Staff Writer - Carol Cato
Paulette has been a professed Christian all her life.She started going to church as a child. Paulette is a 48 year old with two children and one grandchild. She also happens to be a partygoer who never misses a weekend at the clubs, but somehow she always managed to get up on time to attend Church.
Paulette has been in and out of uncommitted relationships, for what seems like ages, she was now hooked up with Kurt, who would accompany her to the parties, then return home with her for the evening. He would ask her every Sunday morning as she got dressed to go to church, “why do you bother? (James 4:4) You rave hard on a Saturday night, then rush to church on a Sunday”. “You know you can’t serve two masters…” He says in a sarcastic tone(Luke 16:13-17).Paulette’s reply, “If you don’t like it you can go.” And she was off. Paulette would arrive at church, listen to the Priest read from his sermon sheet, and partake in the communion. (Romans 2:20) She felt revived to start the week on a good note. Her grandchild would come over later, so she was in a good mood.
One Sunday afternoon she received a phone call from her cousin, who, about a year ago, had been baptised as an adult, with the full understanding of what she had done. Paulette however, could not understand why she wanted to do it again, as she was already baptised as a baby. (Mark 1:8; Acts 11:16)Her cousin Beth was married to Jerry, he was also recently baptised. Anyway Beth was on the phone inviting her to a party that upcoming weekend, to be held in honour of a mutual friend.
Paulette was taken aback by this invite. Beth was a born again Christian and as far as she knew, Beth did not do parties. Paulette understood that Beth’s church followed a strict code and members did not participate in secular activities of revelry, so it was really strange that Beth was inviting her to a party. Paulette questioned Beth about this, but she said read Mark 2:27 “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
In other words,” Beth said, “Christians need to be among people who do not know Jesus so that we can tell them about him.”“So will you try to convert people at the party?” Paulette said, laughing. “NO!” Beth said.“I am coming to enjoy myself like everyone else, but I won’t be dancing with anyone.”“You’re not going to dance?” Asked Paulette.“Yes I am, but as a Christian you have to know what your limits are. I personally would not dance with anyone I don’t know, as I am a married woman.” Beth explained. “What about friends, what if they ask you to dance?” Urged Paulette. “Yes I would dance with them, as long as they understood when I ask them to step back and not to get too close.” Beth replied.
The following Saturday Beth arrived at Paulette’s to go to the party. In fact Paulette had not seen Beth since she became a believer. Beth had stopped “raving” and she was always at church or at some fellowship meeting. (James 1:27)Silently, Paulette thought that Beth was being a bit extreme with this ‘born again’bit. (1 Peter 4)Paulette viewed Christianity as being able to do things on her own terms without having to surrender her worldly lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)She thought that reading her Bible (whenever she can find the time), attending church on Sundays, and singing in a gospel choir, were all adequate rituals of a good Christian.(James 1:22-24)Paulette did not see the need for Beth to go any further and drastically change her entire life. Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Next week what happened at the party
