For the past several years, teaching in Melchizedek Priesthood quorums and Relief Society in Sunday meetings have focused on the teachings of former presidents of the church.
This coming year, these meetings will focus on the teachings of living prophets and apostles. This announcement is both exciting and terrifying.
Exciting because members of the church frequently take for granted that we enjoy the counsel of prophets and apostles who are guided by Jesus Christ. There have been times when only a small family such as that of Noah or of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob enjoyed this type of guidance. In the days of Moses, or during the reign of the Kings of Judah and Israel, a small nation had access to prophetic guidance. The current availability of prophets to people around the globe is unprecedented, and frequently overlooked. Emphasis on these inspired messages in Sunday meetings provides an opportunity for those who attend to receive the servants of God.
Terrifying because many people have sat through "Teachings for our Times" lessons that focused on general conference talks that follow this tired formula:
1. The instructor gets a volunteer to read a paragraph from a talk
2. The instructor tells everyone that they like the paragraph
3. The instructor asks a question that can be answered by "read your scriptures, go to church, pray."
4. The instructor checks the clock, and unless it is at least 5 minutes passed when the class is supposed to end, they begin again at step 1
The new teaching materials for youth and now for Priesthood and Relief Society are titled "Teaching in the Savior's Way," and this focus is intended to do promote that. Rather than have a structured lesson from a manual, the philosophy is meant to provide opportunity to counsel and instruct based on the needs of the individuals. This format is intended to promote a more natural expression of truth, faith, and testimony, and less of a canned one-size-fits-all lesson.
This is exactly how Jesus taught. To some people, he emphasized truths using dramatic comparisons such as the prodigal son and the good Samaritan. To others, he spoke more abstractly, such as his message to Nicodemus about being born again (John 3), or his teachings about the need to seek the bread of life to those who were hoping Jesus would give them a free meal (John 6). He spoke with impressive authority in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and with patience for little children (Mark 10). He knew how to handle those who were argumentative (Matthew 21:23-45), and those who needed help (Mark 2).
Jesus wanted people to think deeply about eternal truths. His approach encouraged people to search the scriptures and the words of the prophets, and persuaded people to pray, even though he did not emphasize the use of questions like "what are some ways we can follow the prophets?" or "who has a personal experience about this principle that they would be willing to share?" Though the words of prophets were fundamental to his message, he demonstrated their importance through application and demonstration rather than a shallow proclamation such as "I like what Isaiah said there."
For those who are assigned to teach in any capacity, I hope that this new focus encourages you to teach as Jesus did. Let the words of the prophets and the guidance of the Holy Ghost help you to persuade bad men to become good... and good men to become better... "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13)
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Monday, August 28, 2017
The Confederacy was evil... and also good...
The South. The Confederacy. Racism. Slavery. Evil.
While I can hardly blame anyone for being disgusted at some sheet-wearing clansman waving the Confederate flag (as this race-based collectivist nonsense repulses me), I suggest that they do not have a monopoly on this or other confederate emblems. For some, it truly does represent racist stupidity and hateful dogma, but for others, it represents fried catfish, collard greens, corn bread, pulled pork, humidity, football, southern hospitality, churches on every corner, and any number of other positive aspects of life in the American south.
Finally, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have another perspective of the confederate flag... My personal heritage does not include a large number of southerners... most of my American ancestors lived in the north. Many traveled across the plains as pioneers in the mid 1800s, before the civil war. While they were loyal Americans, and opposed to slavery, they had been neglected by the United States government as they were wrongly driven from their homes in Missouri and in Illinois. The federal government only took an interest in the Mormons when they believed us to be a threat. President Buchanan sent an army to occupy the Salt Lake Valley in an unwarranted demonstration of power and control. Even a thousand miles outside the United States, it seemed our people were not safe from persecution... but suddenly, something happened that drew the army back east... Something that allowed the pioneers to take root, and to build permanent homes... That something was a group of men attacking Fort Sumter on April 12th 1861 under the Confederate flag.
While I am not aware of a single Confederate soldier who believed they were fighting so that Mormons would be free to exercise their religion, when I look at the flag of the south, or any number of Confederate monuments, that is what I see.
I make no attempt to excuse the evils that did and do exist in the south... but I would suggest that there was and is goodness there as well... and that perhaps understanding different perspectives might be better at reducing the injustices and ill feelings that judges a person by their geography, heritage, or skin color.
These ideas have been connected for so long, that it seems most people assume they are all synonymous.
Of course, this isn't surprising to hear from social justice "warriors" or the fascists who identify as "antifa," but the extreme alt-right has been happy to contribute to the idea by waving confederate flags and throwing obnoxious nazi salutes as they proclaim utter nonsense about racial superiority.
The more surprising source of hatred for Confederate generals include those on the right. I was surprised to hear several individuals on the right proclaim the following ideas:
- Confederate soldiers and generals were nothing but traitors, in spite of their service to the United States before and after the civil war
- Even if many whites in the south did not own slaves, southerners were willing to fight and die so that slavery would still exist
- The south was noble in the revolutionary war, evil in the civil war, then noble again in the world wars
- The north represented the pinnacle of morality in the civil war, and their soldiers were willing to fight and die because of their great love of blacks
History books published in New York, Boston, or other northern state all seem to agree that the civil war was a conflict between good and evil, and a great many people (even intelligent people) seem to take the account of the victors as a complete, objective, and unbiased source of truth.
It seems to me that the truth should be more obvious. Certainly slavery was a terrible sin, and those who engaged in it, supported it, or excused it, were completely wrong. The politicians who defined the laws of the Confederate States of America were certainly among the morally bankrupt self-serving fools who gifted their opponents in the north with the guise of morality... but to assume that every person in the south or who supported the south was equally guilty is as stupid as saying "everyone who disagrees with my political views is literally Hitler."
In fact, General Lee had a copy of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo given to all his generals, because he believed that it symbolized the Southern cause. In other words, he did not believe it was to preserve slavery. Perhaps more than what transpired before and during the war, was the character he demonstrated after the war. He advocated for the healing of the union, and on one occasion told a woman "Madam, don't bring up your sons to detest the United States government. Recollect that we form one country now. Abandon all these local animosities, and make your sons Americans."
Lee's letters express his efforts to be humble, obedient, and to adhere to his Christian faith.
Additionally, a southern perspective of the political climate that led to the civil war provides a bit more depth than the northern account of moral piety:
"The ardour, the fury, the stubbornness, the injustice of the abolitionists, provided the same ardour, the same fury, the same stubbornness, and the same injustice among their adversaries. Did the North appeal to the Bible and to authority of the Scriptures? The South did likewise. Did the school of Mr. Sumner, the chief of the abolitionist party, cite acts of cruelty in the slave states? The partisans of the South recalled to it the condition of the free negroes in the North, where they were treated as a pestilence, absolutely forbidden to ride in a wagon or omnibus, to go into a church, temple, or theatre, or to rest in a cemetery reserved exclusively for the use of the white race. In Illinois, the foot of a negro could not tread upon the soil of the state. He exposed himself to be whipped and led back to the frontier. In other states, if he married a white he was soundly thrashed. The North forgot too readily, in attacking slavery, that it had long been pariticeps criminis. Only from the day when a considerable party in the free states believed it would be able to make use of the fact as a powerful lever against its associate, now become its rival - only from that day did it bethink itself to be shocked at the profound immorality." (The Life and Campaigns of Robert E. Lee, Edward Lee Childe)The truth in the civil war is no different than the truth today. There are good and evil elements in every faction, and in every person. Certainly slavery was a terrible evil that should never have been embraced by any state in America, but it was definitely not the only evil that existed. It is ironic that those who proclaim the righteousness of their anger against the evils of the American South would espouse the same sort of collectivist bigotry that they believe fueled their anger. There is faith, kindness, and goodness in the south, contrary to what New York based writers seem to think.
While I can hardly blame anyone for being disgusted at some sheet-wearing clansman waving the Confederate flag (as this race-based collectivist nonsense repulses me), I suggest that they do not have a monopoly on this or other confederate emblems. For some, it truly does represent racist stupidity and hateful dogma, but for others, it represents fried catfish, collard greens, corn bread, pulled pork, humidity, football, southern hospitality, churches on every corner, and any number of other positive aspects of life in the American south.
Finally, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have another perspective of the confederate flag... My personal heritage does not include a large number of southerners... most of my American ancestors lived in the north. Many traveled across the plains as pioneers in the mid 1800s, before the civil war. While they were loyal Americans, and opposed to slavery, they had been neglected by the United States government as they were wrongly driven from their homes in Missouri and in Illinois. The federal government only took an interest in the Mormons when they believed us to be a threat. President Buchanan sent an army to occupy the Salt Lake Valley in an unwarranted demonstration of power and control. Even a thousand miles outside the United States, it seemed our people were not safe from persecution... but suddenly, something happened that drew the army back east... Something that allowed the pioneers to take root, and to build permanent homes... That something was a group of men attacking Fort Sumter on April 12th 1861 under the Confederate flag.
While I am not aware of a single Confederate soldier who believed they were fighting so that Mormons would be free to exercise their religion, when I look at the flag of the south, or any number of Confederate monuments, that is what I see.
I make no attempt to excuse the evils that did and do exist in the south... but I would suggest that there was and is goodness there as well... and that perhaps understanding different perspectives might be better at reducing the injustices and ill feelings that judges a person by their geography, heritage, or skin color.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Hating Hate and Hypocrisy
I recently came across an article that condemned the mantra "love the sinner, hate the sin." There were several compelling reasons behind the main idea. Here are some of the highlights
- Jesus never said it, instead he said "love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:39)
- Loving the sinner has a condescending tone that implies superiority of self over "sinner"
- It is difficult for many people to separate sin from sinner... allowing hatred to fester and spread
Each of these reasons has some legitimacy.
Jesus taught that anger with someone else led to great danger (Matthew 5:21-24). He personally showed great compassion to individuals that were condemned as sinners (Luke 19:1-10, John 8:1-11). He frequently preached the importance of mercy, forgiveness, and kindness.
Jesus taught humility. Consider the account of the prayers of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:10-14. The Pharisee prided himself above the Publican because of his greater diligence in keeping the law of Moses. In spite of this, the humble prayer of the Publican "God be merciful to me a sinner" brought justification to the sinner and not the Pharisee. As Jesus taught: "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 14:11)
Human nature tends to lead people to do ill. Undoubtedly, this contributes to Jesus's analogy of the camel going through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24), or encouraging his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him (Matthew 16:24).
I certainly do not wish to take away from the value of these ideas. I do, however, want to point out the problem with this type of thinking. Consider the following hypothetical dialog:
Person 1: We should stop with the "love the sinner, hate the sin."
Person 2: Why?
Person 1: Jesus never said it, instead he said love thy neighbor.
Person 2: He also said "My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" as he threw sinners out of the temple.
Person 1: Yes, but he loved them!
Person 2: But perhaps not their sins?
Person 1: Well, calling people sinners implies superiority. You should let God judge!
Person 2: So you're saying that calling people sinners is a sin? And that people who do it are sinners?
Person 1: No! I'm saying that we're not supposed be hateful! I'm saying that if you allow hate in your heart for sin, how can you say there is no hate in your heart for those who sin? We're supposed to love!
Person 2: So it's wrong to hate the idea "love the sinner, hate the sin." Right?
Person 1: I don't hate it, I just want it to stop.
Person 2: Because it is sin?
Person 1: No, because it's hate!
Person 2: And hate isn't a sin?
Person 1: No, it is...
Person 2: Just a sin that bothers you more than other sins?
Person 1: Well, when you put it like that...
There exists a group of people who pride themselves on their refusal to judge... except for those they feel are judgmental. They pride themselves on loving their neighbor, unless they believe their neighbor doesn't love other neighbors the right way.
The hypocrisy of condemning Pharisee-like adherence to a moral code based on behavior because it does not conform to a different Pharisee-like adherence to a moral code based on tolerance should be obvious. In spite of this, I am still surprised by people who do the equivalent of point their finger at someone and shout "You're judgmental, and that makes you bad!"
Calling for an end to "love the sinner, hate the sin" seems to be a well-meaning plea, but it is misguided. Though there is great value in loving neighbor as self... the first and great commandment is to love God. The best way to do this is to keep his commandments. Jesus was very clear about this in all of his teachings, but perhaps no where more than in his admonition "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) When an individual has failed to keep a commandment, repentance is necessary. (Matthew 4:17) While a person who has sinned is still worthy of love, respect, and mercy, the counsel of Christ to the woman caught in adultery is applicable to all: "...go, and sin no more."
While there may not be any single method that is universally helpful in persuading individuals to make better decisions, and it is true that there are some methods that are counter-productive, there is nothing wrong with seeing sin for what it is. It is OK to say that murder is wrong. It is OK to say that a person should honor their marriage vows. It is OK to say that theft is criminal. It is even OK to say a person should not be judgmental. In doing so, it is possible that you are "loving the sinner and hating the sin"... but that is OK too.
Loving the sinner and hating the sin is most beneficial if done introspectively. This is exactly what Paul was expressing in Romans 7 as he declared "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I." (Romans 7:15) Recognizing the need for improvement... recognizing the seriousness of sinful behavior... this can be good if it leads a person to God.
Even when done in the context of helping another, it can be useful. This is what Christ implied with his parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. (Luke 15)
Certainly there is a degree of hypocrisy that a person acquires when they suggest that other people might need to do better (since the same is true for everyone). Still, Jesus inspires missionaries, apostles, and prophets to encourage people to change and improve. (Matthew 28:19-20) As much as some may hate the idea of "love the sinner, hate the sin," it is a perfectly appropriate way of thinking about the responsibility of Christians everywhere, not just to love their neighbor, but to understand that both they and their neighbors need Christ.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Taxing churches is wrong... and Christians should try harder to keep it that way.
Tithing is not a new idea. Abraham gave of his increase to the High Priest Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:20) Malachi described the refusal to pay tithing as robbing God. (Malachi 3:8-12) The law of Moses directed the priests to eat from the offerings of the congregation. (Leviticus 6:26)
In the New Testament, members of the church laid the proceeds from their possessions at the feet of the Apostles. (Acts 4:34-37) The practice was important enough that when it was not adhered to in honesty, divine consequences. (Acts 5:1-11) Frequently, missionaries and other traveling authorities were asked to travel without "purse or scrip." (Mark 6:8) In later reports, Christ's Apostles confirmed that they had lacked for nothing in these conditions. (Luke 22:35) This could only have been possible because of the contributions of members who desired to help the Kingdom of God according to their faith.
There are numerous examples of people who have been blessed tremendously when they have given of their substance to support the temporal needs of God's priests, prophets, and servants. The widow of Zarephath who gave to Elijah was blessed with enough food to endure the drought in Israel. (1 Kings 17) The Nephites who lived in the Christian utopia after his arrival in America completely alleviated poverty because they gave of themselves. (4 Nephi 1:1-3)
Unfortunately, Christians (and many who masquerade as Christians) have in many cases abused this time-honored tradition.
These abuses have not gone unnoticed by secularists. In a spectacular stunt, John Oliver of HBO's Last Week Tonight created his own church called "Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption." (http://www.ourladyofperpetualexemption.com) In doing so, he demonstrated the ease with which he could obtain donations from supporters, and be free from taxation because these donations were made to a "church."
While the idea was ridiculous, it was sadly not far from the schemes of some "televangelists" who promise their supporters blessings for making contributions to their "churches," when they are actually spending the money on luxurious lifestyles. Because these contributions are made to churches, they are protected from taxation under the first amendment.
These practices have inspired many secularists to call for the taxation of churches. The reasoning is that any institution that collects money and operates like a business should be subject to taxing power of the government like any other business.
On the surface, this argument may seem reasonable. It appeals to the natural sense of fairness that most people embrace by suggesting that all organizations be treated the same.
Of course, the flaw in this thinking is that not all organizations are the same. This is true even if at times they do similar activities.
A security company that provides armed guards for clients may perform similar activities as a military unit providing security for individuals of national concern, but a security company should not be treated the same as a military unit. There are special characteristics of a national military force that necessitate treating these organizations differently. Many of these characteristics are defined by the Constitution and federal law.
Similarly, religion is not the same as opinion.
The Constitution explicitly protects the rights of an individual to practice their religion... and prohibits the government from making laws that would prohibit the free exercise thereof. (Amendment I)
The right of an individual to support a particular faith, to practice a faith, or to abstain from associations or practices based on their deeply held religious beliefs, is not just a preference... it is protected. The right of an assembly of individuals is similarly protected.
If a person contributes of their own property to exercise religion, any law that would exact a portion of that contribution diminishes the freedom of that individual to full exercise their faith. Imagine a tax collector taking one of the widows two mites that she wanted to give to God. (Luke 21:1-4) Would she then have been giving all she had to God? No... because of taxation.
Additionally, being a part of an organization does not mean that these liberties dissolve. A person is not free to exercise their religion unless they are at work, or unless they are in a church, or unless they are in a group. These rights persist unless there is a compelling case of direct harm.
A society that, using taxes or regulations, takes the contributions of individuals to religious organizations or for religious purposes cannot pretend they guarantee freedom of religion.
That is not to say that religious individuals and organizations do not have a responsibility to society. The importance of religious liberty is strengthened when religious persons "promote the general welfare" and act to "secure the blessings of liberty" for themselves and their families... which are the declared purposes of the Constitution of the United States.
This may mean ensuring that funds associated with your faith are audited. It may mean having the good judgment to know that a tear-out page in a magazine that sells prayers for you to get a new car may not be the best way to exercise your faith. It may mean volunteering to be a part of service activities, so that more than just money is contributed.
It always means following God according to your conscience.
Society (including the secular portions of society) benefits when people regularly persuade one another to do good, and to become better. Religious liberty (including financial religious liberty) promotes this outcome more effectively than any other freedom.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Christmas Appropriation
It's hard to get away from seeing posts all over social media that highlight the pagan roots of winter solstice celebration, and describe how Christians "appropriated" this celebration to promote the birth of Jesus.
Some of these posts represent legitimate efforts to educate regarding Christmas traditions. Some of them are cases of thinly-veiled condescending mockery of foolish Christians who think they are celebrating Jesus. After all - how can Jesus be the "reason for the season" when pagans traditionally celebrated the event in which daylight began to increase? Christians getting upset that "happy holidays" is replacing "merry Christmas" or that nativity scenes are becoming controversial just shows how closed-minded they are... especially since they appropriated most of their traditions from others to begin with... right?
I don't want to dig into the details of Christmas traditions... rather, I want to address the broader issue of Christians appropriating other cultures to further the message of Jesus - because this is perhaps one of the most important Christian traditions there is.
In the Book of Mormon, Ammon tried to speak to King Lamoni about God, but the Lamanite King did not understand the term "God." Ammon then asked the king if he believed in a "Great Spirit," a concept with which the king was familiar. Using the concept of a "Great Spirit," Ammon taught Lamoni about God, and about his son Jesus Christ, who had power to save him. (Alma 18)
The Apostle Paul famously stood on Mars hill in Athens and described his observation that these pagan peoples had created a monument to "the Unknown God," to be sure they had not overlooked honoring some deity. He used this pagan and superstitious concept to teach the message of Christianity:
"Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:23-27)
Jesus himself found ways to use things familiar to those he sought to reach. To the woman at the well, he described himself as "living water." To those who wanted a free meal, he described himself as "the bread of life." He described his association with sinners by saying "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." He described his love for us by comparing the affection of a hireling with that of a "Good Shepherd."
The Old Testament frequently uses the symbolism of marriage to describe the relationship between God has his children... and an unfaithful spouse to describe our part in that relationship.
Ultimately, it is good that Christmas traditions stem from things that were not originally Christian. That really is the entire point of Jesus... to transform individuals from being selfish, misguided, and sinful into being humble, wise, and divine. The process of salvation is not limited to one type of individual... the hope of redemption and salvation is available to all.
At Christmas especially, it is good to find traditions (new and old) that bring us closer to the source of goodness, light, and wisdom. Don't let the fact that trees, lights, gifts, and celebrations during this time of year were not a part of the birth of that child in Bethlehem keep you from using them to seek him now.
Decorate that tree! Turn on those lights! Give gifts to those you love! Sing those carols! Appropriate every good thing!
Part of being Christian is recognizing that Jesus is (and always has been) close by... that traditions that bring joy, foster love, and promote peace can help us find him.
Some of these posts represent legitimate efforts to educate regarding Christmas traditions. Some of them are cases of thinly-veiled condescending mockery of foolish Christians who think they are celebrating Jesus. After all - how can Jesus be the "reason for the season" when pagans traditionally celebrated the event in which daylight began to increase? Christians getting upset that "happy holidays" is replacing "merry Christmas" or that nativity scenes are becoming controversial just shows how closed-minded they are... especially since they appropriated most of their traditions from others to begin with... right?
I don't want to dig into the details of Christmas traditions... rather, I want to address the broader issue of Christians appropriating other cultures to further the message of Jesus - because this is perhaps one of the most important Christian traditions there is.
In the Book of Mormon, Ammon tried to speak to King Lamoni about God, but the Lamanite King did not understand the term "God." Ammon then asked the king if he believed in a "Great Spirit," a concept with which the king was familiar. Using the concept of a "Great Spirit," Ammon taught Lamoni about God, and about his son Jesus Christ, who had power to save him. (Alma 18)
The Apostle Paul famously stood on Mars hill in Athens and described his observation that these pagan peoples had created a monument to "the Unknown God," to be sure they had not overlooked honoring some deity. He used this pagan and superstitious concept to teach the message of Christianity:
"Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:23-27)
Jesus himself found ways to use things familiar to those he sought to reach. To the woman at the well, he described himself as "living water." To those who wanted a free meal, he described himself as "the bread of life." He described his association with sinners by saying "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." He described his love for us by comparing the affection of a hireling with that of a "Good Shepherd."
The Old Testament frequently uses the symbolism of marriage to describe the relationship between God has his children... and an unfaithful spouse to describe our part in that relationship.
Ultimately, it is good that Christmas traditions stem from things that were not originally Christian. That really is the entire point of Jesus... to transform individuals from being selfish, misguided, and sinful into being humble, wise, and divine. The process of salvation is not limited to one type of individual... the hope of redemption and salvation is available to all.
At Christmas especially, it is good to find traditions (new and old) that bring us closer to the source of goodness, light, and wisdom. Don't let the fact that trees, lights, gifts, and celebrations during this time of year were not a part of the birth of that child in Bethlehem keep you from using them to seek him now.
Decorate that tree! Turn on those lights! Give gifts to those you love! Sing those carols! Appropriate every good thing!
Part of being Christian is recognizing that Jesus is (and always has been) close by... that traditions that bring joy, foster love, and promote peace can help us find him.
Monday, December 5, 2016
The Demon Within
The story:
“Get dressed Sasha!” I shouted as I rushed in the front door and leapt toward the stairs. “We have to go now!”
There she stood in her doorway in her nightgown. She was squinting her eyes and gripping the sides of her arms. Clearly, I had woken her.
“Daddy?” she whispered wearily.
“Get dressed now!” I commanded. “We have to go!”
“Go where?” she asked as she closed her door to change.
“Just hurry!” I snapped. I impatiently whirled back toward the staircase, anticipating our descent. I knew I shouldn’t feel frustrated with her… she didn’t know the danger… Still… I had little tolerance for being made to wait.
After another minute, Sasha’s door swung open and she emerged. Maybe it was the shadows or my own exhaustion, but for a moment she looked much older than 12. She looked like her mother. I coughed in an attempt to reset my perception as she pulled her long dark hair out from the back of the sweatshirt she had clearly just pulled over her head.
“Where are we going?” she murmured softly. I cleared my throat.
“Away,” I said coldly as I turned to the staircase. I rushed down the steps toward the door that I realized I had forgot to close. I waited for Sasha and closed the large door behind her as she stumbled out in the direction of the Chevy Malibu I had parked in the driveway. She opened the passenger door and flopped onto the seat before fastening her seatbelt. I looked back toward the door of the house… our house… only now I wasn’t sure it could be our house anymore… I closed my eyes and began moving toward the car.
I looked through the windshield to confirm that my daughter was still in the vehicle, half expecting her to be leaning on her window trying to fall asleep again… after all… it was about 3 in the morning. To my surprise, she was wide awake. Her mouth was open, and she stared at me as though I were some kind of monster from a horror movie. I spun around, checking to see if there were something behind me, but I saw only the lights outside the garage that illuminated the area around the car. That’s when I realized that she hadn’t actually seen me in the light until that moment. She hadn’t seen the blood all over my clothing in the dark of our house. I was going to have to explain. I was going to have to explain everything.
“Where’s mom?” demanded Sasha in a very serious tone. “What happened to you? What is going on?”
“I’ll explain once we’re on the freeway,” I said as calmly as I could.
“No!” said Sasha. “Tell me now!” Something about the brazenness of her response made me snap at her again.
“Shut up Sasha!” I thundered. “I said I will tell you when we’re on the freeway!” I instantly regretted my tone as she cowered in her seat as far from me as she could, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. We had to get away. I started the car and backed out of the driveway. I took a deep breath, put the car in drive, and depressed the gas pedal.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you Sasha,” I said softly. “I owe you an explanation.” I turned toward her. Her wide eyes were red, and tears streamed down her cheeks. I cleared my throat in a weak attempt to assuage my guilt, or at least to diminish it, but it didn’t work.
“Where’s mom?” whispered Sasha.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“How can you not know?” she said angrily. “You took her with you!”
“I know,” I replied. “And we arrived at the hotel on Friday night, just like we told you. Yesterday started normally. We saw that dumb movie about vampires or demons or whatever, and we had dinner together. We had an argument on the way back to the hotel, and decided to go to bed.”
“I remember being tired and frustrated, and just sitting on the couch in the hotel room… I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I woke up on that couch, and it was still dark… I wanted to know if your mother was still mad at me, but I tripped on the way to the room…”
I took a deep breath and briefly checked the mirror to ensure we were not being followed. Satisfied with the darkness on the road behind us, I continued my explanation.
“It was a dead body,” I said.
“Mom?!” whimpered Sasha as fresh tears poured out of her eyes.
“No,” I said. “One of the hotel workers… it was a man who had been helping with our luggage earlier. It was scary… he wasn’t just stabbed… it was like a monster had done it… a demon…” I squeezed the steering wheel as I remembered the shock.
“I looked toward the bed,” I continued. “Your mom was there, but… but she wasn’t normal… It was like she was possessed by something… Her eyes seemed to glow and she spoke, but there was something off about her voice…”
“What do you mean?” asked Sasha in shock.
“I don’t know,” I replied as I struggled to find a way to describe it. “It was like she was speaking, but without moving her mouth the right way for the words she said… I don’t know…”
“What did she say?” whispered Sasha in shock and horror.
“She threatened to kill you Sasha,” I said. “She said that we could never escape, and that she would destroy both of us… that she would destroy our family!”
We drove for several more minutes in complete silence.
“We have to call the police,” said Sasha at last.
“No!” I shouted. I squeezed the steering wheel as I struggled to maintain composure. I lowered my voice as I continued.
“They can’t protect us from a demon…” I said.
“Daddy do you really think that mom was possessed… that she was some kind of demon?” Sasha asked.
“I…” I started. “I don’t know.”
“Where are we going?” she asked. There was something off about her voice. I turned to look at her, and for a split second, she looked like her mother. Her eyes seemed to glow, and a feeling of shock rushed over me, as though I had stepped into a shower before the hot water had gone through the pipes, subjecting me to a paralyzing icy blast. I jerked the steering wheel and braked hard. Sasha screamed as our seatbelts locked and the vehicle skidded to a halt at the shoulder of the road.
“Daddy!” she said. “You’re scaring me!”
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m just… it’s been…” I took a deep breath and we started driving again.
“I’m just a bit tired,” I said weakly.
“Where are we going?” she asked again.
“We need to go somewhere she can’t get us,” I said resolutely. I checked the rear view mirror and saw a pair of headlights behind us. I accelerated slightly, hoping to increase the distance between the Malibu and any potential danger.
“So we’re running away?” she asked softly. I furrowed my brow. Had she not understood what I was saying? Had she not realized how I was motivated to keep her safe?
“Yes we’re running away!” I said.
“I didn’t bring extra clothes,” she said in a frustrated voice. “I didn’t bring anything… all of our stuff… we left it all…” Of course we left it all! Did she think that it would be better to get mauled by a monster if she had a different outfit? Did she think that running for our lives would be more fun if she had a tablet and WIFI?
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “We’ll get more stuff…”
“If we’re on the run, how are we going to pay for it?” asked Sasha. I didn’t know the answer to her question, but I needed Sasha to understand how dangerous our predicament was.
“We’ll deal with it when you’re safe, not before!” I said sternly. She cowered back into her seat and sobbed. It shouldn’t have, but it made me angry. I should have been able to understand that it would be difficult for a 12-year-old girl to have to leave everything she had, but she needed to understand it was just as hard for me. I had to leave everything I had, and to flee from the woman I had loved! Why couldn’t she see it from my perspective?
I looked back into the rear-view mirror, but the headlights I had seen earlier were closer now. I pressed the gas pedal and accelerated to 80, then 90 miles per hour. The headlights seemed to diminish in the mirror, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
The way the dashes in the lanes whisked toward us at a regular interval had a hypnotic effect, and in spite of all I had been through, my eyelids grew heavy over the next few minutes. I rolled the window down just a bit, and the cold air rushed inside.
“It’s cold outside daddy,” whispered Sasha. I wanted to tell her to deal with it, but I bit my tongue and rolled up the window.
I yawned as I checked the rear view mirror. The headlights had reappeared. I looked at my speedometer and confirmed that I was still going 90 miles per hour. I clenched my teeth as I accelerated to 100. The light of the headlight behind us diminished, and I returned my attention to the road.
After several more minutes of driving, my eyelids again grew heavy. I rubbed the back of my neck as though I could massage vitality or caffeine into myself by doing so. The steady hum of the engine and the way that my perspective of the dingy lines on the road seemed to point to a distant spot on the horizon made me yawn again.
“How much further?” said Sasha. Her voice sounded off. I whirled toward her, and her eyes were glowing with unnatural light. I slammed on the brakes. Sasha reached toward the wheel, but I slapped her hands back as we skidded to a halt.
Desperately, I struggled to free myself from my seatbelt, but with some kind of odd power, she prevented it from unhooking.
“What’s wrong Daddy?” she said in an eerie tone. Though her mouth was moving, it didn’t seem to fit the words she was saying. I reached into my pocket desperate to find my pocket knife. I needed to cut myself free of my seatbelt.
Sasha slowly began reaching her hands toward me and gave a shriek that seemed to pierce my head and dulled my senses. Somehow, my fingers wrapped around the handle of the folded blade, and pulled it out of the pocket of my blood-stained jeans. Sasha’s cold clammy fingers reached my face, and the horror of her unnatural touch startled me such that the knife fell down at my feet. I pushed Sasha back and reached down to retrieve my knife. The sharp slicing pain of the edge against the tips of my fingers stunned me for a moment, but I managed to grab the handle and attack the seatbelt with a quick sawing motion.
Reacting to my attempt to escape, Sasha grabbed her door and began shaking it back and forth. Another stunning shriek escaped her mouth as the car rocked back and forth.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in my lacerated fingers, I gripped the handle of the lock-back knife tighter. The fabric of the belt had frayed as I sliced through it, and although the eerie screaming, the glowing eyes, and the shaking vehicle had horrified me, seeing my progress with the belt gave me a new kind of focus. I clenched my teeth as I sawed back and forth, frantically slicing it apart.
It was close now… so close… The sound of the knife tearing back and forth through the belt seemed to drown out the shrieking… See-saw-see-saw-see-saw… The fibers of fabric burst outward like I was freeing them from the prison of their weaving. I ignored the burning feeling of the muscles in my arms as I pulled the steel back and forth faster and faster…. See-saw-see-saw-see-saw… There was only a bundle of threads left. The pain, exhaustion, and weariness had completely left me as the knife finally tore through the belt. I laughed with weary relief as I pulled the belt that had trapped me loose.
Suddenly something made me freeze.
I turned over to where Sasha had been sitting. The passenger seat was empty, and the door had been flung open. I stopped and listened for some sign of Sasha. The cold air that had flooded the car made my breath puff out in small clouds as I thought about where she might have gone, and for what purpose.
She had trapped me in the car, why run away? Why? I realized at once that my horror and panic had prevented me from asking that question since escaping the hotel. Why? Why had my wife been possessed? Why had she killed that man in the hotel? Why did she threaten me and Sasha? How did Sasha become possessed? Why had any of this happened?
A tapping on my window made me gasp and jump. My window had fogged up with my breath, and all I could see was the light of a flashlight creating a soft yellow glow. Probably the police. Maybe Sasha had been right… As supernatural as my experiences had been, perhaps it would have been wiser to involve law enforcement from the beginning. I cautiously pushed the door open, allowing the flashlight beam to shine on me.
“What the?!” shouted a male voice.
“That’s my daddy!” came a familiar young feminine voice. It was Sasha. Not demonic possessed Sasha, just normal Sasha. I smiled with relief.
“What is he?” gasped the man. What did he mean, I wondered.
“He tried to kill me!” cried Sasha. Tried to kill her!?!?! That was a lie! I was trying to protect her. I wanted to keep her safe. The officer lowered his flashlight and drew his handgun, pointing it at me.
“What’s going on!?” I demanded. As the words left my lips, I could hear an unnatural echo. I looked down at my hands, and to my horror, they were not the hands of a man… they were the claws of a monster. I whirled toward the rearview mirror, and angled it toward me. Like the headlights of a vehicle following, my eyes had an otherworldly glow. This sight… this honest look in the mirror… it brought everything I had done back to my recollection.
I had become angry as I quarreled with my wife about something that now seemed trivial. The shouting had prompted the hotel worker to ask us not to disturb their other guests. In a rage, I had brutally attacked him.
My wife gave me a look of shock and horror, and went to call the police. I couldn’t let her do that… so I… stopped her. And then I went to sit and think about what to do. Somehow, part of my mind had created the idea that it had been my wife who had become monstrous… it was her fault that the man was dead. I had come up with excuses for being angry with Sasha in the car. It had never been my daughter that trapped me… I had trapped myself. Her cold hands on my face was never a demonic attempt to stop me, it was to push me away and escape herself.
The demonic threat that I had perceived from my wife… that she would destroy me and my family… it had come from an actual demon… and it did destroy me, and my family… but it took too long to realize that the demon was not possessing others… The demon had been within me from the beginning. My anger, pride, and selfishness had fed it, and when it emerged, I had been powerless to stop it. The worst problems in my life might have been prevented, if I had had an honest look in the mirror sooner.
“Get dressed Sasha!” I shouted as I rushed in the front door and leapt toward the stairs. “We have to go now!”
There she stood in her doorway in her nightgown. She was squinting her eyes and gripping the sides of her arms. Clearly, I had woken her.
“Daddy?” she whispered wearily.
“Get dressed now!” I commanded. “We have to go!”
“Go where?” she asked as she closed her door to change.
“Just hurry!” I snapped. I impatiently whirled back toward the staircase, anticipating our descent. I knew I shouldn’t feel frustrated with her… she didn’t know the danger… Still… I had little tolerance for being made to wait.
After another minute, Sasha’s door swung open and she emerged. Maybe it was the shadows or my own exhaustion, but for a moment she looked much older than 12. She looked like her mother. I coughed in an attempt to reset my perception as she pulled her long dark hair out from the back of the sweatshirt she had clearly just pulled over her head.
“Where are we going?” she murmured softly. I cleared my throat.
“Away,” I said coldly as I turned to the staircase. I rushed down the steps toward the door that I realized I had forgot to close. I waited for Sasha and closed the large door behind her as she stumbled out in the direction of the Chevy Malibu I had parked in the driveway. She opened the passenger door and flopped onto the seat before fastening her seatbelt. I looked back toward the door of the house… our house… only now I wasn’t sure it could be our house anymore… I closed my eyes and began moving toward the car.
I looked through the windshield to confirm that my daughter was still in the vehicle, half expecting her to be leaning on her window trying to fall asleep again… after all… it was about 3 in the morning. To my surprise, she was wide awake. Her mouth was open, and she stared at me as though I were some kind of monster from a horror movie. I spun around, checking to see if there were something behind me, but I saw only the lights outside the garage that illuminated the area around the car. That’s when I realized that she hadn’t actually seen me in the light until that moment. She hadn’t seen the blood all over my clothing in the dark of our house. I was going to have to explain. I was going to have to explain everything.
“Where’s mom?” demanded Sasha in a very serious tone. “What happened to you? What is going on?”
“I’ll explain once we’re on the freeway,” I said as calmly as I could.
“No!” said Sasha. “Tell me now!” Something about the brazenness of her response made me snap at her again.
“Shut up Sasha!” I thundered. “I said I will tell you when we’re on the freeway!” I instantly regretted my tone as she cowered in her seat as far from me as she could, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. We had to get away. I started the car and backed out of the driveway. I took a deep breath, put the car in drive, and depressed the gas pedal.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you Sasha,” I said softly. “I owe you an explanation.” I turned toward her. Her wide eyes were red, and tears streamed down her cheeks. I cleared my throat in a weak attempt to assuage my guilt, or at least to diminish it, but it didn’t work.
“Where’s mom?” whispered Sasha.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“How can you not know?” she said angrily. “You took her with you!”
“I know,” I replied. “And we arrived at the hotel on Friday night, just like we told you. Yesterday started normally. We saw that dumb movie about vampires or demons or whatever, and we had dinner together. We had an argument on the way back to the hotel, and decided to go to bed.”
“I remember being tired and frustrated, and just sitting on the couch in the hotel room… I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I woke up on that couch, and it was still dark… I wanted to know if your mother was still mad at me, but I tripped on the way to the room…”
I took a deep breath and briefly checked the mirror to ensure we were not being followed. Satisfied with the darkness on the road behind us, I continued my explanation.
“It was a dead body,” I said.
“Mom?!” whimpered Sasha as fresh tears poured out of her eyes.
“No,” I said. “One of the hotel workers… it was a man who had been helping with our luggage earlier. It was scary… he wasn’t just stabbed… it was like a monster had done it… a demon…” I squeezed the steering wheel as I remembered the shock.
“I looked toward the bed,” I continued. “Your mom was there, but… but she wasn’t normal… It was like she was possessed by something… Her eyes seemed to glow and she spoke, but there was something off about her voice…”
“What do you mean?” asked Sasha in shock.
“I don’t know,” I replied as I struggled to find a way to describe it. “It was like she was speaking, but without moving her mouth the right way for the words she said… I don’t know…”
“What did she say?” whispered Sasha in shock and horror.
“She threatened to kill you Sasha,” I said. “She said that we could never escape, and that she would destroy both of us… that she would destroy our family!”
We drove for several more minutes in complete silence.
“We have to call the police,” said Sasha at last.
“No!” I shouted. I squeezed the steering wheel as I struggled to maintain composure. I lowered my voice as I continued.
“They can’t protect us from a demon…” I said.
“Daddy do you really think that mom was possessed… that she was some kind of demon?” Sasha asked.
“I…” I started. “I don’t know.”
“Where are we going?” she asked. There was something off about her voice. I turned to look at her, and for a split second, she looked like her mother. Her eyes seemed to glow, and a feeling of shock rushed over me, as though I had stepped into a shower before the hot water had gone through the pipes, subjecting me to a paralyzing icy blast. I jerked the steering wheel and braked hard. Sasha screamed as our seatbelts locked and the vehicle skidded to a halt at the shoulder of the road.
“Daddy!” she said. “You’re scaring me!”
“Sorry,” I said. “I’m just… it’s been…” I took a deep breath and we started driving again.
“I’m just a bit tired,” I said weakly.
“Where are we going?” she asked again.
“We need to go somewhere she can’t get us,” I said resolutely. I checked the rear view mirror and saw a pair of headlights behind us. I accelerated slightly, hoping to increase the distance between the Malibu and any potential danger.
“So we’re running away?” she asked softly. I furrowed my brow. Had she not understood what I was saying? Had she not realized how I was motivated to keep her safe?
“Yes we’re running away!” I said.
“I didn’t bring extra clothes,” she said in a frustrated voice. “I didn’t bring anything… all of our stuff… we left it all…” Of course we left it all! Did she think that it would be better to get mauled by a monster if she had a different outfit? Did she think that running for our lives would be more fun if she had a tablet and WIFI?
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “We’ll get more stuff…”
“If we’re on the run, how are we going to pay for it?” asked Sasha. I didn’t know the answer to her question, but I needed Sasha to understand how dangerous our predicament was.
“We’ll deal with it when you’re safe, not before!” I said sternly. She cowered back into her seat and sobbed. It shouldn’t have, but it made me angry. I should have been able to understand that it would be difficult for a 12-year-old girl to have to leave everything she had, but she needed to understand it was just as hard for me. I had to leave everything I had, and to flee from the woman I had loved! Why couldn’t she see it from my perspective?
I looked back into the rear-view mirror, but the headlights I had seen earlier were closer now. I pressed the gas pedal and accelerated to 80, then 90 miles per hour. The headlights seemed to diminish in the mirror, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
The way the dashes in the lanes whisked toward us at a regular interval had a hypnotic effect, and in spite of all I had been through, my eyelids grew heavy over the next few minutes. I rolled the window down just a bit, and the cold air rushed inside.
“It’s cold outside daddy,” whispered Sasha. I wanted to tell her to deal with it, but I bit my tongue and rolled up the window.
I yawned as I checked the rear view mirror. The headlights had reappeared. I looked at my speedometer and confirmed that I was still going 90 miles per hour. I clenched my teeth as I accelerated to 100. The light of the headlight behind us diminished, and I returned my attention to the road.
After several more minutes of driving, my eyelids again grew heavy. I rubbed the back of my neck as though I could massage vitality or caffeine into myself by doing so. The steady hum of the engine and the way that my perspective of the dingy lines on the road seemed to point to a distant spot on the horizon made me yawn again.
“How much further?” said Sasha. Her voice sounded off. I whirled toward her, and her eyes were glowing with unnatural light. I slammed on the brakes. Sasha reached toward the wheel, but I slapped her hands back as we skidded to a halt.
Desperately, I struggled to free myself from my seatbelt, but with some kind of odd power, she prevented it from unhooking.
“What’s wrong Daddy?” she said in an eerie tone. Though her mouth was moving, it didn’t seem to fit the words she was saying. I reached into my pocket desperate to find my pocket knife. I needed to cut myself free of my seatbelt.
Sasha slowly began reaching her hands toward me and gave a shriek that seemed to pierce my head and dulled my senses. Somehow, my fingers wrapped around the handle of the folded blade, and pulled it out of the pocket of my blood-stained jeans. Sasha’s cold clammy fingers reached my face, and the horror of her unnatural touch startled me such that the knife fell down at my feet. I pushed Sasha back and reached down to retrieve my knife. The sharp slicing pain of the edge against the tips of my fingers stunned me for a moment, but I managed to grab the handle and attack the seatbelt with a quick sawing motion.
Reacting to my attempt to escape, Sasha grabbed her door and began shaking it back and forth. Another stunning shriek escaped her mouth as the car rocked back and forth.
Ignoring the throbbing pain in my lacerated fingers, I gripped the handle of the lock-back knife tighter. The fabric of the belt had frayed as I sliced through it, and although the eerie screaming, the glowing eyes, and the shaking vehicle had horrified me, seeing my progress with the belt gave me a new kind of focus. I clenched my teeth as I sawed back and forth, frantically slicing it apart.
It was close now… so close… The sound of the knife tearing back and forth through the belt seemed to drown out the shrieking… See-saw-see-saw-see-saw… The fibers of fabric burst outward like I was freeing them from the prison of their weaving. I ignored the burning feeling of the muscles in my arms as I pulled the steel back and forth faster and faster…. See-saw-see-saw-see-saw… There was only a bundle of threads left. The pain, exhaustion, and weariness had completely left me as the knife finally tore through the belt. I laughed with weary relief as I pulled the belt that had trapped me loose.
Suddenly something made me freeze.
I turned over to where Sasha had been sitting. The passenger seat was empty, and the door had been flung open. I stopped and listened for some sign of Sasha. The cold air that had flooded the car made my breath puff out in small clouds as I thought about where she might have gone, and for what purpose.
She had trapped me in the car, why run away? Why? I realized at once that my horror and panic had prevented me from asking that question since escaping the hotel. Why? Why had my wife been possessed? Why had she killed that man in the hotel? Why did she threaten me and Sasha? How did Sasha become possessed? Why had any of this happened?
A tapping on my window made me gasp and jump. My window had fogged up with my breath, and all I could see was the light of a flashlight creating a soft yellow glow. Probably the police. Maybe Sasha had been right… As supernatural as my experiences had been, perhaps it would have been wiser to involve law enforcement from the beginning. I cautiously pushed the door open, allowing the flashlight beam to shine on me.
“What the?!” shouted a male voice.
“That’s my daddy!” came a familiar young feminine voice. It was Sasha. Not demonic possessed Sasha, just normal Sasha. I smiled with relief.
“What is he?” gasped the man. What did he mean, I wondered.
“He tried to kill me!” cried Sasha. Tried to kill her!?!?! That was a lie! I was trying to protect her. I wanted to keep her safe. The officer lowered his flashlight and drew his handgun, pointing it at me.
“What’s going on!?” I demanded. As the words left my lips, I could hear an unnatural echo. I looked down at my hands, and to my horror, they were not the hands of a man… they were the claws of a monster. I whirled toward the rearview mirror, and angled it toward me. Like the headlights of a vehicle following, my eyes had an otherworldly glow. This sight… this honest look in the mirror… it brought everything I had done back to my recollection.
I had become angry as I quarreled with my wife about something that now seemed trivial. The shouting had prompted the hotel worker to ask us not to disturb their other guests. In a rage, I had brutally attacked him.
My wife gave me a look of shock and horror, and went to call the police. I couldn’t let her do that… so I… stopped her. And then I went to sit and think about what to do. Somehow, part of my mind had created the idea that it had been my wife who had become monstrous… it was her fault that the man was dead. I had come up with excuses for being angry with Sasha in the car. It had never been my daughter that trapped me… I had trapped myself. Her cold hands on my face was never a demonic attempt to stop me, it was to push me away and escape herself.
The demonic threat that I had perceived from my wife… that she would destroy me and my family… it had come from an actual demon… and it did destroy me, and my family… but it took too long to realize that the demon was not possessing others… The demon had been within me from the beginning. My anger, pride, and selfishness had fed it, and when it emerged, I had been powerless to stop it. The worst problems in my life might have been prevented, if I had had an honest look in the mirror sooner.
The idea:
There is a demon inside everyone. The impulse to be selfish, and to indulge in impulse rather than exercise restraint, has gone by many names. The book of Proverbs in the Bible calls those who give into these lusts "fools." King Benjamin calls it "the natural man." Jesus himself taught the importance of "losing" oneself in order to find salvation... of denying oneself and taking up the cross (Matthew 16:24-26).
Whatever the concept, the idea is the same. There is a demon that is within each person that persuades them to do evil. It hides in darkness, and assures us that it does not exist. Frequently, it does this by distracting us with the faults of others (real or manufactured). It whispers that our selfish actions are justified... that someone else is the source of our problems... that being provoked justifies lashing out... that seductive apparel or behavior justifies lust... that desirable attention justifies degrading apparel and behavior... that the intolerance of others justifies our intolerance for them... or that because we want to be tolerated, we should accept practices that are dishonest and cruel.
At some point, nearly everyone attempts to have an honest look in the mirror. The realization that you might be responsible for many of your problems is uncomfortable at best. At worst, the horror that a demon exists within you can cause a kind of mental paralysis... the fear that because you have made mistakes you cannot change, or are not worthy of help. The demon will augment these worries and doubts. The demon will tell you that you cannot change, and that no one can help you... and just as before... the demon can be very convincing.
While some guilt can be a healthy consequence of immoral and unethical behaviors and attitudes, recognizing that there is a demon within should prompt additional introspection. Why?
Why is there a demon? What does he want? Why is he within you?
Also... if it is true that nothing can be done to remove the demon... that you are beyond hope or help... then why was it so important that he deny his existence? Really, if you were stuck with a demon, what would it matter if you knew its existence before your honest look in the mirror?
An honest look in the mirror reveals the demon is a liar.
The demon is trying to control you. He is using your impulses and your nature to manipulate you. He needs you... but you do not need him.
That is not to say it is an easy thing to get rid of him. He is not only persuasive, but tenacious. You will need help to get rid of him. Serious introspection can help you to recognize the problem... it will not solve it... but without it, who would try to solve a problem they do not believe exists?
The honest look in the mirror reveals:
- That there is a demon within you
- That he is a liar
- That you need help to get rid of him
The real solution lies in the power of Jesus Christ. Casting out evil spirits is something in which he proved to be expert... even succeeding where others had failed (Matthew 17:14-21). His ability to change people for the better extended in more ways than healing physical sickness, disability, or even the symptoms of mental illness... He has power to remove the demon inside you.
The proof of this power can be seen in the lives of Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul... in Alma the Younger, who went from trying to destroy the church of God to spending his life building it... in parents who sacrifice sleep, substance, and selfishness to better the lives of the children... in the lives of Christians who have had the faith to repent, and walk in the footsteps of Christ.
Ultimately, each individual must have an honest look in the mirror... the sooner, the better. Don't pretend there is no demon within... there is. Don't pretend you are stuck with him... you don't have to be. Don't pretend that you can ignore him or that he will go away on his own... turn to Jesus...
Jesus has the power to make bad men good, and good men better. Jesus has the power to save us all.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Jesus didn't suffer for you
"Jesus suffered for me."
There is nothing technically wrong with this phrase. As a Christian, I believe it to be true for any human being who uses it... but it also feels off... like someone who says "your an idiot" on Facebook instead of "you're an idiot" or insists on driving a few miles per hour below the speed limit in the left lane on the freeway. Everyone kind of understands what is meant by these practices, but still... they irritate.
There is a valid place for understanding that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not just a generic theological concept, but that individual faith and penitence can allow access to infinite grace, healing, and power. Certainly there are many concepts that show the importance of individual salvation. A man will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. (A of F 2) The message given to the Apostle Peter.. "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15), or the teaching of John the Baptist "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Matthew 3:9)... all of these ideas tend to suggest that a person's family, circumstances, and background are not as important as the individual decisions each person makes relating to their faith.
On the other hand, groups of people are important to God.
Consider these passages:
The connection can be traced back to Abraham... who in a time of idolatry and wickedness insisted on seeking the Lord in everything he did. Abraham's son Isaac honored the covenant that God had made with his father. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, helped guide young Jacob to receive the blessings of the Lord. Genesis describes a wrestle in which Jacob proves his desire to obtain the favor of the Lord (Genesis 32:24-30). This experience shows something remarkable about the bond between God and Jacob.
Like Abraham, Jacob had been blessed of the Lord... but he was certain that he could do and be more. He worked diligently, believing that he could receive a greater blessing.
This desire is the one that Jesus tried to inspire in the children of Israel when he taught:
Though he acknowledges the blessings of God... Jacob's actions are not really centered on his personal relationship with the Lord. Israel realized that he was a link in a great chain. He had been guided to divine providence following in the footsteps of his grandfather Abraham... with the patriarchal blessing of his father Isaac... and by following the wise counsel of his mother Rebekah. His efforts were to secure these same blessings for his own family, and his last act before he died was to bless his children.
What guided Jacob to God? What made his children so important to the Lord? This statement by Bruce R. McConkie provides additional clarity:
What it does mean is that there is a tendency to recognize the divine. There is access to the holy priesthood. There is opportunity to learn the truths of the Lord.
For thousands of years, God has maintained his connection with Israel's children not because they were necessarily better than other people... but because he is showing that true salvation is never only about individuals. Salvation is about permanent bonds with families.
Modern prophets have affirmed this truth:
"Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God, and for families to be united eternally." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, emphasis added)
Additionally, Israel will be literally gathered together, and every promise made with the ancient patriarchs will be fulfilled. Christ himself affirmed ancient prophecy when he recited this about the children of Israel:
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward." (3 Nephi 20:41-42)
If you are inspired to get up on Fast Sunday and share your testimony about how important Jesus is... that's fantastic! If you are inspired to talk about how the Lord has blessed you... great! If you want to talk about how the suffering of Christ has brought peace and happiness... Amen!
Just remember... It was never about just you. Though he individually knows you and individually loves you and individually suffered for you... it was never about just you. You are a link in a great chain. You have a part in curses, blessings, and covenants that were made when human civilization was in its infancy. You are connected to those who have gone before, and those who will come after you.
Your potential was never to return to the presence of God all alone... Jesus suffered for you to be united with your spouse, your parents, and your children. He suffered to purchase for you a place in the mansions (plural) of His Father. His commandments were given so that you could "be the children of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:45) He atoned so that you could be a part of his family.
Jesus suffered for us.
There is nothing technically wrong with this phrase. As a Christian, I believe it to be true for any human being who uses it... but it also feels off... like someone who says "your an idiot" on Facebook instead of "you're an idiot" or insists on driving a few miles per hour below the speed limit in the left lane on the freeway. Everyone kind of understands what is meant by these practices, but still... they irritate.
There is a valid place for understanding that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not just a generic theological concept, but that individual faith and penitence can allow access to infinite grace, healing, and power. Certainly there are many concepts that show the importance of individual salvation. A man will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. (A of F 2) The message given to the Apostle Peter.. "what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15), or the teaching of John the Baptist "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (Matthew 3:9)... all of these ideas tend to suggest that a person's family, circumstances, and background are not as important as the individual decisions each person makes relating to their faith.
On the other hand, groups of people are important to God.
Consider these passages:
- "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers..." (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
- "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:5-8)
- "And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had... And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire..." (Joshua 7:24-25)
The impact of a few upon large numbers of people is notable. People have been blessed greatly or punished severely because of their association with others. The Egyptians unfortunate enough to have served in Pharaoh's army when he pursued Moses into the Red Sea seem as randomly placed as the lame man that Peter healed to prove that Christ's power had not ended at the crucifixion.
Jesus Christ himself declared his favoritism to the house of Israel to a woman who sought his help:
"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." (Matthew 15:22-28)Again when he appeared to the Nephites, he affirmed his connection with the covenants of Israel:
"And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them. And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel." (3 Nephi 16:11-12)God's promises to the house of Israel are notable. If Christ cares so much about individuals, (and not just certain people, but individuals from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people), how was it ever possible that he became so tightly coupled with the children of Jacob?
The connection can be traced back to Abraham... who in a time of idolatry and wickedness insisted on seeking the Lord in everything he did. Abraham's son Isaac honored the covenant that God had made with his father. Rebekah, Isaac's wife, helped guide young Jacob to receive the blessings of the Lord. Genesis describes a wrestle in which Jacob proves his desire to obtain the favor of the Lord (Genesis 32:24-30). This experience shows something remarkable about the bond between God and Jacob.
Like Abraham, Jacob had been blessed of the Lord... but he was certain that he could do and be more. He worked diligently, believing that he could receive a greater blessing.
This desire is the one that Jesus tried to inspire in the children of Israel when he taught:
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)How did Jacob develop this desire to be blessed, and the faith to ask, seek, and knock? Surely he could have said that the power of Jesus enabled him. Though he lived thousands of years before the birth of Christ, because of the timeless and infinite power of the atonement, it would not have been inaccurate for him to proclaim that "Jesus suffered for me."
Though he acknowledges the blessings of God... Jacob's actions are not really centered on his personal relationship with the Lord. Israel realized that he was a link in a great chain. He had been guided to divine providence following in the footsteps of his grandfather Abraham... with the patriarchal blessing of his father Isaac... and by following the wise counsel of his mother Rebekah. His efforts were to secure these same blessings for his own family, and his last act before he died was to bless his children.
What guided Jacob to God? What made his children so important to the Lord? This statement by Bruce R. McConkie provides additional clarity:
"In general, the Lord sends to earth in the lineage of Jacob [Israel] those spirits who in pre-existence developed an especial talent for spirituality and for recognizing truth. Those born in this lineage, having the blood of Israel in their veins and finding it easy to accept the gospel, are said to have believing blood."Of course, this does not mean that people who are born into the house of Israel are guaranteed to receive divine favor... or even that they will be decent human beings. Israelites produced men as awful as King Ahab and King Manasseh. Even of his own children, Reuben, Levi, Simeon, and Judah were guilty of terrible sins.
What it does mean is that there is a tendency to recognize the divine. There is access to the holy priesthood. There is opportunity to learn the truths of the Lord.
For thousands of years, God has maintained his connection with Israel's children not because they were necessarily better than other people... but because he is showing that true salvation is never only about individuals. Salvation is about permanent bonds with families.
Modern prophets have affirmed this truth:
"Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God, and for families to be united eternally." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, emphasis added)
Additionally, Israel will be literally gathered together, and every promise made with the ancient patriarchs will be fulfilled. Christ himself affirmed ancient prophecy when he recited this about the children of Israel:
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward." (3 Nephi 20:41-42)
If you are inspired to get up on Fast Sunday and share your testimony about how important Jesus is... that's fantastic! If you are inspired to talk about how the Lord has blessed you... great! If you want to talk about how the suffering of Christ has brought peace and happiness... Amen!
Just remember... It was never about just you. Though he individually knows you and individually loves you and individually suffered for you... it was never about just you. You are a link in a great chain. You have a part in curses, blessings, and covenants that were made when human civilization was in its infancy. You are connected to those who have gone before, and those who will come after you.
Your potential was never to return to the presence of God all alone... Jesus suffered for you to be united with your spouse, your parents, and your children. He suffered to purchase for you a place in the mansions (plural) of His Father. His commandments were given so that you could "be the children of your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:45) He atoned so that you could be a part of his family.
Jesus suffered for us.
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