| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | August 1999 |
Training to Be Merciful Priests
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“He [Jesus] had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.” “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” |
ON APRIL 20TH, OUR nation was shocked to learn of the great tragedy that occurred in Littleton, Colorado. Two young students entered the Columbine High School armed with guns, and killed twelve students and a teacher before killing themselves. It was the worst school shooting in American history. The incident has led to heart-searching questions like, “How well do you know your kid?” and always the question arises, “Why did this have to happen?” “Why did God permit it?”
Littleton is a suburb of Denver, where a congregation of Bible Students meets. The proximity of this event enabled them to view firsthand the reaction of the people to this tragedy. The foremost question in their minds was how they might give comfort to the families and friends of the casualties.
REPORT BY E-MAIL
On an e-mail report providing information about Bible Students, a number of letters from Denver were received and printed. One letter told how, at the class meeting two days later, the group discussed what they might do to offer comfort. They decided on running a newspaper ad offering “Comfort and Consolation” booklets. The ad was run in the Rocky Mountain News on Tuesday, April 27, the day when most of the funerals were held. Other classes of Bible Students offered assistance in sending ads used by them at the time of other tragedies. Another of these ads was run in the Denver Post.
When the Bible Students Ecclesia learned that thousands of people from the Denver area were gathering at Clements Park, adjoining the high school, to show their sympathy and support, they also went. Two sisters went to the park to distribute “Consolation” booklets, which were well received by all. More brethren assisted in this work, which was continued the next day. The park became a giant memorial where people brought tons of flowers, notes, banners, teddy bears, crosses, and pictures, to express their feelings of sympathy.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
A memorial service was advertised to be held Sunday, April 25th. The Bible Student congregational meeting was cancelled so that the entire class could participate in the work of handing out “Consolation” booklets. Ten brethren went to the memorial service, and joined 80,000 others who gathered there. (Only 30,000 were expected.) A large supply of “Consolation” and “Hope” booklets were handed out an hour before the services began.
One participant wrote: “I have not had the privilege of participating in a truth activity like this before, and it certainly has inspired me to become more directly involved in this kind of work for the Lord. What I noticed more than anything about the people gathered there, was their hunger for something comforting from all this chaos. I don’t know how many of the booklets were even read, but people were so willing to reach out for something, we couldn’t hand the booklets out fast enough. Another very important part of this for me was sharing this experience with my dearest brethren, those of ‘like precious faith.’ What a privilege we have in doing this together!”
Another one who shared in this experience said to sad young people, “I need a hug, … could you use a hug?” She gave many hugs that day as she gave them literature for comfort. She also observed that people were kinder, open to feelings for one another, reaching out for hope, and comfort. “I wondered why it takes a happening like this to make people soften up, to be gentler, kinder, more helpful one to another. There were no strangers—we were all together in one endeavor (to help one another).”
THE MERCIFUL PRIEST
The answer to the question, “Why does it take a tragedy like this one to make people become more gentle and kind?” lies in the program God set in motion with his Son. He sent Jesus to earth to become man’s Redeemer. In the experiences Jesus had, leading to his death, he learned also to “be a merciful and faithful High Priest” who could be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” (Heb. 2:17; 4:15) His followers must learn the same lessons in order to become a part of that faithful High Priest in God’s kingdom.
There have been literally billions of people upon the earth who have suffered poverty, famine, and hardship. When these return from the grave as promised (John 5:28,29) they will need loving assistance in learning obedience to the commandments of God. This will be a tremendous task. But God has been training certain ones during this Gospel Age who will be administrators with Jesus in this learning program. Today, these are being trained to be merciful priests in the future.
TRAINING THE PRIESTS
How is this training accomplished? The first step to be taken is that of consecration. Included in the many experiences of God’s people is learning how to be sympathetic with others. The Apostle Paul says: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”—Rom. 12:15
The twelfth chapter of Romans opens with the Apostle Paul urging the brethren that they yield their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The Apostle then adds: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”—Rom. 12:1,2
The succeeding verses in this chapter are an explanation of the practical way in which this remarkable transformation takes place, and the training for priesthood starts by exhorting us not to be proud, but humble, and to have a sober estimate of our capabilities. The illustration of a human body and its functions is used to impress on our minds the need for unity and cooperation with all the members of the body of Christ. The gifts of the Spirit distributed to these body members will differ, but all should be motivated by love. (vss. 9,10) He concludes his words of advice by appealing to us to love our enemies.—vss. 19,20
Putting into practice this advice from the Apostle Paul is the training we receive to become a merciful priesthood. There is no easy way to get this training. We must enter into the feelings of people in tragedy, in joy, in sorrow, by trying to place ourselves in their circumstances, and by showing them genuine love. In receiving this training we become transformed, and “conformed to the image of his Son.”—Rom. 8:29
CONSOLATION FROM CHURCHES
During the tragedy in Littleton, there was consolation offered by others, including ministers from many churches. They said that those killed were now ‘in heaven.’ The Bible does not support this view. Jesus said, “No one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man who descended from heaven.” (John 3:13, Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott) In spite of this kind of consolation, the victims’ families and the people of the Denver area continued to be saddened by this tragedy.
In fact, the Bible does not support the concept of an ‘immortal soul’ going to ‘heaven.’ Primarily we note the Bible teaching that no one possesses immortality except God. (I Tim. 6:16) Even Jesus did not receive immortality until after his resurrection. (Rev. 1:18) Immortality is a reward given to the faithful footstep followers of Christ. (I Cor. 15:53) God did not give man an immortal soul; rather, he created man a mortal soul. (Gen. 2:7) Little do those who support the immortal soul concept realize that they are supporting Satan’s first lie to Mother Eve when he said to her, “Ye shall not surely die.”—Gen. 3:4
Is it not strange that mankind prefers to believe Satan’s lie, rather than God’s plain statement? God said, ‘If you disobey my instructions,’ “Thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:17) This does not mean that these victims will not be restored to their loved ones. God has promised a resurrection to everyone. (John 5:28,29) These victims are now sleeping in death. Their hope—and the hope of all—in having life restored, is a resurrection from the dead. Today very few people really have this hope, and yet it is among the firmest and most magnificent promises given in the Bible!
At the community memorial service, one of the members of the Denver congregation observed: “The speeches given were nice, but of no real comfort. Many in speaking, especially the ministers, continued to ask, ‘Why?’ It was so obvious that they do not have the answer that we are so very privileged to share. A group of twenty-three ministers from fifteen local churches, together ran a full page ad in the local paper entitled, “Why?” They eloquently asked the questions of ‘Why my child?’ ‘Why my family?’ ‘Why did God let it happen?’ ‘Is there really a God?’ ‘How can there be an all-powerful and all-loving God when evil seems so uncontained?’
“The ministers’ answers were: ‘He is the Creator of life and he was grieved by this tragedy. Knowing him through Jesus Christ, and allowing his entrance into our lives is the only way to make sense of, and have hope in the midst of this tragic situation. He is more powerful than this tragedy, and his goodness is greater than this present evil.’ They went on to commit their time, prayers, etc., to the community. They did not answer the questions.”
PERMISSION OF EVIL
How shall we explain to these puzzled and perplexed people why God permits evil? We can only do so by outlining God’s plan:
- Foremost, the earth became a ‘testing ground’ for Jesus, who was to become the Redeemer of mankind.—Rev. 13:8
- Secondly, a ‘church class’ was to be found and developed from among the children of Adam. These, when faithful until death, would be raised as “joint-heirs with Christ.”—Rom. 8:17; II Pet. 1:4
- All mankind need an experience with sin and evil so they can make an intelligent choice between righteousness and evil, as was given to Israel.—Deut. 30:19; Acts 17:30,31
- The earth was to be filled with human beings.—Gen. 1:28, RSV
- All mankind will be raised from the dead.—John 5:28,29
- God’s kingdom is for the purpose of having mankind experience good, which is necessary before they can make an intelligent choice between good and evil.—Isa. 26:9; Jer. 31:34
The 35th chapter of Isaiah tells about God’s future kingdom, and how all handicaps and obstacles will be removed for the world of mankind, so that they can walk up “the way of holiness” to perfection. (vs. 8) No “lion” (Satan) or “ravenous beast” will be there.(vs. 9) Satan will be bound, and other agencies which cause trouble now, shall be destroyed.
What a glorious day that will be, when this prophecy is fulfilled! All the victims of the Columbine High School shooting will be there, as will be all who ever lived in Satan’s empire. They will be a part of those “ransomed of the Lord” when all mankind is awakened from the dead. These “shall return, and come to Zion [the faithful and merciful priests] with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:10