chair and slipped on his reading glasses. He took the report and began to read through it.
“I’ll tell you what it says,” said Howell, tapping his fingers impatiently on the arm of the chair. “It says that Isaac Knox is a traitor. He’s turned his back on God’s truth and is preaching error!”
If did seem that Isaac was allowing his congregation a great deal of doctrinal license. Hugh was aware of some of the irregularities, but nothing like this. The first page of the report suggested that Isaac no longer insisted that his congregation adhere to the Levitical laws of clean and unclean meats. Also, he’d begun to look the other way while some of the membership openly celebrated birthdays. He even allowed women to come to church wearing makeup. On the second page, however, the situation deteriorated even further.
It appeared Knox had given up the preaching of God’s law and the imminent fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and instead gave sermons almost exclusively revolving around relationships, how to have a more productive, happier life/marriage/career, and better, more rewarding friendships. His sermons were upbeat. Inspirational. Peppered with quotes not only from the Bible, but from famous men and women. As Hugh turned to the third page he found himself staring at the words in utter disbelief. He looked up, seeing his father’s grim face.
“Read on,” said Howell. “It gets worse.”
According to the report, Knox had spoken privately with one of his deacons, telling the man that within the next month or two he was planning to announce to the entire congregation that they need no longer send their tithes and offerings to the headquarters church in Altadena. Instead, he would start collecting the money locally. In the next year the Church of the Firstborn in St. Louis would break ground on a new youth center. It was Knox’s dream to build a space that not only the young men and women of the church could use, but one that would become a resource for any young person in crisis, or in need of guidance.
Hugh adjusted his glasses, and then placed the report down flat on the table. He had no idea Isaac had gone this far. There was no doubt about it. This was a bombshell. No minister of God had ever defied Howell Purdis like this before. And yet, no pastor had ever achieved quite the following or the popularity within the church that Isaac Knox had. Everyone loved him. This was a touchy situation, requiring a great deal of thought before any action was attempted. “What are you going to do?” asked Hugh.
“Do? I’m going to fire him! Disfellowship him! Throw him to the dogs of eternal damnation!”
Even though it might seem crass, Hugh felt it was important to point out to his father some realities they might have overlooked. “But… he may take a great many of our membership, even our ministers, with him if he goes.”
Howell Purdis heaved himself up and stood looking down at his son, his face red with rage. “Not if I have anything to say about it!”
“But you may not. We have to
think
about this, Father. We can’t act rashly.”
Lately, Hugh found himself listening to his father’s conversations for the off notes, the clues that would tell him whether or not his dad was truly losing his grip on reality. From Hugh’s point of view, his father’s bizarre behavior could just as easily be explained as an explosive, idiosyncratic personality altered by age and the perception of absolute authority. In other words, he wasn’t crazy, he was just so old and powerful that he did what he pleased and didn’t give a rip what anyone thought about it.
“You’re a weak sister, Hugh. How a son of mine could have ended up with no backbone is beyond me. Thank the good Lord I’m still alive. I may be on my way out, but I’m not frightened of any man. Especially Isaac Knox. The work God began through me is my only concern. I made a mistake when I
“I’ll tell you what it says,” said Howell, tapping his fingers impatiently on the arm of the chair. “It says that Isaac Knox is a traitor. He’s turned his back on God’s truth and is preaching error!”
If did seem that Isaac was allowing his congregation a great deal of doctrinal license. Hugh was aware of some of the irregularities, but nothing like this. The first page of the report suggested that Isaac no longer insisted that his congregation adhere to the Levitical laws of clean and unclean meats. Also, he’d begun to look the other way while some of the membership openly celebrated birthdays. He even allowed women to come to church wearing makeup. On the second page, however, the situation deteriorated even further.
It appeared Knox had given up the preaching of God’s law and the imminent fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and instead gave sermons almost exclusively revolving around relationships, how to have a more productive, happier life/marriage/career, and better, more rewarding friendships. His sermons were upbeat. Inspirational. Peppered with quotes not only from the Bible, but from famous men and women. As Hugh turned to the third page he found himself staring at the words in utter disbelief. He looked up, seeing his father’s grim face.
“Read on,” said Howell. “It gets worse.”
According to the report, Knox had spoken privately with one of his deacons, telling the man that within the next month or two he was planning to announce to the entire congregation that they need no longer send their tithes and offerings to the headquarters church in Altadena. Instead, he would start collecting the money locally. In the next year the Church of the Firstborn in St. Louis would break ground on a new youth center. It was Knox’s dream to build a space that not only the young men and women of the church could use, but one that would become a resource for any young person in crisis, or in need of guidance.
Hugh adjusted his glasses, and then placed the report down flat on the table. He had no idea Isaac had gone this far. There was no doubt about it. This was a bombshell. No minister of God had ever defied Howell Purdis like this before. And yet, no pastor had ever achieved quite the following or the popularity within the church that Isaac Knox had. Everyone loved him. This was a touchy situation, requiring a great deal of thought before any action was attempted. “What are you going to do?” asked Hugh.
“Do? I’m going to fire him! Disfellowship him! Throw him to the dogs of eternal damnation!”
Even though it might seem crass, Hugh felt it was important to point out to his father some realities they might have overlooked. “But… he may take a great many of our membership, even our ministers, with him if he goes.”
Howell Purdis heaved himself up and stood looking down at his son, his face red with rage. “Not if I have anything to say about it!”
“But you may not. We have to
think
about this, Father. We can’t act rashly.”
Lately, Hugh found himself listening to his father’s conversations for the off notes, the clues that would tell him whether or not his dad was truly losing his grip on reality. From Hugh’s point of view, his father’s bizarre behavior could just as easily be explained as an explosive, idiosyncratic personality altered by age and the perception of absolute authority. In other words, he wasn’t crazy, he was just so old and powerful that he did what he pleased and didn’t give a rip what anyone thought about it.
“You’re a weak sister, Hugh. How a son of mine could have ended up with no backbone is beyond me. Thank the good Lord I’m still alive. I may be on my way out, but I’m not frightened of any man. Especially Isaac Knox. The work God began through me is my only concern. I made a mistake when I
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