LEGALISM – ZEKE’S WISDOM
Wisdom From Zeke, at the Farm in Owl Hollow, Tennessee
Howdy folks. Just got back from Owl Hollow. Had to go to the church to help the Pastor with a couple of doors that were sticking. The truth is Pastor Atticus preaches a good sermon and does a wonderful job ministering to people, but give him a screw driver and he has no clue, bless his heart. I took care of the doors and we set down and had a glass of sweet tea. Pastor Atticus has been our shepherd for several years now and I guess he is a little older than me. I don’t ask people their ages, because Lizzy corrected me one time and told me asking a person their age was rude. Sometimes when she corrects me I get all bristled up, but she is generally right most of the time. Anyway back to the Pastor. He told me that old Bessie in the church who is known for being a gossip, holier-than-thou, and general troublemaker had her britches in a knot and was giving him trouble. She can’t seem to focus on her issues and leave other people alone. The Pastor said he had some ladies that wanted to change the way the stage looked by just moving some of the items around. They were not going to replace or move anything off the stage, but thought the new look would be refreshing. Pastor Atticus gave his blessing and they went to work.
Well Sunday came and people entered the sanctuary and had good things to say about the front of the worship center. Lizzy and I thought everything looked great. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw trouble coming. I whispered to Lizzy, here comes old Bessie Better-Than-Thou. She looked around and turned red in the face and I thought I saw steam coming out of her ears. Just by looking at her I leaned over and told Lizzy she was going to explode. She didn’t say anything during the service, but she sat in her usual spot on the pew with her mouth clinched tighter than a kid about to get castor oil. By the way, don’t sit in that spot or you may be forcibly pushed down the pew – that was her spot. The Pastor warned our ushers to make sure to seat visitors away from that area.
That afternoon, as expected, old Bessie called the Pastor and gave him an ear-full. He just listened, because it was impossible to slip in a word. Bessie must have been a part-time Christian and this was her day off, because her language was not good, especially talking the the Pastor. She went on and on, so finally Pastor Atticus stopped at the risk of being rude and reminded her that she was being very legalistic.
That got her attention, because she didn’t know what that word meant. The Pastor went on to explain to her that she was taking little things that didn’t amount to a hill-of-beans and turning them into mountains. And because of that she was minimizing the important things: fellowshipping with her brothers and sisters in Christ; singing hymns and praise songs lifting up Jesus as Lord and Savior; and following the sermon with the intent of growing spiritually and becoming more Christlike in her life.
Pastor Atticus said that calmed her down for the time being, and he was going to continue praying for her focus to be on Jesus and not on little things that has no value.
I told the Pastor that Lizzy and I would continue to pray for him, that God would continue to give him insight on how to handle delicate situations. He gave me a hug and thanked me for our support.
Until the next time,
God Bless – Zeke and Lizzy