Hypocritical Oath for Pastors
steve@smccutchan.com
Part 3
Before Mark could respond, Ethan pointed his rifle toward Mark. “And don’t give me all that ‘you got to accept this on faith’ crap. I don’t know whether God exists or not, but I’m sure as hell convinced that if there is a divine force behind all of this reality, he or she either doesn’t give a damn or it has a cruel streak a mile wide.”
It’s strange, Mark thought, I must have preached twenty-five Easter sermons, and I never really asked myself whether I was afraid to die. I guess staring down the barrel of a rifle makes faith rather specific.
“Put down the rifle, Ethan. The police will be here soon. I know you are as angry as hell, but we can still avoid disaster.”
“I passed disaster a long time ago, Mark. Today I’ll find out if there is life after death, which I doubt. If there is a God, it will stop fucking with me. Before I end it, however, I’m going to give a small part of the world one last chance to hear some truth.”
I’m not sure who is crazier, Ethan for wanting to commit suicide or me for thinking I can stop him. Two police cars slid to a stop on the campus lawn followed by a fire truck. A uniformed officer with a megaphone stepped out of one car, carefully keeping the car door between him and the speaker on the roof. I hope they know what they are doing, or somebody is going to get hurt.
Ethan directed Mark, “Step towards the edge so that they can see you, but not too close to me,” as he swung the rifle back towards the crowd below.
I can’t believe all the crazy people down there, Mark thought. Do they really think because they are spectators that they can’t be shot. In this day and age, some idiot is probably shooting this with his smart phone hoping to get on the 11 o’clock news.
“You, on the roof,” the officer said through the megaphone,” put the rifle down so that we can talk and no one gets hurt.”
“See this man here,” Ethan pointed to Mark with his rifle as Mark peered over the ledge. “He’s my hostage, and his life is in your hands. Just do as I say and I’m the only one who has to die today.”
He turned back to Mark. “Do what I say, and you’ll be OK. I don’t want to harm anyone except myself, but I want them to listen first.”
(To be continued on Monday March 4.)
As you enter the second week of lent, pay attention to what God is doing in your life during this season of preparation. Before you leave the office each day, take five minutes to jot on a piece of paper where you have sensed God’s presence during the day. Save your notes to read them again after Easter Sunday services are completed.
