Don’t Call Me Demas!
As the kids made their way back to school here in August I
realized that I hadn’t heard from Ryan Hoover since the debate with his
father-in-law. Ryan said he
had a new business opportunity so I dropped him a line. Here’s his response:
RYAN: Hey
Chris, what an amazing summer I’ve been having! My new opportunity was signed on June
20th and I am now a
proud owner of a Used Bookstore! It’s actually something I’ve always
wanted to do for the last couple years. I’ve
been a regular customer at this place and became good friends with the
owner. This past spring he
decided to sell and with help of some friends I was able to buy it. It’s within walking distance of a high
school and college. I spent
most of July repainting and putting new flooring in and purchase a new
inventory of books. Of
course, I’ve had to miss a few Wednesday bible studies to get read for the
grand opening on time but in the long run it will be worth it! Regina’s not too happy because I kinda
did it behind her back but I got her on board once I asked her to create a
coffee shop in the store. It’s
something she always wanted to do. Well
I gotta run we open this Friday.
For a couple
days I read this message over and over. Yes
it was great he had a new business but at what expense?
Here’s my
response to him:
CHRIS: Dear
Ryan, It’s great to hear about your bookstore but I’m a little concerned for
your personal well-being. You
mentioned missing a few midweek bible studies. I find this hard to believe. This doesn’t seem like you at all.
You know what Heb. 10: 24-25 say about
“not forsaking the assembling…” especially if you’re putting something like a
business first. Remember
what Jesus said in Matt. 6: 24, “No
man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon.” I understand a
self-employed business such as this is going to take a lot of work and
sacrifice but you shouldn’t sacrifice the work of the Lord for material gain
(Matt. 16: 26).
I’m also bothered that you didn’t
involve Regina in your decision. You’re
in this relationship together and you should involve her in these
decisions. I’m hoping she
hasn’t given up her job nor has she stopped going to midweek services. You need an anchor in your life right
now and I hope your wife is being just that.
Don’t forget what your family went
through when Jacob had his heart attack. He wanted Kathy to put the denomination
first, which puts God second. And
I’m sure you remember all the problems you were having with Josh. If you stop going on Wednesdays he may
see you as a hypocrite since you don’t “practice what you preach”.
Ryan, you’ve come a long way in the
last five years and I’d really hate to see you give it all up for a business
opportunity. Remember what
Paul said about Demas in 2 Tim. 4: 9-10.
Your family needs you, your
in-laws need you and, most importantly, God needs you.
It was a week later
that he wrote me back but his tone was very different:
RYAN: Chris,
it’s real easy for you to judge me from the other side of the country. Since you aren’t here, you have no
idea what is really going on and I’d appreciate it if you would butt out! I haven’t fallen away, as you might
want to think, I’ve just missed a few Wednesdays to get the store ready to
open. Now that it’s open I
have returned to services on Wednesday and even answered the invitation to show
what I did was wrong. Regina
hasn’t left her other job and she only works the coffee shop on the days she
off and some evenings. We
have hired some other people as well so things will be fine.
I apologize if this message is a bit
rough but I have been under a lot of pressure right now and I need to sort
things out for myself. And
above all you have no right to connect me to Demas!
I didn’t bother
to write him back as it appears he was giving me the brush off. The problem I see is that he is
producing worldly sorrow and not godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7: 10) for his answering
the invitation. This may be
the last time I hear from Ryan but I will continue to pray for them and “leave
the door open” should he need my help.