Ready for Another Weekend

Davy and Danny did their last service at Green Hill and Davy’s sermon was one of his best. The twenty-two people in attendance all hugged Danny and Davy when the service was over. It appeared the brief time at Green Hill was now history. It appeared so until two weeks later. On Sunday afternoon, Reverend Green knocked on Danny’s door.
“Good afternoon, Reverend. Come in.”
“We need to talk.”
“Okay, do I need to call Pastor Tait?”
“I believe so.”
When Davy arrived and they were all seated, Green began. I didn’t have anybody in church today,” he said. “There was no one there last week either. I need you two to come back.”
“Reverend Green,” said Danny, “You didn’t approve of our way of doing things. You didn’t hesitate to tell us. You said we could do it our way, but each time we tried, you put your two cents into the service.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Your announcement reminding people about their tithes–“
”Gentlemen, we do have a budget and certain bills–“
”Save me the sermon, Pastor. Neither Reverend Davy or I believe in tithing. It’s nothing but guilt for gold.“
”It’s in the bible.”
“Pastor, neither of us believe in tithing, but even so. You seemed hell bound to add a few words onto our sermons.”
“I felt the people needed–“
”We wouldn’t be interested in going back. And, Pastor, we wish you all the best.”
“What good is an empty church? I need you people to come back. I’m begging you.”
“Reverend,” said Davy, “Can I be perfectly honest with you?”
“Please do.”
“Okay, but I am only speaking for me, not Danny or anyone else. Like you, I am a Baptist. But there are some things about the Baptist, and Pentecostal, way of doing things I feel are outdated and honestly, disgusting. And, I see them going away and want to cheer. One is your way of preaching. I don’t think thirty or forty minutes of threats cuts it. Like I say, I think it’s disgusting and, frankly, nauseating.”
“I don’t follow you. I don’t threaten–“
”Come on, Reverend, give me a break. A half hour of telling people they’re sinners and if they don’t change, they’re going to spend eternity in Hell? You don’t think that’s a threat?”
“Reverend Tait, some people call that good preaching. I’ve often been called an excellent preacher,” said Green red faced.
“That’s great, Reverend. Some people may call you a good preacher. I call you a liar.”
Green’s mouth fell wide open.
“I don’t know how many people you had in your congregation when it was at its best, but–“
”I’ll have you know there was over three hundred there each and every Sunday. Three hundred listening to the word.”
“Three hundred listening to your words, Reverend Green. But, where are they now?”
Green made no attempt to answer, but only looked off it the distance.
Davy continued. “All that hellfire and brimstone crap is disgusting. Think about the people in your congregation, or at least the ones that were in your congregation. What sins had they committed? They maybe what, squeezed through a yellow light? Took a few pencils from work? They were basically good people. You know they were good people, but you also knew they felt guilt for running that light and taking those pencils so you used that guilt. You gave them all them hellfire shit, and that’s what it is, Reverend, it’s pure shit. You gave them all that hellfire shit because that was the sign of a good preacher? Is that why you did it, Revered, or was it because it translated out well in the collection plate? Which one was it, Reverend? Or, was it both?”
“So, you think you can tell me what is a sin?” shouted Green.
“No, Reverend, but Christ died for our sins, isn’t that right?”
“Yes, it says so in the bible.”
“If that’s the case, Reverend, I truly find it hard to believe that when Christ was on that cross, with blood coming out of every wound, and that when the sins of mankind were going through his mind, that someone running a red light, or some man picking up a few pencils, or a kid taking a pack of chewing gum was what was what he was thinking.”
“So you know what Christ was thinking?”
“No, Reverend, but with all the murders throughout history, all the things that were stolen, all the horrors of mankind, I just can’t see how running a red light fit in.”
Green was silent for a time, then said, “Gentlemen, I need your help.”
 Danny looked at Davy then said, “Reverend, I can appreciate your situation, but we have–“
”Will you buy my church?” shouted Green out of the blue.
“Hmmm, Reverend. This is certainly unexpected. How much would you want for the church?”
“I believe it should be worth about two hundred thousand dollars.”
Danny looked at Davy. “Could we use Pastor Green’s church?”
“Yes, but two hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money.”
“I agree,” said Danny. “We’ll give you eighty thousand.”
“Eighty thousand,” shouted Green. “That church is worth–“
”Eighty thousand, take it or leave it.”
Green looked at Davy hoping for another option.
“Like the man said,” said Davy, “Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.” said Green as he grabbed Danny’s hand to shake it.”