My friend Pete could be a real pain. He was tall and could be intimidating. Pete was a Marine, serving our country and was still ready to defend our country with his life, if necessary.
Pete believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and lived by Romans 1: 16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes, for the Jew first, and also to the Greeks.
I know he wasn’t ashamed because shortly after I became pastor at his church he came to question me, and see where I stood. I think I was often found wanting.
Pete and I had many conversations over the years I served as his pastor, and most of them started off with, “Frank, we’ve got a problem.” For a long time I’d feel a twinge when I saw his name come up on my phone. We talked and often argued for hours over worship services and what direction the church should go and what stands I should or should not take from the pulpit.
Things got to a point where one day I said to him: “Pete, the thing is, you don’t like me, and you don’t like my ministry. But here’s some hope: I’m here now, but I’m a Methodist pastor. I won’t be here forever! Wait it out! In the meantime, find someplace to worship where you can be happy.”
But we hung in there with each other.
A series of things happened after that, and I had a realization, a recognition, about Pete while crossing over the Lake Houston bridge. I think the Holy Spirit convicted me, and I called Pete and told him how much I appreciated him, and told him for the first time that I loved him as a brother in Christ.
Our relationship completely changed. Suddenly I realized Pete did not go to someone else when he had a problem with me. He came to me first. We dealt with it. Pete did not talk behind my back, as I did about Pete to my shame. Pete stood up for his faith without reservation. I came to realize Pete Collier modeled Christ for me as a man of integrity in ways I did not appreciate. We kept in touch after Brenda and I left Lake Houston, and I think the last words we said to each other over the phone before he died recently were words of friendship and love.
Yes, my friend Pete could be a pain, but he modeled an unwavering faith and conviction that blessed and changed me.
As it turns out from my reading and experience, Jesus could be a real pain, too.
Frank is an Inspire Missioner in Texas, USA