I'd rather see you on Drugs

Today a lady from church came to me.  Her ex-husband was taking her to court for not raising her child as a Catholic (he wasn't the biological father although he did adopt the little child).  His claim (nothing in writing) is that when he became the adoptive father that was the deal.  He takes the little guy to Lutheran pre-school and to Lutheran Sunday school. When asked about this his reply was, Lutheran-Catholic, there's no difference. 

 

So not only is he a nut but his theology is flawed.  His main complaint against her?  She was taking the little boy she carried for 9 months to a "PENTECOSTAL" church.  OOOOOOOOOOOO.  Scary.

 

How dumb can you be and still breath.  So, we will intercede for her.  We will write a letter.  The judge will toss this guy out on his ear.

 

This is the evil of a spirit of religion.  Denomination over devotion.

 

This isn't the first time I ran up against this.  In Fargo at First Assembly many years ago we had a couple I became friends with later.  He was a theater type and she was a talented singer.  But they had a difficult even rough past.  Past is Past.  They came to First Assembly and came to Jesus.

 

Their family was appalled.  They had been raised Lutheran. How could they leave the mother church.  How could they abandon the faith.  Never mind that of the whole family was making all the fuss seldom darkened the door of the church and none of their siblings or parents were serving God at any level.

 

Only when these two became serious about the things of God did the family go tilt.  The comment that sealed the whole deal for me was made by the mother, "I would rather see you on drugs than see you leave the Lutheran church". 

 

Folks, this isn't sharia law in Pakistan.  We have the right to select our spiritual fulfillment.  Just because someone becomes a Pentecostal, Catholic or even a Mormon they are still your kin.

 

That erstwhile badly theologized "dad" better figure it out.  And that mother that would rather see her kids on drugs than got to "That Church" is encouraging.

 

I will tell the truth, I was happy to have a religious demon raise his ugly head.  The worst thing a religious demon can do is leave your church along, ignore you, and think you are that nice little church down the street.

 

I have court papers to prove we're not that nice little church down the street.  Besides, today globally Pentecostalism is the dominant religious expression.  Catholic is now second.  All other a distant 3rd. 

 

My fear is as we Pentecostals assume this position of "Triumph" that we will become as arrogant as the old dying mainline churches and then holler at our kids who want to join some other religious expression.  But, that's not the trend today.  A little persecution is good for us. 

 

Blessed are you when men speak all forms of evil about your for my names sake.

 

I'm blessed.