What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. – 1 Corinthians 14:26

Today’s Scripture Reading (January 14, 2018): 1 Corinthians 14

Author Seth Godin argues that “The devil doesn’t need an advocate. The brave need supporters, not critics.” There is a level where we all need to be encouraged and understood. The problem is that often, in the midst of our own dysfunction, it is hard to see the encouragement that the other needs. Too often, for one to be encouraged, another has to be criticized or chastised. We are all the brave, and we all need to be supported.

The church has often been known for shooting its own wounded.  Maybe we just can’t help it. After all, we are all wounded. And, sometimes, it seems for one to be encouraged, someone else must criticized. It is as if we are sitting on a child’s teeter-totter and for one end to rise, the other end must be lowered. We struggle with the idea that every one of us, on this journey to make sense of this world, is a card-carrying member of the brave. And in the midst of our struggle, every one of us needs, and deserves, to be encouraged. The brave need supporters, not critics. And the devil doesn’t need an advocate.

I get that, at times, we are all hurting. But somehow we have to remember that the person next to us, or the one that we feel has disrespected us, is hurting too. And the church is commanded to be a place where we can be built up, but not at the expense of another person. If encouragement can only be offered by criticizing someone, then it is the devil that is alive in the details.

To the Ephesian Church Paul would write this instruction: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). I have to admit that sometimes I fail at this, but I honestly try.

And so, Sunday has rolled around again. Wherever you are, regardless of the church you attend, this is God’s will for you. Be an encouragement to those around you. Be a supporter of the brave and my prayer is that someone will, in turn, support you, because you also are numbered among the courageous. We don’t need critics. We do need to be surrounded by love, and this is my hope for every church, and every gathering of people, on the planet

Welcome to Sunday. Go and be an encouragement.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15