Grace Grieving 15: Our turn

     Executive elder Brian Chung approached us before the second service. He asked courteously, "May I speak with you two?" 

     As we followed him out of the main thoroughfare we noticed executive elder Kurt Victor tailing us. When Brian stopped, Kurt joined him. We pointed out that we had agreed to talk with Brian, not both of them. Brian shrugged and said something about both of them needing to talk to us. (We had declined earlier offers to have them both come to our house. We knew what two elders at once mean--in any cult. He knew that so he deceived us.) 

     Our two designated spokesmen from the Executive Board of Elders. Kurt had tears in his eyes.
   "We love you two. We hate to do this. . ." Brian seemed to be in anguish. He was wringing his hands. "Please--you need to stop writing the blog. You are hurting people. You need to repent so we can all have reconciliation. Or find a church where you would be happier."
     He talked for a long time. We said God has not released us to leave the church, that He has not released us to stop bringing the deeds of darkness into the light for His judgment. "Do you think we would stay, being shunned and hated, if God had not told us to stay?" We said we had to do what we believe God is telling us to do and they have to do what they believe God is telling them to do. The ball is in their court. "If He wants us to go through church discipline for His glory, it will be an honor."
     "Christians can't choose their lions," Jerry said. "Until He releases us we will stay, even if it means being devoured."
     "Then I will pray," said Brian, "that God will release you soon!"
     I put a hand on Kurt's shoulder, Jerry put a hand on Brian's shoulder and I prayed aloud. I prayed that God would give them courage and strength to do what He has called them to do and that He would give us courage and strength to do what He has called us to do. I prayed that if we are the ones causing the problems, God would show us, that He would discipline us, that we would not have to fall into the hands of angry men.
     When I finished, both elders said "Amen!"
     When we came back into the service, which had already started, the couple from another church who had come to Grace that morning just for the purpose of upholding us in prayer whispered, "You look like you were just scolded. We saw the two men approach you and we could see power and control on their faces. We prayed for you the whole time."
     Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your angels Dave and Lorian.