Two Demands

As the entered the glass double-doors of the church building, Chase smiled and greeted a few of the families that he recognized. The entire time, Justine clutched onto the sleeve of his hoodie as if it were a lifeline that kept her from drifting into the ocean. Mostly, everyone was kind enough to smile and nod, letting Justine keep the distance she clearly wanted for herself. Luckily, Peter was there, and Justine allowed him to shake her hand and greet her. His attempt to heal her, unsuccessful as it may have ended up being had helped connect them at a deeper level than most.

Chase and Justine sat together near the back of the congregation, hoping that might help keep them out of the direct eye of a lot of the group, and throughout the opening song, it seemed to work. Justine didn't join in the singing, but instead acted as an observer: studying and taking interest, but not engaging. That was alright though, Chase figured that if this service even planted a seed in her heart, it would've done its after all, not everyone who heard the word of God was converted instantly.

Then, the congregation began to greet one another. Chase looked to Justine, who seemed either unable or unwilling to move from her seat.

"It's alright," he said, smiling softly. "I'm just going to say hi to a few people and I'll be right back, ok?"

She nodded, trying to smile softly at him. Chase nodded reassuringly and was pleased to see a small bit of color return to her face. Chase made his way around the room, shaking hands and greet those he hadn't seen during Justine's recovery. Smiles and handshakes came enthusiastically in return, and Chase made his way up when he suddenly heard someone shout his name from behind him.

"Chase!"

He recognized Miranda's voice instantly and turned, confused. Her voice had not been kind or jovial, but concerned. He looked to her and saw her pointing back towards his own seat.

Curious, Chase turned towards where he'd left Justine and saw a small crowd gathering. As he looked closer, he several people talking animatedly, and feel his heart began to beat faster in his chest. Justine stood in the center and even from this distance he could see that she was crying and trying to retreat.

Panic and anger overtook him and Chase moved back as quickly as he could. Pushing forward he began to move through the throng of people towards the increasing crowd, which was starting to overtake the music in volume. As Chase grew closer he saw–to his growing horror–that Justine was in the center of the group and several people near her were pointing and seemingly arguing. Chase pushed through the final line of gatherers and wrapped Justine in his arms… then he heard the words that were being thrown around.

"…drug addict and prostitute!" Terry Lowe, a construction worker, was protesting angrily. "She has no place here!"

Chase turned and snarl at the man, but Peter beat him to it.

"Terry!" said Peter, firmly–yet with a measure of control. "Jesus traveled with a prostitute! You have no right to judge anyone by their past."

"She isn't repentant," said an older woman, Daria. "Unless she is converted she ought to be removed. Neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet! She's no convert."

"I mean, how is it people are supposed to be converted if we don't welcome them?" asked Taylor, a young man only recently graduated. "They're supposed to come to church to be saved, right? Christ said that he didn't come for the well, but the sick."

"I'm sorry," whispered Justine but only Chase could hear, as she cried and clutched at her head. "I shouldn't have come. I shouldn't be here. I didn't…"

"This is not your fault," said Chase, firmly, placing his hands on hers and looking into her eyes before turning to Terry. "How on earth could you say that? We're supposed welcome unbelievers!"

"If she wanted to be baptized it would be a whole other thing!" insisted Terry, angrily. "She admitted herself she didn't mean to be born again. Therefore she ought to leave!"

"Perhaps you need to be baptized again Terry," said Peter, also kneeling before Justine, and placing his hand on Chase's shoulder. "You seem to have missed some of point the first time around."

"Small surprise you've lost your touch," chimed in another woman, Amanda. "Is your wife pleased to hear you've thrown in with a whore?"

"Enough!" shouted someone above their heads, and Chase turned to see Pastor Thompson standing there and his eyes were narrowed. "All of you, into the hallway, now!"

They could hardly refuse. Chase mentally prepared himself to be removed from the church. It would be infuriating, but it wouldn't be the first time someone who was supposed to be a pastor of God would've frustrated him. Several people were trying to explain their views as Pastor William moved them out of the congregation, but their words feel on deaf ears. Then, the Pastor knelt down where Justine knelt, collapsed on the floor and sobbing. Chase moved protectively nearer her, but the man helped pick her up, as gentle as a doe would've been with her young.

"It's alright now dear," he said and waved over to his wife, who came and draped a blanket over Justine's shoulders and helped her into a nearby room.

Then Julia Thompson whispered to her eldest son and the boy moved quickly, and Chase realized he was making hot chocolate. That put him slightly more at ease. After all, he had a hard time seeing them trying to calm Justine down only to throw her out. However, the moment Julia and Justine disappeared behind the closed door, William turned to the group and pointed at Peter.

"Explain, please."

Terry and a few others started to protest, but William stopped them with a raised hand.

"I asked Peter to explain first," he said softly.

No one objected and Peter began to explain.

"Terry and a few others here," Peter said, indicating them. "Had introduced themselves to Justine, who isn't yet a saved woman. When they heard about her sorted past, they started saying that she ought to be forced to leave. I moved in to object and things… escalated."

"I see," said William, before pointing at Terry. "Explain."

"What Peter is neglecting to mention is that the woman is a whore, pastor. She seduced Chase into moving in with him before they were married, is a heroin addict, and sleeps with any man who pays here. A woman like that has no business among us, pastor. You said yourself that people opening closing to live in sin ought not serve in the church! Why would we allow a whore to be amongst us then?"

Chase had to stop himself from hitting the man in anger, but Peter placed a hand on his shoulder again, and Chase felt his anger withdrawal, slowly dissipating.

"I see," said William again, before pointing to Taylor. "Explain."

And on and on it went, each member of the congregation explaining what they had witnessed and what the argument had concerned, and why they felt they were correct in their side of things. To the man's credit, Pastor William never interrupted or stopped anyone who was speaking. Nor did he let anyone else interfere while another person was speaking. Instead, he focused on each and every person as they spoke. When every member had had their say, he nodded slowly.

"Firstly," he said slowly. "I have to say I'm disappointed that this grew to something like this. If you ever have an issue with someone else's presence or behavior it should be discussed humanely with myself, Julia, and–if needed–the party concerned. To start a shouting match in the middle of a congregation of people is poor form. There is no reason to publicly humiliate anyone like that."

Everyone had the grace to look ashamed of themselves.

"That being said," said the pastor, and while his voice was kind and gentle, his words hit with the force of a sledgehammer. "I cannot believe you would consider banishing someone from the building because of their past. No one comes to Christ clean and reborn already. All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Lying or stealing makes you no better than any drug addict or prostitute. After all, Paul killed Christians and called himself the worst of sinners! He wrote, Christ came into the world to save sinners, of which I am the chief.' Justine is no less worth of Christ than Paul was. She is no more unworthy than you or I. And if that young woman is willing to, I fully hope to have her back for another service sometime. Anyone object?"

If Terry or Daria or Amanda or anyone else had objections, they did not voice them.

"Good," said William. "Now, Chase–and Miranda and Peter, if you're willing–I believe there's a young woman in the toddler room who could do with your company. I believe I've just been given the subject of a new sermon this morning."

The three of them nodded and turned to enter the room, gently as they heard Justine still sobbing, though the sounds were now much softer and at less frequent intervals.

"I just feel so stupid," she was saying softly.

"No," said Julia, rubbing her back. "That should never have happened dear, and we are so sorry it did."

"Not your fault," said Justine, dabbing at her eyes. "I don't know what I was thinking by coming here anyway. I just got it into my head that I could… change things."

Chase walked in full, and sat on Justine's other side.

"If you want to change things, you can," he said softly. "Some people were being blind, but everyone else really does want to see you here."

"Absolutely," said Miranda, sitting across from her. "If you'd have us, Justine, we want to be family for you. We love you, despite a few… strongly misguided individuals."

"No church is perfect," said Chase. "And I know that had to be horrible, but that was no an example of the love God does bare for you."

Justine nodded softly, still staring intently at the floor.

"After all," said Chase, trying to help cheer her up. "Peter, Taylor, and Pastor William all want you here, if you still want to come."

"I… I don't know," she said, a few more tears falling. "I mean… I do, but I'm really scared Chase. I thought I was fixing things and now… I don't feel like I've actually fixed anything. I don't belong here."

Peter reached forward and gently took Justine's hand in his.

"Justine," he said kindly. "If you want to come to God, you only need to come. No one is ever really ready, regardless of how many years they take. However, even if they can't ever be ready everyone belongs with him. Even if you feel you can't do it with the church, you shouldn't feel excluded from God."

"No!" said Justine suddenly. "I mean… If I were… to try this, I would want to be with you and Chase and Miranda. Even with Misses Julia and Pastor William. I'm just… I'm really scared."

"It's ok to be scared," said Chase. "You don't have to jump in and take this all at once either. You took a big step today and it was hard. You can take another one when you're ready, right?"

Justine finally smiled a little.

"I guess… that doesn't really sound so bad, does it?"

"No," said Chase, smiling softly at her. "Not so bad at all."

"Thanks," she said, looking around. "I… I don't know if I can go back in, but I don't really want to leave either."

"I can get Taylor to have them play the sermon on the TV in here," said Julia gently. "Would that help?"

Justine nodded and Chase placed his arm around her as Peter and Miranda sat solidly in the room, making their intentions clear. Chase tried to thank them without words, but he caught Peter's eye, and knew that he didn't need to say anything. To them, Justine was also a friend and they had as few qualms about helping her as they did about helping him.