I wrote little after Elaine became gravely ill, and I wondered if I ever would. And, if my soul being softened as it was through that journey would change the message.
And I thought that being a grieving 82-year-old widower might dampen my fire. The fire that had led to pain because the heat of its message is hard for institutional Christians to bear.
And then, two days after Elaine’s passing I found notes from my first sermons, in 1973. The scriptures and themes are exactly what I proclaim today, including here!
I’ve never “advanced” beyond the simple message of the richness of John 10:10 Abundant Life; the II Cor. 3:18 need to grow in Christlikeness; the mandate to shape our lives around the Mt. 28:18-20 Great Commission; the imperative of the Acts 1:8 power of the Spirit; and the distasteful Luke 9:23-26 way of the cross that facilitates it all.
AND THEN. . . .
And then, “the morning-after” Elaine’s memorial service I read Oswald Chambers’, “The ‘Go’ of Renunciation,” in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.
Excerpts include: “…someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ (Luke 9:57) Our Lord’s attitude toward this man was one of severe discouragement, ‘for He knew what was in man’ (John 2:25). We would have said, ‘I can’t imagine why He lost the opportunity of winning that man! Imagine being so cold to him and turning him away so discouraged!’ Never apologize for your Lord.”
“The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to be hurt or offended. Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God.”
AND SO – –
The passion for the message that God burned into my heart nearly 50-years ago remains, and it still must be declared regardless of men’s response.
I “will,” to continue to do so. In fact, the flame is fanned by anger toward Satan for the darkness he brought upon humanity, including my Elaine, and for how he has convinced the Church in America that we can define godliness with little regard for the imperatives that Jesus left with us.
Deuteronomy 26:18-19
Ken Stoltzfus
September 29, 2022
CLICK HERE for a printable pdf.