On The Passing Of Rachel Held Evans
Rachel Held Evans has died and social media is filled with shock and grief from those who learned from her and loved her.
The mysteries of the faith come front and center for those willing to explore them.
Thousands prayed for her recovery…”the prayers of a righteous person avail much”.
Perhaps there are no righteous left among us…
Her passing feels like a historical marker like the passings of Keith Green and Rich Mullins…a time of subtle change between one era and another.
Along with the expressions of loss are the inevitable expressions of hatred from those who believe that faith in their biblical interpretation saves and a relationship with Jesus is only efficacious if you pass the exam.
They have their reward.
I do know that every Sunday Evans confessed Christ in worship with the people of God.
I believe Christ confessed her upon her arrival in His presence.
I’m thankful that my heroes have rarely been Christians so I escaped debates about their eternal destiny when they passed.
It was assumed they went to hell and sometimes it is better to let thoughts of hell comfort those who need such.
I was not moved by Evans, nor did I find her writings compelling…but I am compelled to weep with those who weep.
For those to whom she was a symbol of hope and faith and who now feel a void and great loss, I offer this.
The gift a great writer brings is the expression of things we feel, but cannot express on our own. When those great ones pass, it is as if part of us passed with them, that our voice has been silenced with theirs.
In truth, it simply means we must now speak for ourselves…it’s how we return what we were given.
When one exceptional voice is silenced, it takes many more to fill the void.
Speak.
More importantly, live out that which you were taught in the way you were taught it.
When we do so we truly honor their work and memory.
May God bless her memory and comfort her family…may the Spirit be with her husband as he raises their children and starts a difficult new journey.
Amen. Weep with those who weep, pray for her husband and children, and extended circle of loved ones. God’s ways are mysterious… and suffering and loss are very much The Journey of His followers… being conformed to His Image.
My dear, as you may know, a local pastor’s family is walking in the Valley of The Shadow with impending loss soon…. keep them in our prayers as well.
Weeping here too. Praying for all those she knew and loved.
I didn’t agree with all her points…but she made us think…something sorely missing in much of American Christendom. She will be missed
Very well said Michael.
May God bring comfort to her family. Memory eternal.
Thank you Michael. You said it well. Her death is devastating. Unfortunately her life will be the source of more rancor. It’s unavoidable as she certainly did not spare those of rival viewpoints. But her death is deeply sorrowful and the loss to her family exceeds all other concerns.
Once again you have spoken for many.
Well, it appears that CT, after not saying boo about RHE until the third
day after her death, had to take down a piece about her written by someone who basically whined about why RHE was wrong in so many
things. Shameful.