Vol. VII NO. 5 March 16, 2008

Religious Fireworks

Written by Christopher Mentzer

It had been a while since I last talked with Ryan Hoover. His son’s first birthday was a few days ago and I know he was working on a sermon. I dropped him a note and here was his response:

RYAN: Chris, I don’t know where to begin. As I mentioned, I was working on a sermon, which I did preach last month. I borrowed one from a preacher and made some changes to suit my needs. Well two things happened when I preached the sermon. Well let me back up a bit. I made arrangements to preach my sermon on February 17^th and I invited Regina’s parents to come and hear me preach. I used the family get together at Christmas to talk to Jacob, that’s Regina’s father, about preaching. He actually gave me some advice! We didn’t talk bible but he shared some secrets about standing in front of the congregation and how to project my voice.

I did my best not to talk about my sermon because I intended to discuss the use of titles from Matthew 23. Yes, it was my aim to direct the sermon at him to show that he doesn’t follow scripture, as he’d like to think. Well when I gave my lesson, Jacob got up in the middle of it and left. Not only did he leave the building, but also he left the city back to his own house! That was the first thing that happened. The second came at the invitation when Kathy, Regina’s mother, came forward to be baptized!

She didn’t do it to prove a point to her husband but because I was preaching the truth and her eyes were finally opened to what the scriptures actually said. She tried to reach Jacob on the phone but he wouldn’t reply. Regina took her back home and the next day, she phoned to say that Jacob was working on a sermon for his congregation. It was his first since his heart attack back in December 2004. He hasn’t delivered the sermon yet but he did change it some when Kathy told him that she became a Christian.

Here is my response then to his e-mail:

CHRIS: Hey Ryan, quite an interesting turn of events! It comes as no surprise that Jacob would leave in the middle of your sermon. It means that his heart was hardened toward the truth. Much like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day and even Pharaoh in Moses’ day. It’s great to hear that your mother-in-law obeyed the gospel and I hope she will continue to grow in the faith even without her husband’s support. Help her to understand 1 Cor. 7: 10-15 as I’m sure that even Jacob is aware of that passage. Both sides will consider themselves believers and the other unbelievers. Also show her the passage in which Jesus says, “Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law: 36. and a man's foes `shall be' they of his own household. 37. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10: 34-37)

I’m sure Jacob will remind Kathy of her pledge to him as he felt like he was going to die that she would remain faithful to his congregation. There will be a lot of religious fireworks happening in the next few weeks and you all need to stay strong and focused on what the bible says.

Here was Ryan’s next e-mail:

RYAN: You’re absolutely right, Chris. I knew that would be a division in the family and Regina and I will do what we can to help Kathy to stay faithful even unto death (Rev. 2: 10). Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Many times families are torn apart when it comes to the scriptures. Make sure you place God first in all that you do even to the point of opposition of your own household. By doing God’s Will (Matt. 7: 21) it will help you on the way to heaven (Matt. 7: 14).