It was the Christmas season and being in the gift-giving mode Evan handed the Pastor a copy of “Who Is My Neighbor,” the anthology assembled by Achord & Dow
“What’s this” Pastor Jackie said staring suspiciously at the gift.
Evan answered, “It’s a book that reveals that the Church has for centuries supported what is now called Kinism.”
Pastor Jackie, visibly stiffened and imperceptibly snorted. He informed Evan that he’s heard about this book and the word coming back to him was that these were a bunch of quotes mined and taken out of context.
Evan, never one to be put off, said; “Have you or any of your clergy buddies or even anyone you know ever demonstrated that any of these quotes in this volume are taken out of context?”
Pastor Jackie’s hair stood on end. He realized now that this was a challenge and not merely a conversation. He understood that this was a gift the same with giving someone the plague might be a gift.
Evan took Rev. Glease’s silent hesitation for the concession that it was and immediately unloosened a verbal arrow that went straight for the Pastor’s shrinking heart;
“Look, Pastor, if you can’t demonstrate and prove to me that this book is just quote mining then I don’t think you should be spouting that this book is just filled with quotes taken out of context. Until you or any of your friends can demonstrate that this book is just filled with quotes taken out of context I’m going to be handing out these books in church like eggs at the annual Rotary club Easter Egg hunt.”
With that Evan pivoted and left behind a dumb struck Rev. Jackie Glease. Glease knew he not only had just been thunderstruck, he knew that his real problems were yet ahead of him. He knew Evan was not one to be shushed. He knew that soon enough he would be inundated with appointments with people who wanted to probe about the quotes in the Acord & Dow Anthology, “Who Is My Neighbor.”
He also found himself praying that his people wouldn’t learn about the other anthology that also was filled with quotes on the same subject. Rev. Glease knew that answering questions on “Who Is My Neighbor” didn’t need to be complicated by having to answer questions on the anthology “A Survey of Racialism In Christian Sacred Tradition,” by Alexander Storen.
Glease went into his study and picked up the phone and put in a call to Doug Wilson. Certainly Doug would have some clever way to dismiss all these bothersome quotes.
