Bishop David JonesBishop Jones Writes...

Bishop Nathan Baxter is currently on sabbatical. Bishop David C. Jones is serving as Bishop in Residence in his absence.

May 22, 2013

One Sunday several years ago, I discovered after a worship service that an offering from an ecumenical Thanksgiving service had been stolen from the church office. My reaction was immediate. I suspected that a particular young man had been the thief. I had seen him leaving the office before the morning service. He had a reputation for stealing and he was, in my mind, already guilty of the offence. I was visibly angry. I asked, “How could anyone steal from the Church?” There was no love in my heart. 

A visiting bishop from Tanzania, Alpha Mohammad, was with me that morning when I discovered the missing offering.  I vented my anger and shock. Alpha quietly interrupted me in mid- sentence as I was raging about the thief.  He said “David, let us stop to pray for the person who now has that money. He must be in torment.” He prayed for the thief and prayed that the offering be returned.

Bishop Alpha was illustrating for me that the spiritual health of the person who had taken that money was much more important than the money that was missing.  My anger had blinded me of any concern for the thief. 

Early Tuesday morning, after the bishop had left town, the young man called asking to see me. He arrived in my office later that morning with the offering and asked my forgiveness. He told me that he had buried the offering in the church yard during the Sunday service and was then plagued with guilt. I forgave him and prayed that he would be forgiven by our loving and gracious God.  

I was given a glimpse of what Jesus was saying when he said in the Sermon on the Mount “ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44 (NIV).”

Faithfully,

+ David

David Colin Jones
Bishop in Residence

 

 

 

 

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