Cleveland -- WWJD? In this case, the J stands for Jerry, as in Jerry Birch, the Cavaliers' team chaplain. Traditionally, most clergy would preach forgiveness in a case like this, and Birch is no different. "As a chaplain, I have a singular focus, because God has a singular focus," said Birch, co-pastor of Abundant Grace Fellowship and a noted...
Cleveland -- WWJD?
In this case, the J stands for Jerry, as in Jerry Birch, the Cavaliers' team chaplain.
Traditionally, most clergy would preach forgiveness in a case like this, and Birch is no different.
"As a chaplain, I have a singular focus, because God has a singular focus," said Birch, co-pastor of Abundant Grace Fellowship and a noted speaker on marriage. "God is in the transformation business. He's in the business of transforming sinners into saints, and then He's in the business of transforming saints into the image of His Son.
"Even when I'm working with people who are going through extremely difficult situations, like a bad divorce with an abusive spouse, we're counseled by the Lord to love our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us. So the most important thing I tell them is, 'I know you're hurt. I know you've been betrayed. But the most important thing in this transaction is not your feelings but your spouse's soul.'
"So I will always treat everyone the same because God is more interested in your eternal salvation than anything else."
And if a parishioner came to him and asked what to do with his or her anger when LeBron James returns with the Miami Heat on Thursday?
"It's hard," Birch admitted. "The things I would tell you to do would be difficult to do unless you're a follower of Christ, because He empowers us to do the supernatural. The supernatural thing would be to forgive and to love. The classy thing to do would be just to root for your team. It's like they tell the people in high school: 'There's no booing in high school. Root for your team and leave the other team alone.' "