(Not so) Friendly Fire
- Pastor Jim White
- Aug 28, 2017
- 2 min read
"They will put you out of the synagogue. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God."
(John 16:2)
I still vividly remember the tragic story of Pat Tillman's death. Though I've been a life-long Cowboys fan, I was inspired by this AZ Cardinal standout defender who enlisted in the army, post 9-11. Giving up a very lucrative NFL career, Pat Tillman left to serve his country and protect the world from tyranny. Word of his death at the hands of the Taliban was extremely sad. But that sadness turned tragic when it was later revealed he actually died from friendly fire.
According to Webster's Dictionary, friendly fire is "the firing of weapons from one's own forces of those of an ally especially when resulting in the accidental death or injury of one's own personnel." Pat Tillman was killed by an American. Wow.
As Jesus was getting ready to retune to the Father, he spoke words of both comfort and warning to his disciples. His over-arching prayer theme for them was UNITY ("that you may be one, as I and the Father are one"). The warning, however, was that unity will be very hard. Precisely because people that should be on our side will actually not be. "They'll think they're offering worship to God" by killing you, said Jesus. Friendly fire. Wow.
We Christians have been "killing each other" for centuries. Not literally, of course. But relationally... emotionally... theologically. Just look at the COUNTLESS denominations in Christendom. We're anything but united. And whether the issue has been women in ministry, war & peace, human sexuality, or any number of other controversies, we Christians are experts at "killing each other," and believing we're honoring God along the way. Friendly fire. And it's tragic.
How can I work for unity today? How can I bridge the gap between fellow Christians? How can I extend a hand of peace and reconciliation to someone in an "opposing camp" from me, theologically? Only by the grace of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit!