People Who Inspire Me: Corrie ten Boom

Corrie ten Boom was a heroine of the Netherlands under Nazi occupation during World War II. Along with her father and sister, she helped many Jewish people escape the oppressive Nazi regime by providing a secret hiding place for them in their home. They also hid members of the Dutch resistance movement. After being captured, she endured the persecution of the concentration camps. Her father and sister did not survive.

Why does Corrie ten Boom inspire me?

1. She was kind to those in need. For years prior to the war, her family took in several foster children in need of homes. In addition, Corrie ran a special church service for developmentally disabled children in the years leading up to the war. Driven by their commitment to Christ, the ten Booms welcomed the Jewish refugees and Dutch resistance into their home when they were in need of protection.

2. She was courageously hospitable. The ten Booms opened their home to Jewish guests during a time when the Nazis were determined to murder them. In addition to hiding their guests, Corrie and her family provided them with kosher food and honored the Sabbath with them.

3. She was willing to forgive. After the war, she spoke at many gatherings about the need to forgive those who were guilty of great sins during the war. As she spoke at one conference, a former concentration camp guard who had been cruel and abusive to her and her sister approached her to ask for forgiveness. In a remarkable show of spiritual strength, Corrie ten Boom forgave her oppressor.

Corrie ten Boom and her family left a powerful legacy of faith in action.

Who Does God Want to be Elders?

"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:5-9).

God is looking for men who are above reproach to serve as overseers and pastors in his church. In other words, God insists that a leader in his churches be...

*the husband of one wife. He must be a man who is faithful to his wife. His relationship with his wife will be a model of how Christ loves his church.

*a father whose children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. He must be one who can lead his children in the right way. (I have read commentaries that downplay this quality in a pastor; but as a father, I have some understanding of why God requires this now. Children do not grow up naturally to be faithful and decent human beings. Fathers need to work to ensure that this happens. Such experience is absolutely required for the work of an overseer.)

*a man who is not arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. He cannot be one who thinks he knows everything. He cannot walk around with a chip on his shoulder, looking for an argument or a fight. He cannot allow drugs or alcohol to gain control over him. He cannot beat up his wife, his children, or others under his care. He cannot be a man who would cheat or steal or lie in order to get what he wants from another. Such characteristics will destroy a man and the church he is called to care for.

*a man who is hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He needs to be a friendly and generous man, a man who will share his time and his resources to benefit another. He must love the good things in life...things like honor, kindness, justice, and purity. He needs to be in control of his actions and reactions. He needs to be stable and reliable. He must be ethical...to the point that others would say that there is something different about him. His honesty should never be questioned by any rational person.

*a man who holds firm to the trustworthy word as taught by the apostles and prophets. He needs to be able to teach healthy doctrine that conforms with the will of God, doctrine that accurately conveys God's message for people within the church and beyond. He will need to be able to handle the word of God with enough expertise to defend it against those who would deny it or try to change it. (An elder may need to challenge a preacher with a doctorate in theology if that preacher is denying such fundamental teachings as the inerrancy of Scripture, the need for faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved, or the omniscience of God. He needs to be prepared to recognize sound doctrine from unhealthy faith-destroying doctrine; and he needs to have the courage to defend the good and to challenge the bad...even when he must take on a popular false teacher within his congregation.)

Such elders will serve churches well.

Christ's Concern for Disabled People

"Then Jesus said to his host, 'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:12-14).

Christ cares about people with disabilities. He spent much of his ministry healing the blind, deaf, and paralyzed people who crossed his path. He instructed his disciples to go out of their way to offer hospitality and acceptance to people with disabilities. He wants disabled people to feel welcome in his church.

(By the way, if you know sign language, the Contact Church could use your help during our Sunday school classes and worship services. We have a few hearing impaired and deaf visitors and members who could benefit a great deal from your willingness to help us. Please call 918-447-1130 if you are interested. Thanks!)

Let It Shine

During the past week, I listened to Chuck Swindoll preach on his radio program about women of noble character. Using Proverbs 31 as his text, Mr. Swindoll provided some insight that I had not heard or read previously.

For example, he explained some of the Middle Eastern cultural practices behind Proverbs 31:18. Describing the noble woman, the verse stated, "She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night" (NIV). I assumed that the woman stayed up most (if not all) of the night working on various projects. However, Chuck Swindoll explained that compassionate, generous, and hospitable families of the Middle East would leave a lamp lit during the night so that poor and distressed people would be able to approach their houses for help. If someone needed bread for his family, he would know that the house or tent with the lit lamp would be the place to go. If a traveler needed a place to spend the night, he would look for the light of a lamp in the night.

As I thought about Chuck Swindoll's explanation of Middle Eastern customs, I gained a new perspective of Jesus' words to his followers: "You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV). I realized that Christ calls for his disciples to be compassionate, generous, and hospitable. I understood his intent for us to be helpful toward those in need and to provide some measure of safety and security for those traveling through a dark world.

Now I must ask myself: Am I letting my light shine? Do people in need see me as approachable and welcoming? Am I generous with my time? Will I stop to listen? Am I generous with my resources? Will I give away my money? Am I safe? Will I judge someone who struggles? Am I secure? Will I harm someone by spreading their secrets? Will I protect innocent people?

Letting my light shine means far more than I ever realized. It is more than being polite and putting in a good word for Jesus once in a while. It involves a high degree of compassion, generosity, and hospitality. Now that I have a richer understanding of Jesus' intent, I am determined to follow through and become one who lets his light shine.