An Evangelical Tragedy

Jared ordered his mocha grande from the church’s Jehovah Java coffee shop and headed into the sanctuary. He was looking forward to being back in church after missing several weeks. Worship always encourages him, and this week, he felt the need more than others because he had taken a few hits politically at work.

He noticed an attractive woman sitting to his right in the row in front of him, and she looked dejected. His first thought was, “It looks like we both need this today.” Then, the lights dimmed, and the band began to play. He is always impressed with them. They could compete with secular artists, and as the music built in intensity, he got excited. Without any prompting from the worship team, the music raised the audience to their feet, and Jared found himself with his hands in the air as the music took hold. He was already beginning to feel better.

After the music ended, the pastor stepped on stage to rousing applause. Jared has always admired him and sees him as an inspiration. The pastor is successful, intelligent, physically fit, and has a beautiful wife. Jared, still concerned about the bumps he has experienced on the ladder of success, thinks it’s good to have the Christian life so well modeled for him. Jared remembers taking it to heart when the pastor reminded the congregation of Paul’s words: “Follow my example as I follow Christ.”

This week’s sermon was on Nehemiah rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem after the enemies had torn it down and taken it captive. The pastor expertly communicated the business practices Nehemiah used to succeed and applied them to the congregation in the form of life techniques. To top it all off, he used the enneagram to show Nehemiah’s unique personality type and encouraged the audience to do the same. He said, “God has made you unique and has given us tools like the enneagram to help us understand ourselves better.” The pastor was quick to point out that you can do none of this without God. “Without him, you can do nothing, scripture says.” He even pointed out that we are to do all of this to the glory of God. The final charge to the congregation was to “Let your light shine before the world.”

The burdened heart Jared brought into the service was now light as a feather. He was motivated to face the challenges in front of him this week and bring God glory. But as the house lights came back on, he noticed the woman in front of him still looked dejected. Having felt the Holy Spirit move so powerfully in the service, Jared was perplexed why her countenance had not changed.

Jared waited until there were fewer people around and approached her. He asked her if she was okay. After some hesitation, her desperation caused her to open up. She said, “I’ve recently done some things that I shouldn’t have, and the guilt of my actions is weighing heavy upon me. How can someone like me be right with God? What am I to do with my guilt?”

Jared silently prayed, thanked the Lord for the opportunity to minister, and said to the woman, “God does not want you to feel this way. He loves you unconditionally. This guilt you are experiencing is the work of the enemy. The devil is the accuser, not God.” She responded, “But my actions have ruined my family.”

Jared encouraged her by saying, “We all make mistakes, but Jesus can make us new again. He can give you a brand new start. Trust in Christ, and your life will get better.” The woman gave him a half-hearted smile and said, “Thanks, I will try that.”

Jared left church that morning, walking on clouds. Not only had worship been an encouragement, but he’d been used by God to encourage someone else. He told the woman, “I will pray for you,” and silently hoped she would have faith enough to move the mountains in front of her. On the way out, she passed countless people fellowshipping by the coffee shop and, with her eyes directed downward, walked out the church doors.

-D. Eaton