Well, I finally did it. I went and called Animal Control on my friend who is abusing her dogs. This will probably mean the end of my involvement with that church. We shall see. Some might say that it is God testing this church since we have spent a lot of time on the passage in Galatians where Paul confronts Peter for doing something he feels is seriously wrong. Not that I equate myself with Paul of course, but . . . My religious friends like to talk a lot of about God putting people to the test and convicting them, that you'd better be careful what principles you claim to hold because He WILL test you on them. So we shall see.
What boggles me is that there are a number of people in this church who have been aware for years that this person has been maltreating her animals. One lived right next door and had some really awful tales to tell. But apparently cruelty to animals does not impair one's standing in the church. Of course not. The blood of Jesus covers all. Anyway, they're just animals.
Some years ago a mentally impaired teenager named Callista Springer died in a house fire in a small Michigan town not far from where I live. I may have written about her before. Callista died because she was chained to her bed with a dog chain upstairs in the house. Apparently the stepmother (who was partially blind) was vacuuming when the vacuum caught fire. She made it out. Callista did not.
In the ensuing trial it came out that numerous complaints had been made to Child Protective Services about the way Callista was being treated. Mostly from the school. In response her parents withdrew her from the school and claimed to be homeschooling her. Michigan has one of the most lenient homeschool regulations in the country. Anyone can homeschool and there is no follow-up. A godsend to abusive parents who want to fly under the radar. Well, Callista's parents won't be abusing anyone soon. They were found guilty and sent to prison and we all know what happens in prison to those who abuse kids.
What I found interesting about this case is that the Springers were members of a church. I don't know what denomination and really it doesn't matter. But right after the fire the news reported that the members of the church rallied around the Springers in support. Yes, that is right. They were offering their support and sympathy.
Now there had to have been at least ONE member of that congregation who knew that Callista was being maltreated. Apparently Callista herself told several people she was. The parents of course claimed that she was a "liar." Child Protective Services came out several times but apparently could not or would not find any problems.
So here is a couple who chained their daughter to a bed and nobody in the church thought anything remarkable about it? Nobody confronted them? Nobody said, "hey, this is not right." The pastor didn't think this grounds for disfellowshipping or excommunication? No, the church RALLIED round them!
What in God's name is going on here when abuse is tolerated, when people look the other way? What would Jesus have done? Well, what DID he do other than say a few parables about responsibility towards others who are in need? Would He have interfered? Would he have said, oh, that's all right? I seem to recall he said "Go and sin no more" on quite a few occasions. I guess we've forgotten the "sin no more" and just remember the "go" part.
It does not endear me to the Gospel when I see that it is public knowledge that so and so is mistreating animals or children (let alone other kinds of abuse to others) and yet nothing is done to confront the person. On the contrary they remain in good standing. And I have a feeling this case will be no different. I will be the "bad guy" and the church will rally around this couple. Particularly since she has cancer. Well, cancer is no excuse to maltreat an animal. I do not know how in God's name she can keep a dog cramped up in a travel cage not big enough to move around in and yet tell people with a straight face that that is NOT ABUSE. I do not know how she can do it. And I do not understand why of all the people in that church I am the only one with guts to stick up for the animals (and even children).
It may be time for me to leave.
What boggles me is that there are a number of people in this church who have been aware for years that this person has been maltreating her animals. One lived right next door and had some really awful tales to tell. But apparently cruelty to animals does not impair one's standing in the church. Of course not. The blood of Jesus covers all. Anyway, they're just animals.
Some years ago a mentally impaired teenager named Callista Springer died in a house fire in a small Michigan town not far from where I live. I may have written about her before. Callista died because she was chained to her bed with a dog chain upstairs in the house. Apparently the stepmother (who was partially blind) was vacuuming when the vacuum caught fire. She made it out. Callista did not.
In the ensuing trial it came out that numerous complaints had been made to Child Protective Services about the way Callista was being treated. Mostly from the school. In response her parents withdrew her from the school and claimed to be homeschooling her. Michigan has one of the most lenient homeschool regulations in the country. Anyone can homeschool and there is no follow-up. A godsend to abusive parents who want to fly under the radar. Well, Callista's parents won't be abusing anyone soon. They were found guilty and sent to prison and we all know what happens in prison to those who abuse kids.
What I found interesting about this case is that the Springers were members of a church. I don't know what denomination and really it doesn't matter. But right after the fire the news reported that the members of the church rallied around the Springers in support. Yes, that is right. They were offering their support and sympathy.
Now there had to have been at least ONE member of that congregation who knew that Callista was being maltreated. Apparently Callista herself told several people she was. The parents of course claimed that she was a "liar." Child Protective Services came out several times but apparently could not or would not find any problems.
So here is a couple who chained their daughter to a bed and nobody in the church thought anything remarkable about it? Nobody confronted them? Nobody said, "hey, this is not right." The pastor didn't think this grounds for disfellowshipping or excommunication? No, the church RALLIED round them!
What in God's name is going on here when abuse is tolerated, when people look the other way? What would Jesus have done? Well, what DID he do other than say a few parables about responsibility towards others who are in need? Would He have interfered? Would he have said, oh, that's all right? I seem to recall he said "Go and sin no more" on quite a few occasions. I guess we've forgotten the "sin no more" and just remember the "go" part.
It does not endear me to the Gospel when I see that it is public knowledge that so and so is mistreating animals or children (let alone other kinds of abuse to others) and yet nothing is done to confront the person. On the contrary they remain in good standing. And I have a feeling this case will be no different. I will be the "bad guy" and the church will rally around this couple. Particularly since she has cancer. Well, cancer is no excuse to maltreat an animal. I do not know how in God's name she can keep a dog cramped up in a travel cage not big enough to move around in and yet tell people with a straight face that that is NOT ABUSE. I do not know how she can do it. And I do not understand why of all the people in that church I am the only one with guts to stick up for the animals (and even children).
It may be time for me to leave.
