To begin, I looked at www.dictionary.

com for a formal definition of the word

vulnerable. The word is defined a couple ways, 1. capable of or susceptible to being
wounded or hurt, as by a weapon, 2. Open to moral attack, criticism, temptation,
etc. After reading the definition I feel confident that my understanding of the word
matched the formal definition. With that said, I would have worded the definition a
little differently. I would have said that vulnerability means an openness to the
opportunity to be hurt, manipulated, insulted, demeaned, weakness, susceptible to
change good or bad.
The context of my current ministry is nearly 100% confined to my job as a funeral
director. People are very vulnerable during their time of grief. Even for those that
are strong, or feel theyve got a good handle on their emotions, become weak by
the those grieving around them. In fact, those that are the strongest in times of
great grief are usually the ones most vulnerable because theyre the ones that the
family turns to for support and answers. They become weakened by all the weight
of demands that everyone places on them, not to mention the wear and tear of
delayed grief. Theyre usually the ones that grieve last.
One of the responsibilities of a funeral director is to help the family members with
understanding different coping mechanisms. Sometimes that simply means
providing or leading them to a variety of print resources provided by our firm. With
that said, were not to pretend to be professional counselors. That can be a line
easily crossed in the vulnerable state we find our families. With emotions running
high, coupled with the fact that theyre facing a significant financial burden, almost
everyone becomes vulnerable and listens to every word that leaves the mouth of
the funeral director. Its really a great time for us to offer kind words of love and
hope during their time of vulnerability.
Our community offers plenty of ways to become vulnerable, from being outside of
the trends to political opinions, to social media, etc. Technology has added a level of
vulnerability that can increase exponentially ones vulnerability. While this answer
might seem to be a generalization, I believe its relevant. We live in a city that
considers itself to be traditional but is steeped in progress. With a state college
within city limits, theres a strong sense of liberal views that influence our
community which opens the door to vulnerability in unique ways. Theres almost too
many points of vulnerability to mention.
My own personal response matches that of the church I attend and the people I
associate with. That response is one of love and kindness. In todays highly volatile
world influenced by different faiths, plurality, political opinion, socioeconomics and
environment etc, love and kindness offer up a tremendous amount of contrast. In
fact, Id submit that being kind and loving means to make oneself vulnerable to the
wolves that are ready to devour. The world hates love. I say that because true love
is focused on others and not self. We dont live in a world that promotes others but
rather self. While this may seem to be a vague response, its the core of my
response and the ministries that I find myself associated.
In our last lesson, several scriptures presented great examples of vulnerability. One
of my choices comes from a letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians

4: 1-15 offers a picture of vulnerability through the lives of those that are lost. The
passage speaks of the devil blinding the minds of those that refuse to believe the
truth. Because of their blinded state, theyre unable to see the Glorious light of the
Good News that is shining upon them. They dont understand we preach about the
glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God (NLT), (J Smith). One of scriptures
response to this comes to us from 2 Corinthians 4: 8-10. The world is watching us as
we experience the same troubles and disappointments as the rest of the world, but
we wont be broken. As the word states We are pressed on every side by troubles,
but we are not crushed and broken. We possess something special that the world
only understands and relates to, through the expressions of our faith. Even if what
we possess cant be related to, people cant help but associate our responses to
troubles with our faith.
Another vulnerability our world offers is this false understanding of plurality. People
have been tricked through their own rejection and that of the world, to believe that
they too will go to heaven when they die. I hear it all the time at the funeral home.
People claim their loved one didnt believe in all that Christian stuff and yet they
say that their loved one is in a better place now. There is a rejection of any kind of
consequence to dying in sin. Their loved one will be in heaven because they were a
good person. With that being the qualification, everyone has moments of being
whats considered to be a good but unfortunately even Gods word speaks to us in
Isaiah 64:6, that our good deeds are filthy rags in the eyes of the Lord.
Furthermore, Jesus speaks to us in the book of John 14:6 whereby he puts to rest
any idea that theres multiple ways to the father.
Another vulnerability that scripture speaks of is the persecution that Gods people
have and will continue to endure. In todays context, where liberal progressives
push selfish agendas and Christianity is looked upon as only one way to get to
heaven, Christians are accused of being judgmental and intolerant. Its our lack of
tolerance that makes us evil in the eyes of the world. Because the world loves sin,
our faith serves as a source of conviction. Jesus states in John 15:18, When the
world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you (NLT). People dont
want to think that what theyre doing is wrong or that theres a price to pay for their
sin. Were hated because of our acknowledgement of sin and our lack of tolerance.
When we chose to go out into our own worlds with a message of faith and are
confronted by those in our circles of influence, we become very vulnerable. Theres
something about the name of Jesus that makes people very uncomfortable. Jesus
isnt popular in the work place. Too many people are afraid of being persecuted for
expressing their faith. In fact Gods word speaks to that in Matthew 10:16, Look, I
am sending you out as sheep among wolves, (NLT). If we understand our position
as Christians then well never be blindsided by persecution. Were surrounded by
people that want to devour us because of our faith. In spite of that, were to press
on in love and in confident faith that Jesus is with us. Were to take heart and not be
ashamed of who we are in Chirst. To reference Jesus words to us regarding that
matter, I reference Luke 9: 26, If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I,
the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person, (NLT).