Preachers get asked a lot of questions. Sometimes these questions are doctrinal; sometimes they are practical; sometimes they fall into the category of “just curious.” There is one question that always puzzles this preacher. I never really know how to answer it except just to give whatever information I have.
A good brother or sister will know that somebody is in the hospital, is a “shut-in” or is suffering in some other way. The well-meaning brother or sister will walk up to a preacher and ask a question like, “Have you heard anything from ___________.” It may be worded a little differently. It may be asked in one of these ways: “How is ____________ doing?” “I haven’t seen __________ at church in a while. Do you know where they have been?” “Something seems to be bothering ________________. Do you have any idea what’s wrong?”
While I appreciate the interest demonstrated in these and other similar questions, and while I don’t mind telling what I know (as long as it is not privileged information), I really believe that there is a better and more biblical approach to this. Those who know me know that I love the “body concept” of the church about which we read in 1 Corinthians 12. In this passage, we find that “…there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).
It has been my experience that people appreciate it when the preacher stops by, makes a phone call and/or drops a note in the mail to somebody. It means something to them to know that he cares (and in the eyes of some that he is doing his job). Yet, how much more would it mean if somebody who was not “expected” to do these things did them just because of the love that exists for brothers and sisters in the Lord? How much more like a family would a congregation be if all the members checked on each other?
Have you got a few minutes to make some phone calls? Have you got some time to make a visit or two? Have you heard anything from ______________?
