1 Peter 4:17 ESV
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Sort and scan. He began to look forward to working on the bulletin. It meant he wasn’t sorting or scanning (what seemed like) millions of financial documents. It felt like he would never get this done. Maybe that was job security?
Using the current year, 2025 was done. Why did that little green ‘compile’ button on the software scare him? He had no idea. But it did. With a shaking finger, he pushed it. ‘3 hours and 25 minutes’, the program reported. He yawned, stretching his back and shoulders. This would be a good time to take a walk.
No one was typically in the building on Monday morning. He just assumed the pastor was recovering from Sunday’s service. There was lots of activity in the compound but not in the church building itself.
Daniel was lost in thought as he rounded a corner. The pastor was standing with his back to the wall. Daniel jumped when the pastor smacked the wall. There was a mass of blonde hair in front of the pastors pants. Daniel quickly turned and left.
Later that afternoon, he was afraid to go to lunch. Afraid the pastor saw him. Afraid he’d get fired. Then a burning filled his belly; what would God think? It took all his energy not to cry. This was God’s house. He quieted his mind with the notion, this could have been the pastors wife? Yes. This was the pastors wife. And being in the building was some kind of kinky ‘mutual’ act?
He jumped out of his skin when the pastor opened the door and plopped down in a chair. Here it came, HE was fired.
“I know you saw that.” He paused. Waiting to see if Daniel said anything.
“I will stick to the hallways I know.”
“Some people don’t have a lot of money. But need things.” He drug out the word need. Shifting slightly in the chair. That woman, in particular, needs daycare. Instead of being one of the charity cases the church provides for, she chooses to pay in other ways. Barter, if you will. Don’t be shocked by what people are willing to do for God.” He got up, but paused at the door. “Someday this could be you, boy.”
Daniel sat there thinking about ‘charity cases’. It was the way the pastor said it. Like it was dirty. Not just the words.
After church on Sunday, Daniel was invited back to lunch. Rode with the pastor. Was even offered a box for his leftovers.
Poetry & More 
This is a powerful and unsettling piece of writing. It masterfully builds tension and captures a profound moment of moral shock and cognitive dissonance. The contrast between the sacred space, the verse about judgment, and the pastor’s blatant hypocrisy and manipulation is chilling. You’ve perfectly conveyed the narrator’s fear, confusion, and the sickening realization of corruption within a trusted institution. A very impactful read.
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Thank you so much for reading. 💕 Sadly, I feel like this only scratches the surface of some trusted institutions corruption.
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I am suppressing my gag reflex.
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Yelp
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This was a well-written portayal of such a disgusting thing that should NEVER happen in churches.
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Thanks for reading 💕 If you are following the story, hold on to your hat.
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Oh? So there’s more!
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Yes. There are at least 7 more parts.
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Can’t wait to read them!
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Thank you 💕
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So heavy to read. Praying for God’s truth and judgment to shine in His house 🙏✝️ May His Word expose sin and bring repentance.
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Like most things, it might take awhile. Thanks for reading.
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You are very welcome.
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🙏🏻
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I must say that you are definitely breaking out of my comfort zones with these stories J! Kidding at the same time not. I know writing stories like this and Where is God? are different for you and I think you’re doing an incredible job of doing these characters “justice” in their portrayal. Also I put quotation marks around justice because it is a just portrayal… there just going through something I don’t think is just haha
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Thanks 💕
When you get a chance watch a movie titled Luther. It is about the life of Martin Luther. I bought it on a whim and ended up really enjoying it. I’m not going to tell you much about it. In case you decide to watch it; other than what Martin Luther fought against still exists.
I’m a big fan of Alux.com. If you ever choose to watch any of their YouTube channel, their catch phrase is ‘inspiring future billionaires’. I have no desire for billionaires status. Having very little financial education in my life, I find their content educational and informative. With that being said, in one of their videos there was a quote, “if you want to get rich, start a church. If you want to get rich fast, start a religion.” Yes, what Martin Luther fought against still exists. Religion is used to extort, manipulate, abuse and repress. That’s not what Jesus was about. He had some hard truths at times. But he preached to any everyone that had ears to hear.
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