“They [Jesus and the first disciples] went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!’ ‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. Mark 1:21-26
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more persistent complaint than the one I almost always hear when people discover I’m a Christian man. It seems everyone has a story about what’s wrong with the “church” and how it did them or someone they know very wrong. Some time ago, a man told me of a church that was just exposed for child torture in their orphanages. That stuff doesn’t happen in the church I know and love, but I know it DOES happen in churches–there’s probably not one denomination that hasn’t had something “bad” happen in one of their churches. I’ve also heard of a pastor (or a priest) who likes to go “bar hoppin” with some of the guys. The guys wanted to know what I thought about it… I guess all that glitters in not gold, and a priestly title will never make a person right with God. There are surely even people in the church who have evil spirits like in Jesus’ day. If someone’s been inhabited by the “Holy One of God,” however, there’s no mistaking it!
In Christ,
PastorJimKilby @Kilbin8er
Jim@JamesKilby.com