THE SCOOP WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
February 4, 2024 / Vol. 5 Southside Church of Christ 800 Elmira Avenue Durham, NC 27707 info@sside.org www.sside.org 919.688.3535 STAFF Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus D’Andrea Fanning Director of Ministry Operations & Non-Profit Candice P. Blount Church Administrator Quentella Williams Executive Assistant DEACONS John Alcox Anthony Green, Sr. Arthur Hackney John Mathis Chester Mayfield, Jr. Roger McDougal Joe Williams Keith Wright
WEEKLY WORD Trauma, What’s That? By RICKI FULLER This month, we are studying how to overcome trauma. For our purposes today, the term ‘trauma’ is defined as “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. According to social scientists, trauma occurs in three (3) distinct ways: 1-Acute, one single incident; 2-Chronic, repeated and prolonged, i.e. Abuse or Domestic Violence; and, 3Complex, exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events. The suggested reference Scripture is Zechariah 13:6 wherein Zechariah is charged with helping his listeners to recognize their sinful errors so as to hopefully guide them to repent and receive GOD’s forgiveness. Part of Zechariah’s job was to admonish and to encourage those who heard the lessons GOD had given him. At the time Zechariah was proclaiming GOD’s Word, many people of Israel had been engaged in some forms of paganistic idol worship. Many of those idolatrous events were riddled with high/extreme emotional outbursts and actions. So much so, that many people inflicted harm on their own bodies with cuttings, tattoos, etcetera per the idol’s requirements. Some of those practices were naturally traumatic, yet it seems many of the people had become accustomed to the trauma and thereby did not fully recognize the error of their ways during the periods of stupor. Which, also, means they were completely ignorant of the great chasm those behaviors caused between them and The GOD of Israel. His name, Zechariah, means “The Lord remembers.” Commentators declare that GOD used Zechariah to speak for Him about needed change, wherein he calls the people to repent and obey. He challenged and encouraged them to fulfill the covenant they had entered into and expected GOD to fulfill.”
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(I can only assume they expected GOD to fulfill the covenant during the times they were of sober and Godly minds.) Commentators also point out that GOD used Zechariah “to forecast the coming of Messiah as the Righteous Branch, the KingPriest, the humble King, the Cornerstone, the Good Shepherd, and the Pierced One.” Taking Romans 3:23 into consideration that all people have sinned and come short of GOD’s glory, it’s reasonable to assume there to be a basic principle that signifies why we all give in to trauma. That reason suggests, like the Israelites, we have lost good/vital/ wholesome/authentic contact/connection with The Lord. Zechariah wrote about it, and Jesus spoke about it in the book of John. The first step they both, along with Paul and John, taught was/is that the minds/ consciences of the people be purified/ pacified by the Blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sins (I John 1:7; Zechariah 12:10). So, regardless of the trauma in our lives (whether inflicted by family, friends or foes, or whether self-inflicted) it is highly important that we realize/accept that we are loved, and that there is help for us to get over every traumatic event. That help is present in, and available from, maintaining a loving relationship with GOD!
“So God created mankind in his own image” -Genesis 1:26
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