Letter to My Children (September 24, 2019)
How are you? I was saddened to hear of the accidental death of a young friend of yours, one of Jim and Maryanne’s sons. I remember Elias, a friendly, kind young man. My condolences to his parents, wife, and family.
Life is precious. Death is awful. I was thinking the other day of a comment made by Pastor Scott that those of us being disciplined are ‘dead in our sins.’ Justifying that pervasive Calvary Temple culture of cutting off (silencing) individuals. In actuality though, we are very much alive. We call, and you can either answer and speak to us or listen to our voice messages. You can contact us via text or snail mail. You can come see us! Novel thought, huh?! You can easily see current photos of most of us and know of our lives by checking out social media.
Not so for us though. You are the ones who are acting like you are dead. You restrict your social media to only Calvary folks or those who will keep contact with you a secret! You do not call, text, or write. You do not allow pictures of yourselves to be posted where they can be easily viewed by family members who have been cut off. So, I see you as the ones living like dead men. We are alive. And living and breathing and reaching out and loving and caring and hoping and encouraging and even gently reproving you at times. Not mad, but really sad. That you have chosen to isolate yourselves at the behest of church leaders, who have shown absolutely no remorse for stealing away your affection and love for your parents and biological family. The one God himself placed you in by birth.
Sorry kids, but you are confused. You have chosen isolation and death instead of love, freedom, and life. Here’s a verse to ponder: ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.’ The whole chapter is enlightening. I love you guys. So very much.
Your ever loving, always trying to contact you, Mom. XO
