Here is a rough draft excerpt from my current work in progress, a fictional novel, You’re the One: the True Story of Jack and Jill. ***
Dad’s final sermon is the most dynamic and heart touching message I have ever heard him preach. It starts out as a sort of personal history of his experience at this church. It morphs into a testimony of his roller coaster ride of spiritual highs and lows. Within the testimony are moments of confession about errors of theology and scriptural interpretation he has made.
“There was a time,” Dad looked directly at me, “when I preached against Rock and Roll music, condemning the genre and any who wrote and performed it as well as anyone who listened to it as sinning against God.
“I felt some shame knowing my own son who professed to believe in Christ and identified with Christ through baptism became a rock musician and songwriter. I knew he was drifting away from Christ and toying with sin.
“Then, one day I heard his band sing a prayer with that satanic genre accompanying with highly amped guitars and keeping the carnal beat with drums and cymbals. It irritated me and angered me. It seemed to mock the beautiful message of the prayer and no one singing it or hearing it could understand nor believe the meaning of the prayer’s message.”
Then Dad paused and in his gravelly baritone voice began to sing.
Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day (from “Day by Day” Godspell)
“Later that night, my wife and I had my son and the band and crew over. I’m glad we did. It has changed my relationship with God and his word and my ministry.”
Then, Dad recaps that night when Chuck Starks said he could not feel right about singing or playing during that song because he didn’t believe. Dad shares how the rest of the band loved Chuck enough to honor his wishes.
“I realized that night someone did hear and understand. It was I, because of my biases, who failed to be moved by the message.
“I realized that too many times that is also how I approach scripture – full of bias and preconceived notions.”
Dad also shares that it changed his relationship with others outside of Christian circles. He can be friends or at least friendly with non-believers and believers who don’t think exactly the same as he does.
“I learned from an atheist what God needed to teach me. God works in marvelously, miraculously mysterious ways.”
Dad closed his eyes as if to pray, “Oh, by the way, I still don’t believe rock music has a place in the sanctuary of a local church. But that’s just my personal opinion.”
Then, he prayed
Categories: Opinion Short Story
Douglas Knight
I have the rich life full of a sinner wounded by misunderstanding and punishment but blessed by mercy and forgiveness.
Knight Writer 