Most of us have heard a sermon or two we didn’t care for, but on March 12, 2005, some believe Terry Ratzman's dislike for a sermon may have resulted in the worst mass killing in Wisconsin's history. When Ratzmann entered the sanctuary that day, some of his fellow members immediately knew that something was wrong. Instead of sitting in his usual spot, he remained standing and was agitated. When the sermon begin, Ratzman pulled out a 22 caliber pistol and let loose.
Photo by Vadim Tikhonov. All rights reserved.
Twenty-two shots later when the mayhem ended, pastor Gregory, his son and five other members, including Ratzman, were dead. This is not exactly what you'd expect to experience while sitting in a church pew.
Some believe the sermon Ratzman disliked was actually preached two weeks earlier. It reportedly focused on how bad fortune comes to those who make ungodly choices. Many believe other factors, including Ratzman’s difficulty finding a job, may have brought him to the breaking point. We’ll never know for sure. What we do know is that making ungodly choices always leads to tragic consequences.
On more than one occasion, the sermons Paul preached resulted in violence and physical abuse. Many did not want to hear what he had to say. While working in the city of Lystra Paul and Barnabas preached Christ to the people and they were responsive. At first they thought they were gods because Paul had healed a man who had been lame from birth. So Paul shared the truth about God and Christ, and many believed. But then "Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead." (Acts 14:19)
Not all sermons are worth hearing or preaching. But none are so bad that pastors should either be shot or stoned for preaching them. After all, a sermon is supposedly a message from the very God who says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7, 8)
By Rich DuBose, Director, Pacific Union Conference Church Support Services
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