A Room Full of "Godiologists"

The scene: a lavishly decorated Santa Barbara ballroom. The occasion: a $250 per plate formal dinner fundraiser. The incident: a man slumps over, the victim of a sudden heart attack. The bad news: the dude is dying. The good news: the fundraiser is for the American Heart Association and the room is wall-to-wall cardiologists.

The Associated Press reported that quick-thinking physicians, including Dr. Richard Westerman, were able to revive the man. The ambulance was called, and the fortunate victim is recovering at a nearby hospital.

If you have to have a heart attack, it is good to be in a room filled with heart doctors.

If you have to have a soul attack, it is good to be in a room filled with "soul doctors."

Soul doctors don't necessarily have advanced degrees hanging on their walls. They probably don't wear lab coats, and most don't drive Beamers and Mercedes (although some do.) Who is this cadre of "pious paramedics?"

The church.

If you don't think you're under soul attack, you're in denial. The Bible tells us, "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, New Living Translation) You and I are under constant attack from Satan and his minions.

How do we survive? We ban together. We bind the wounds of those who are spiritually sick, those who are at risk for a fatal soul attack. Most importantly, we don't try to go it alone. You see, I need you. And, you need me.

The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage Christians in the ancient city of Thessalonica. They were under attack too - both spiritually and physically - as persecution began taking hold in the Roman Empire. Paul told them, ". . . speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, The Message)

Sounds like good advice. So take some time this week to visit with your fellow spiritual practitioners at church. It won't cost you $250 to attend. You won't need a tuxedo or evening gown. Yet, the life that is saved might be your own.