John 9:2
In John chapter 9, as Jesus was about to intervene on the behalf of the man who was born blind, the disciples queried “Master who did sin, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” (9:2). Jesus’ response to them was rather interesting and eye-opening. Jesus quickly informed them, “Neither had this man sinned, nor his parents : but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (9:3). In other words, in the calmest and most loving way, Jesus was saying to his disciples you are asking the wrong question and isn’t that so much like the church even in modern times.
So many times, instead of zeroing in on the solution, we are focused on the problem and the causes of the problem looking for someone to blame. The question is, if they had found out who had sinned, how was that able to help this man, born blind. He was so in need of healing and deliverance and all they wanted to know was how come he was in that predicament. How immaterial and irrelevant was the question. May God help us today not to be immaterial and irrelevant. May the church of God be delivered from the temptation and sin of asking the wrong questions and thereby being irrelevant and inconsequential.
Now is no time to be looking around to cast blame on anyone. We are here to help, not to add to anyone’s hurt or pain. That people are hurting all around us is indeed all the inspiration and motivation we need as the Church of God to get up and do something to help relieve and alleviate peoples’ pain.
Like Jesus, we are called upon and compelled to see people! John says “And as Jesus passed by he saw a man which was blind from his birth” (John 9:1). Let us not be blind or pretend to be blind about people and their needs all around us. The fact is, sometimes we who think we see, really are blind. May the all-seeing God cause us to see. Not only are we called upon to really see the needs and plight of those all around, but like Jesus we must feel strongly constrained to do something about it.
We are here to give sight to the blind and to be a healing balm to all who are troubled, hurting and have lost their way. Let’s stop asking the wrong questions, looking for someone or something to blame.
Instead of asking uninformed and unlearned questions and looking for someone to blame, perhaps we need to ask more practical questions like – How can we help? How can we be agents of healing to the sick, ailing and those suffering all around. How can we ease somebody’s heavy load? How can we help and be a blessing in these Covid-19 times of great panic and pandemonium?
May we be a church again, who champions the rights of the poor and needy, who binds up the broken-hearted, who brings liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound and recovering of sight to the blind. It is imperative that we learn to ask the right questions that will indeed help us to be more relevant and effective as the church of Jesus in these end-times. The correct question is always, Master how can we help?
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional Bishop – Northeast Region
February 20, 2021
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PLEASE NOTE
In collaboration with our District Overseers, the Church of God of Prophecy submits to the wisdom of continuing to ‘Shelter in Place’ for the safety and protection of the flock. This is to be observed until further notice and the present virus is better contained. Should the need arise to meet, we are advised to meet in groups of no more than 10, while we strictly observe the protocols of social distancing, wearing of masks and aggressive sanitizing of our hands and surfaces frequently touched.
Please let us patiently observe these practices to keep each other safe and alive. We are reminded that we are indeed our brother’s keeper. Stay home! Stay Healthy! Stay Hopeful! We shall soon get through this! Premature re-openings of our churches seem not to be the wisest way to go at this point. Let us continue to pray, caring for each other and staying connected.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional Presiding Bishop — Northeast Region
