Not sure where this belongs. I'm seeing at the intersection of a church and society. However, if mods feel it belongs somewhere else, shift away!
A true story:
Some years ago, I lived in a small country town. I grew to like a man I met, called Graham. I taught his daughter, we went on a school camp together, he played guitar like me. He was an engineer with a very bright enquiring mind.
As I got to know him, I found he was very involved in a small Christian denomination. It took the Bible VERY seriously and they had Bible studies that I regularly attended. They had quite conservative theological views. I enjoyed the discussions. My wife and I considered joining.
We moved to another town. The church there mowed our lawn before we arrived and were very welcoming. After due consideration, I decided this wasn't the church for me. I heard no more from them ... at all.
Graham and his family moved over to the same town. We did not socialise much at all, however I can clearly remember one evening of 'deep' conversation at our house where Graham was in tears worrying that if he strayed from the mark, God was going to 'get' him in some way. This group called it 'processing'. God would 'process' you ... like lunch meat.
A few years pass. We hear Graham had left his wife (who always seemed fiercely neurotic to me) and the church. I contacted him on FaceBook. He was delighted to hear from me. He seemed very happy, and explained that after much soul searching he had left that church. The only alternative his wife gave him was to leave as she could not be yoked to an unbeliever.
Another year. Graham grows to like a lady in Dallas who he plays scrabble with on the internet. They meet and fall in love, eventually marrying. I meet Graham during this time. He looks years younger and is the happiest I have ever seen him. I am delighted for him.
His grown children in the church will not speak to him. He is not invited to their weddings. Money from an inheritance he lent to the church is never returned. He is not allowed to see his grandchildren. Graciously, he sadly accepts this, saying he is responsible for taking them to this church in the first place. He has long term plans for a slow reconciliation.
Less than one year after he is remarried, Graham is suddenly killed in a car accident. His new wife, a christian from a progressive baptist, church is bereft. His daughters do not come to his funeral. Only his son does. No one in the church of which he was an active member with deep friendships attends.
I can barely contain my rage. Those hateful, small minded people. They don't want to be 'stained' by association with this good man, this reprobate. They mumble among themselves that God killed Graham for leaving. It is very hard not to hate, I struggle with it.
These people are FERVENT. They are committed. They study and study. They are doctrinally conventional in most areas. How can they get it so wrong? Are they wrong? Are they Christians?
A true story:
Some years ago, I lived in a small country town. I grew to like a man I met, called Graham. I taught his daughter, we went on a school camp together, he played guitar like me. He was an engineer with a very bright enquiring mind.
As I got to know him, I found he was very involved in a small Christian denomination. It took the Bible VERY seriously and they had Bible studies that I regularly attended. They had quite conservative theological views. I enjoyed the discussions. My wife and I considered joining.
We moved to another town. The church there mowed our lawn before we arrived and were very welcoming. After due consideration, I decided this wasn't the church for me. I heard no more from them ... at all.
Graham and his family moved over to the same town. We did not socialise much at all, however I can clearly remember one evening of 'deep' conversation at our house where Graham was in tears worrying that if he strayed from the mark, God was going to 'get' him in some way. This group called it 'processing'. God would 'process' you ... like lunch meat.
A few years pass. We hear Graham had left his wife (who always seemed fiercely neurotic to me) and the church. I contacted him on FaceBook. He was delighted to hear from me. He seemed very happy, and explained that after much soul searching he had left that church. The only alternative his wife gave him was to leave as she could not be yoked to an unbeliever.
Another year. Graham grows to like a lady in Dallas who he plays scrabble with on the internet. They meet and fall in love, eventually marrying. I meet Graham during this time. He looks years younger and is the happiest I have ever seen him. I am delighted for him.
His grown children in the church will not speak to him. He is not invited to their weddings. Money from an inheritance he lent to the church is never returned. He is not allowed to see his grandchildren. Graciously, he sadly accepts this, saying he is responsible for taking them to this church in the first place. He has long term plans for a slow reconciliation.
Less than one year after he is remarried, Graham is suddenly killed in a car accident. His new wife, a christian from a progressive baptist, church is bereft. His daughters do not come to his funeral. Only his son does. No one in the church of which he was an active member with deep friendships attends.
I can barely contain my rage. Those hateful, small minded people. They don't want to be 'stained' by association with this good man, this reprobate. They mumble among themselves that God killed Graham for leaving. It is very hard not to hate, I struggle with it.
These people are FERVENT. They are committed. They study and study. They are doctrinally conventional in most areas. How can they get it so wrong? Are they wrong? Are they Christians?
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