The Mark

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Henry interrupted again, his voice returning to its original vol ume. "I don't know what church you've been going to, but if they do not stand solely on the Word, you've got real problems." His dark eyes bored into hers, but Anna refused to break the stare. "Yes, we should submit to our government, but there is a higher authority, and that's God. We know God through His Word and we have an obli gation as believers to preach the gospel-it's called... the Great... Commission."

Henry pulled back as if he knew he had gone too far, but it was too late as far as Anna was concerned. This guy was way too opinionated for her.

"I'm sorry, Anna. I shouldn't have attacked your church. It's just that we are living in such a volatile time. Who would have thought that our freedom of speech would be so easily taken away? The tempera ment in America, the freakish weather patterns and all the changing alliances overseas-it's like we're seeing prophecy come true right be fore our eyes."

She was tired of arguing and didn't want any more of her salad. She pushed the plate away from her and wiped her mouth with her napkin.

"Well, considering we could be raptured at any moment, I'll ac cept your apology now, since by the time I get to heaven I'll probably

forget all about this conversation."

She didn't really mean it as a joke. Anna dropped the napkin on her half-eaten salad and stood to leave.

"Does your church teach you to look for the signs for Christ's re turn?" Henry asked as Anna reached for her purse on the floor. She stood and put a hand on her hip. "What signs? When He can come back at any time, what do you

think you should look for?" Doesn't his church teach him anything?

"Well, there're several things, actually...

It was Anna's turn to interrupt. She shook her head and put her hand up to stop him. "I really don't have time for this. I've got to get back to work."

Anna had pulled a ten-dollar bill from her wallet and dropped it

on the table. "I'll see you around." Henry picked up the ten and started to hand it back, but she flashed

a warning to him with her deep blue eyes that ended the debate. Anna fumed all the way back to Smith and Brumsby. Two weeks into her friendship with Henry and this is the kind of conversation she gets! She was just trying to encourage a fellow Christian, which, in fact, was rather bold of her considering the restraints on evangelism these days. Anna had made the decision to look for Christian com panionship but it just might not work out with Henry. He was nice and all-she didn't mind the dark, wavy hair and his crooked, half smile. Those things were kind of endearing. But his know-it-all accu sations about her church's beliefs? His kind of Christianity was one of the reasons she quit attending church ten years ago. No, she didn't need that kind of religion. She would look inside her own church for a more tolerant man. One who was more accepting and less narrow minded. With a man like Henry, someone could get herself arrested. And who wanted to be fined for being a Jesus freak?

The following day Anna received an inner-office mail envelope from Henry Greer. She held it, turned it over in her hand, and con sidered throwing it away. After about thirty seconds of consideration, she lifted the self-adhesive flap and looked inside. A ten-dollar bill with a Post-it attached lay at the bottom of the envelope. She reached inside and pulled it out.

The Post-it read:

"EVEN AN i***t CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR LUNCH

AND SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO. I WOULD LOVE A SECOND TRY

TO SHED MY i***t STATUS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CELL-649-1137"

"I think not," Anna said aloud and threw the Post-it in the garbage.

Charlie West picked up the phone. He had told Henry he would call if he could pick him up for the fellowship meeting. He dialed Henry's cell number and waited for the voice mail to click in. Henry never answered his own phone. Half a ring later Henry was on the other end. "Hello?"

Charlie was surprised to hear a real voice.

"Hello to you. What's up? You expecting a call from the president?"

"Oh, Charlie. I just... well... my caller ID isn't working and well..."

"Okay, buddy, calm down! You can tell me all about it on the way to the meeting. Do you still want to go together?" "Yeah, come get me at seven."

Charlie flipped his phone closed and squinted his eyes in thought. He knew Henry pretty well and a distracted Henry meant one thing-a woman. Later, as he pulled into the driveway, Charlie began to chuckle

at all the one-liners he had prepared for Henry, but he changed his

mind when he looked at Henry's face. "Thanks for the ride," started Henry when he got in the car. "You're welcome-it's on my way," answered Charlie. "So what's

going on? You look down."

"Reality is sinking in, I guess." 1

"What do you mean?"

Charlie pulled out of Henry's driveway and headed toward town. "I had lunch with a Christian girl today-I think I've mentioned her... Anna?"

"Really, a Christian? Are you sure?" Charlie tried to lighten the atmosphere. "I don't know if I am more mad at myself for confronting her or

just discouraged that Christianity is so watered down that faith really means nothing anymore."

"What happened?" "We got into a discussion on tolerance and other religions today

at lunch, and I basically went off that Jesus claimed exclusivity." "So, what's wrong with that?"

"I was just harsh. I pushed too hard, and when I lost my cool, I questioned what kind of church she attended. It's just that it's so hard to find anyone who really values the Word anymore. What are they teaching out there anyway?"

"Figurative speech and symbolism-you know that." Charlie smiled, thinking he'd get one back from Henry, but no such luck.

"Seriously, by the end of the conversation she made a flippant re mark about being raptured soon, so she might as well be forgiving. I tried to recoup and talk prophecy with her, but it was too late. She basically walked out on me. I sent her a note with cell number. my That's why I was so weird on the phone."

"You mean that's why you answered."

"Yeah."

"Well, put a smile on, little buckaroo you're not alone in this

world!"

It always made Henry smile when Charlie did his John Wayne im personation, and this was no exception. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe you were too harsh. Flowers and an apology go a long way. As for being discouraged about the state of the church, join the club, The decline in America is way past the title of apostate or backslid den. We are just out-and-out heretical. Once a church strays from the authority and sufficiency of the Word, they can symbolize their way into believing anything, everything, and nothing at all." Charlie hit his turn signal and began to slow into the left turn lane. "The rare be liever holds to the Word at face value. I remember a pastor of a huge, growing church telling his congregation that the church has sur passed God's standards set in the Scriptures in many places, therefore it was no longer authoritative. As if we were better or more evolved than those the Scriptures were written for. He also said it made him want to vomit when people referred to the Bible as a handbook for life. I was shocked back then when people fell for that. Today, that's com monplace." He completed his turn and continued down the road. "What can we do about it? I get so overwhelmed."

"I don't think we can stop it, Henry. Matthew 24 tells us as lawless ness increases, most people's love will grow cold. It literally uses the word "most." I don't think Jesus was exaggerating." "I thank God every day for the fellowship."

"Yeah, me too. I think this group is going to play an important role in the near future. I just sense the Spirit preparing our hearts for a very difficult time. You asked what we can do? We can con tinue to prepare for the time of great tribulation. The compound is almost ready, and I don't think it's happening one moment too soon. So many will be confused, and we have to provide them a way out."