Three Fingers Back

Content warning:  This post may not be appropriate for all readers. Themes/topics addressed: sexual assault/abuse, child abuse, gender identity. This post is markedly different from what you've seen earlier here. It's one that's been bouncing around in my head and heart for several months, and I feel like it's finally time to put it out there. Its primarily focused for fellow Christians, but hopefully all of you will find something useful in it. And remember, one finger pointed at you means three back at myself. Thanks for coming along with me on this journey. In Ephesians, Paul says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT) So why, when I hear Christians using militaristic language like “fighting for the Lord”, “going into battle”, or maybe “the enemy is strong”, do I find myself cringing? ...

  My father, Ray Morissette, grew up during the 1920’s in eastern Montana after The Great War (which we now call World War I). That’s a generation that isn’t known for much talking, let alone introspection. He was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, it was usually worth listening. Out of high school he had a full ride chemistry scholarship to Montana State University, but had to come home after one semester to help support his parents. He never finished a degree, but was definitely a lifelong learner. He loved geology and accumulated enough credits from night courses at one of the local colleges that it would have qualified as a major. He even learned Greek and his favorite Bible was an interlinear that allowed him to see both the original Greek from the New Testament and the English translation. All that is to say he was an intelligent man whose mind functioned both deep and wide with an almost infinite desire to learn. He had an insatiable curiosity for just about e...