions concerning this issue. Where do you stand?

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.” (James 3:1-4)