say them do it on purpose. But all five of them crash into the wall near the doorway and the Rum Preacher head slam into it like battering ram. The Preacher quiet after that.
Outside, the Preacher in the middle of the road and him didn’t move. Him white suit did cover all over with black. Him roll over and try to get up, but crouch down low. Inside, the Apostle talkin bout how him disobey God Himself by inviting that abomination back into the church when First Corinthians clearly say we must expel the immoral brother. The Apostle say that God already pass judgment pon the drunken bastard and is our duty to leave God work to God and hand the man over to the Devil.
“Beloved,” said the Apostle, “turn with me to Exodus Chapter Twenty:
Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be long in the land the Lord is giving you. Say that with me again. Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be long in the land the Lord is giving you.
The Apostle closed his book and grasped the podium with both hands.
“Who is a father?
“Come. Let’s check the scriptures deeply. King Saul, a terrible king, yes, but how bad a father could he be if he raised Jonathan? Now we have King David. Everybody loves King David but lo and behold, as Mrs. Fracas would say, his own son tried to kill him. How about Samuel, who spent so much time prophesying over people’s sons that he couldn’t even see his own sons growing into liars, thieves, and perverts. How about Joseph, father to the Son of God and he didn’t even notice his son was missing until three days later.
“Here is the truth. You don’t need a father or a mother. Let me say this again. You don’t need a father or a mother. All you need is the Heavenly Father. And another thing. I don’t want anybody to call the Lord’s name in this church. Oh, you’re quiet now. Let me say it again. I don’t want anybody to call the Lord’s name in this church. Who can tell me why? Why would I forbid calling the name under which all demons tremble? Well, let me ask you a question … Vixton, what is your father’s name?”
Vixton, along with the rest of The Five, was already standing.
“Adolphus, Apostle.”
“Tell me, Vixton, what do you call him?”
“Nothing that me can say in church, Apostle.”
Some laughed until they saw the Apostle’s face. “There’s a season for laughter and that season is not today. Vixton, seriously, what do you call your father?”
“Well … ah … Papa or Mr. Dixon or P when his ear take him and him can’t hear much.”
“Why not Adolphus?”
“Because …”
“Because he is the head and not the tail, the ruler, not the follower. Because he is the father, you show him due respect. Due respect. So tell me something, Vixton. If you show your earthly father so much respect, how much more should you show your Heavenly Father? Calling God by his first name like you and Him is size. Listen to me, cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! Until you can show me, until you can show God that you are more than babes in Christ, I want everybody to address the Father as the Father. He is not your son, or your friend, or your lover. He is your master, and me? I’m just like you. I am His serv—”
Before he could finish, singing disrupted church. The Rum Preacher was outside in the exact spot where he had been beaten and dumped the Sunday previous, singing “Rock of Ages.” His voice was thunderous, full of blood and melancholy. The Apostle heard his song and felt the hatred of Cain for the Preacher, newly able. York pointed at the choir, who erupted into “God Is a Good God.” The chorus rose above the song of the Rum Preacher and consumed it. But as soon as the choir’s song sputtered to a close, there was Hector Bligh, his voice rising. A few in the church began humming with him. The Apostle pushed away the podium in a rage and it fell, sending books skidding across the floor. Nobody dared speak. York pushed open the
Outside, the Preacher in the middle of the road and him didn’t move. Him white suit did cover all over with black. Him roll over and try to get up, but crouch down low. Inside, the Apostle talkin bout how him disobey God Himself by inviting that abomination back into the church when First Corinthians clearly say we must expel the immoral brother. The Apostle say that God already pass judgment pon the drunken bastard and is our duty to leave God work to God and hand the man over to the Devil.
“Beloved,” said the Apostle, “turn with me to Exodus Chapter Twenty:
Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be long in the land the Lord is giving you. Say that with me again. Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be long in the land the Lord is giving you.
The Apostle closed his book and grasped the podium with both hands.
“Who is a father?
“Come. Let’s check the scriptures deeply. King Saul, a terrible king, yes, but how bad a father could he be if he raised Jonathan? Now we have King David. Everybody loves King David but lo and behold, as Mrs. Fracas would say, his own son tried to kill him. How about Samuel, who spent so much time prophesying over people’s sons that he couldn’t even see his own sons growing into liars, thieves, and perverts. How about Joseph, father to the Son of God and he didn’t even notice his son was missing until three days later.
“Here is the truth. You don’t need a father or a mother. Let me say this again. You don’t need a father or a mother. All you need is the Heavenly Father. And another thing. I don’t want anybody to call the Lord’s name in this church. Oh, you’re quiet now. Let me say it again. I don’t want anybody to call the Lord’s name in this church. Who can tell me why? Why would I forbid calling the name under which all demons tremble? Well, let me ask you a question … Vixton, what is your father’s name?”
Vixton, along with the rest of The Five, was already standing.
“Adolphus, Apostle.”
“Tell me, Vixton, what do you call him?”
“Nothing that me can say in church, Apostle.”
Some laughed until they saw the Apostle’s face. “There’s a season for laughter and that season is not today. Vixton, seriously, what do you call your father?”
“Well … ah … Papa or Mr. Dixon or P when his ear take him and him can’t hear much.”
“Why not Adolphus?”
“Because …”
“Because he is the head and not the tail, the ruler, not the follower. Because he is the father, you show him due respect. Due respect. So tell me something, Vixton. If you show your earthly father so much respect, how much more should you show your Heavenly Father? Calling God by his first name like you and Him is size. Listen to me, cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! Until you can show me, until you can show God that you are more than babes in Christ, I want everybody to address the Father as the Father. He is not your son, or your friend, or your lover. He is your master, and me? I’m just like you. I am His serv—”
Before he could finish, singing disrupted church. The Rum Preacher was outside in the exact spot where he had been beaten and dumped the Sunday previous, singing “Rock of Ages.” His voice was thunderous, full of blood and melancholy. The Apostle heard his song and felt the hatred of Cain for the Preacher, newly able. York pointed at the choir, who erupted into “God Is a Good God.” The chorus rose above the song of the Rum Preacher and consumed it. But as soon as the choir’s song sputtered to a close, there was Hector Bligh, his voice rising. A few in the church began humming with him. The Apostle pushed away the podium in a rage and it fell, sending books skidding across the floor. Nobody dared speak. York pushed open the
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