The Power of Words

Acts 7.55-60    
‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’

Stephen was really quite some man, worthy of the title ‘Saint’.

Having discovered this morning that I am now a member of the ever less exclusive club, clergy who have had their church lead nicked, I am not pleased. It is the morning when 80-mile-an-hour storms and gales are forecast and also OFSTED are arriving to inspect our church school (my assembly included) – and with Holy Week around the corner, there are a few other things on the horizon too.

What I feel like doing to those mindless criminals should not be printed. They have clearly ignored the Lord’s command to love their neighbours as themselves and not foreseen the huge stress, work and cost their lead thieving will cause.

Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Surely Stephen wouldn’t have said that?

If we are struggling with apathy and lack of faith around us, perhaps we can imagine that Stephen admired his attackers because at least they were passionate about their belief in their particular picture of God, even if it was misguided. Sometimes we might even have a glimmer of understanding for religious terrorists, knowing that our ancestors have done a few shameful things to try to keep their religion and community life pure. We might hear Jesus’s words, Father forgive them, they know not what they do.

Or maybe – just maybe – it was because Stephen was a man filled with God’s Spirit (see Acts 6:10 , 7:55)?

Stephen’s words are very powerful. If I had met the burglars to confront them verbally or physically it is unlikely that the encounter would have led to anything fruitful. But if I could have communicated such a sentiment as ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’ ……..wow.

Of course sin must be labelled as sin, and not swept under the carpet. Stephen made quite clear his belief that their attitude to Jesus was wrong (Acts 7:51-52), but like His Saviour before him, he showed pastoral concern for those who wronged him. Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

Like his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’s words call out to us: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

There are many stories of remarkable words spoken to criminals which have ultimately changed their lives. I heard recently about a woman, violently assaulted in her home, who whispered in the ears of her attacker, ‘When this is over, I will pray for you.’ This prayer led to a new life in Christ for her assailant when he was in prison.

Life-changing words. Even if they seem to fall on deaf ears at the time, they should still be said. We know that Saul was one of those holding the clothes of those stoning Stephen. The words he heard may have provided the first cracks which enabled the call of Jesus to reach his heart.

May we seek to be filled with same Holy Spirit that overflowed in Stephen, and pray as he did.

Ben Phillips is an area dean and vicar of Bodicote, near Banbury.