While Luther was referring to the heart of a pastor, I think we can more broadly apply this principle of gentleness to all Christians who minister the gospel.
“Luther compared the shepherding relationship to the radical caring of a loving mother for her child, a care that is willing to take risks:
Unless your heart toward the sheep is like that of a mother toward her children—a mother, who walks through fire to save her children— you will not be fit to be a preacher.
Relational trust grows slowly through manifold seasons of caring, not immediately or absolutely. Once again, Luther turned to a feminine metaphor of care-giving:
How does a mother nourish her child? First, she feeds it with milk, then gruel, then eggs and soft food. If she weaned it and at once gave it the ordinary, coarse food, the child would never thrive. So we should also deal with our brother, have patience with him for a time, suffer his weakness and help him bear it; we should give him milk-food, too, as was done with us, until he like-wise grows strong.(Luther, “Eight Wittenberg Sermons,” First Sermon, WML II, p. 393)”
Thomas C. Oden, Pastoral Counsel, Classic Pastoral Care, 77 (New York: Crossroad, 1989).
Luther’s words are a great reminder to exercise maternal care and wisdom when sharing the most important message a person will ever hear. The evangelist Billy Sunday said something to the effect that when presenting the gospel we should keep the cookies on the bottom shelf so even the children can reach them.
Thank you Christina – and have a great weekend you two.
I’m going to try and find that Billy Sunday quote. Thanks Diane!
This was very good my friend! In fact, a couple of weeks ago, we had a church leadership conference and the speaker talked about the church as a “mother” and as a “father” to all believers who come in. As the church, we need to treat one another with love and kindness as well as pointing one another in the right direction always. I wrote about the importance of taking care of new babes in Christ the other day. It is a great responsibility and worthy of all Christians to care especially for new believers. May God grant us all the grace to tenderly help one another as we journey towards our heavenly home. Thanks Diana!
I meant thanks Christina! Duh….guess my mind was somewhere else when I replied!
That’s very funny Barbara! No worries at all! I knew exactly what you meant! 🙂 xo
PS I loved the post that you shared on taking care of new babes in Christ. It is very much is in line with what, I believe, God is teaching me. We really have to be patient and gentle with those who are weaker in the faith.