Skinwalker ch.3 (standard:travel stories, 11990 words) [3/5] show all parts
Author: Eutychus	Added: Jan 21 2018	Views/Reads: 1486/1099	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
After a discussion with Minos, judge of those entering Hell, Moe and Jerry are given leave to proceed to the next circle, the circle of the lustful and after a few eye opening discussions, they move on to other circles and other sins and sinners. We are h

“Then you can understand?” 

“The concept, yes, but what is your particular source of anxiety?” 

“Do you and that interesting ability of yours recall what the author of
Hebrews had to say on the subject of marriage?” 

“Those of us who appreciate that ability refer to it as the 'Gift', all
implied irony present in the name. ‘Marriage is honorable among all, 
and the bed undefiled.'” 

“Yes. I grew up in a world that took that sentiment to heart, but once
the culture quit taking the Bible to heart, the sentiments engendered 
by the Bible lost their place in the culture as well. ‘No fault 
divorce' came into vogue in the 1970s, implying that the marriage could 
fail, not one or the other members of the covenant. That opened the 
institution itself up to attack, to a general devaluation within 
western society. I happen to value my marriage enough to be deeply 
offended by any attitude as cavalier as hers.” 

“How does your offense trump her need for grace, Jerry?” 

I thought about that for a moment before answering. He was right, of
course. She had needed grace far more than I needed to feel comfortable 
in her presence. Had I just learned something about my reason for being 
in hell? 

"I only belabor the point because your reaction was so similar to my own
experience with followers of the Savior," Moe  said with a hint of 
sadness. I considered probing deeper but didn't. If Moe wanted to 
discuss it he probably would. 

As we walked quietly toward the next circle I pondered the thought Moe
had planted and inquired of him for some reference material. 

"There was an instance in the Corinthian church that Paul addressed in
one of his letters. Had to do with a member of the church sleeping with 
his father's wife. Do you recall how he spoke to that issue?" "He spoke 
of believers separating themselves from the brother involved in a 
sexually immoral situation. 'I wrote to you in my letter not to 
associate with sexually immoral people,  not at all meaning the 
sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or 
idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I 
am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of 
brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an 
idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-not even to eat with such a 
one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those 
inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. 
Purge the evil person from among you.' " "Thanks for the confirmation. 
That was what I remembered. It sounds to me like the stance of the 
believer is to be zealous for the behavior of other believers, as that 
behavior affects the reputation of Christ in the eyes of the 
unbelieving world.  And concern for the behavior of those outside the 
family of faith was an ancillary issue in that the unbelieving could 
not be expected to live by standards that apply only to a heart that 
has been regenerated. So I'm wrong expecting Lena to act contrary to 
her nature, just like I would be wrong to expect those who lobby on 
behalf of self-destructive behaviors on earth to see the 
self-destructiveness of those actions or to appreciate God's 
perspective on the matter. And it was also wrong of me to treat her 
with contempt for the same reasons. I apologize." Moe stopped short and 
looked at me with an odd expression. "Jerry, if I had heard something 
like that from the believers I encountered in my life, I may not have 
been here when you arrived." We had entered an area of the second 
circle where the wind had died down. Above us was merely that 
nondescript gray sans the lustful souls. And dotting the surface of the 
plain before us were dozens of people widely scattered. "Have we 
transitioned to another circle?" I wondered. "No, this is still the 
second circle. These are those who lacked in life the social skills to 
effectively live out their nature. Their hearts were consumed by lust 
yet they never acted upon it." "And the fact they are here indicates 
actions are not necessary to bring a person to hell? The bent of the 
heart is really all that is required?" "Yes. Not indulging in a vice 
for lack of opportunity is not evidence of its absence. In fact because 
it is not acted upon it can become the overriding motivation in a 


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