So I'm here in Dallas, TX, having missed my flight at 6:55 p.m. and at this moment, standing by for a flight at 9:00 p.m. My host thought my flight was to leave at 7:30 p.m. and consequently, I arrived too late:-) Having flown in this morning for a Mosaix Global Network (MGN) board meeting, I then spoke to a select group of businessmen over lunch on behalf of the network. In the afternoon, the board spent time interviewing a potential future staff member and then, it was off to a great meal at PF Chang's ... too good of a meal, I guess! So again, I'm stuck; and it's about 7:00 p.m. CST.
Might as well make good use of the time:-)
Following the luncheon, one of the businessmen approached me and I sensed a strong urgency. "I know why I'm here today," he said, "And I'm sorry, it has nothing to do with MGN. Don;t get me wrong," he continued," I'm totally with you guys ... it's just that I need to ask you about your wife's book."
During my opening remarks, by way of introduction, I had mentioned Linda and the fact that she has authored a book, Mommy, Please Don't Cry, an anointed resource providing comfort and hope for those who grieve the loss of a child. And it was this seemingly passing comment, beyond all others, that had caught his attention.
He continued: "Mark, my wife and I have lost two children to miscarriage; one at twenty weeks, and we had to go through the whole still-birth process. Following that, one church group stood by us for two weeks; but then, when the real grief set in, they were no where to be found. Next, we went to speak to a local church pastor and my wife said to him, 'I just want to know one thing: where is my child?' But the pastor responded, 'What does it matter?'
Because of this, my wife left the church, i.e., organized religion altogether, and the two of us have drifted ever since - from God and from the church. I'm wondering, is your wife's book just what God might use to heal our broken hearts and restore her (our) confidence in God, the church?"
I assured him by faith that I know it would.
"In fact," I said, "the words are very simple, yet speak profoundly to the brokenhearted; the first page reads, 'Mommy, please don't cry; a beautiful angel carried me here.'"
And that's when his tears came; he paused to cry before regaining composure.
Through the rest of the conversation I assured him that his child is wonderfully alive in heaven and that this is not mere "feel-good" theology - my confidence is rooted in scripture. Yes, this theological certainty is based not only in hope of the goodness and character of God but, in fact, on multiple passages in the Bible from which God's mind and heart on the matter are revealed (see John MacArthur's messages entitled, The Salvation of Babies Who Die (I) I and The Salvation of Babies Who Die (II).
He then left encouraged determined to buy Linda's book, to share it with his wife and to contact me soon to let me know how it (the message) is received. Please say a word of prayer for this disenfranchised couple and for their return to the love and family of God.
You might think that such assurance concerning the eternal destiny of infants who die prematurely (from our perspective) is something believers would be anxious to provide. Yet there are some who cannot (or will not) allow themselves to offer such hope to grieving families, choosing rather to withhold it simply because no one verse clearly states what (in my view) God otherwise expects us to understand without need of further clarification. And I believe the time has come to reveal one such bottleneck that if, uncorked, could lead to the healing of thousands of souls still grieving and confused by insensitive, self-righteous church leaders such as I've described above. And I'll do so (I think) in next week's post.
In the meantime, who do you know that is desperate for answers, hope and healing? You might give them Linda's book and/or steer them to MacArthur on the subject.
As always, I welcome your comments.
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