How do you react when you are on the receiving end of a sermon that steps on your toes? Have you ever considered literally shooting the messenger?
Apparently Terry Ratzmann did. During a Saturday evening meeting of the Living Church of God, Ratzmann, apparently still stinging from a recent sermon that stepped on his toes, opened fire. The aftermath? Seven members of the church dead, including the pastor who delivered the sermon two weeks ago that offended Ratzmann.
Hard to believe that in the safe haven of a worship assembly, where sources say 50-60 people had gathered, the safety was shattered.
As a minister, I am always amazed at responses to the preached Word of God. Some hearts are touched and responsive to the conviction of the Spirit. Other hearts are hardened, like Pharoah in Moses's day. Other hearts are seemingly unmoved.
Jesus once taught about the response of the heart to the Word of God (see Mark 4 and the Parable of the Sower). Varied responses to the spoken Word are as old as Jesus's parabolic teaching.
How do you respond when the Word of God is convicting your heart?
