Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 10/20/2011

Question
My husband has just returned home from afghan and we attended a 9/11 ceremony and a ceremony for our SD fallen soldiers. I noticed in the program there was going to be a benidiction and at that point many fellow christians that I looked up to left at that point. I dont believe listening to a benidiction caused us to loose our faith with God, However I was hurt that they had left before the role call would begin for our fallen soldiers as I was grimmly reminded that my husband could have all to easily been one of those plastic pictures without a voic that day. Am I wrong to think they should have sat through this benidiction to get to the most important part of tht ceremony of honoring our fallen. I Love God but I can ignore a benidiction in honor of my spouse. I felt they were bing legalistic but I am new to all of this.   Thank you in advance just for reading my rambling and letting me vent. God Bless

Answer
Leslie, let me thank you for your husband's service and I am thrilled that he is home with you. Also thank you for being a great wife during his service.

Now, while I am not of a "high church" persuasion I have given a benediction at the end of the service because all it means is that I am asking the Lord to bless the people in the congregation.  Some preachers, because of their denominational tradtitions, will use some of the benedictions David and others used in Scripture.  When you say God bless you when someone sneezes you are pronouncing a benediction.

Num 6:24-26

24 The Lord bless thee , and keep thee:

25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. KJV


This is a popular one that I have heard often at various functions.  I would normally say something like,

Father, place a hedge of protection about these dear people and grant them wisdom and discernment from Your Spirit to be able to tear down strongholds of satan in their lives and be able to help others to do the same. Now take them safely home and bless them until we meet in worship again.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Your friends may have just been rude and wanted to get out to beat the crowd.  They may have not liked the ritual and if that offends their conscience then I would say they are weak in their faith but they have to do what they feel is right about it or they have sinned because they stayed without having the faith to do so.  Yes, they could have been down right legalistic about it as well.   

All you can do, my dear Sister, is to keep on studying the Word and do what God gives you the faith to do in such situations and not not get upset or judge the ones who do differently.  Hearing a benediction will not hamper your relationship to God even if it is a ritual performed by a pastor who is not saved especially if it is a quote from Scripture.  On the other hand, not listening to a benediction will not make you more holy.  

I have been in places where I was not sure if the one who led in a closing prayer was saved or not.  I just agreed in prayer with what I heard that was good and if there was something not right I prayed the opposite.  God looks on the heart of all who were involved, not just the lad praying.

May God give you great wisdom, discernment and peace as you seek His will through His Word.  

Oops, that was a benediction.  Don't show this to your friends.   ;-)