The Outlaw

In a sect governed by strict laws, one of its best members is actually an outlaw.

I just could not believe it when Felix told me that Gerald drinks alcohol.

“You mean Gerald from the choir?” I asked in the most astonished tone.

“That’s right,” Felix answered in his usually careless manner.

“Well,” I said after a brief moment of silence, “I will have to see it for myself.”

You too wouldn’t have believed such a news if you know Gerald. Everyone loved the guy. He was so active and serviceable in the church, always among the first, at choir practices, Bible studies, and Sabbath school. His answers to biblical and doctrinal questions were usually very good and met the approval and admiration of even the elders. Only illness could keep him away from church’s work and it seldom did. He was a darling to all, old and young alike.

He had joined the church three years ago on his own accord. His entire family was staunch Catholics. When asked why he chose the Seventh Day Adventist Church, he said he just like the fellowship. The day he was baptized was a great day for our church. To have a Catholic converted because of our Godly fellowship gave us great cause to boast.

As Felix and I confronted Gerald, he made the same statement, however not to our joy this time.

“I just like the fellowship,” he said as he served us soda and popped open a can of beer for himself. This was in answer to my question, “Why, knowing that you were still hooked up to these things, did you come to the SDA church?

“Just the fellowship,” he continued after a moderately long drink of beer. “I like the way you get along with one another, I like your music and I even like the way you worship, but that doesn’t mean I swallow everything you give me.” With that he swallowed some more beer.

“It’s not what we say,” said Felix. It is what the Bible says.”

“Let’s not start with bible quotations,” said Gerald laying down his almost empty can.

“I know you can give me some quotations that may seem to be against alcohol. But also know that I too can give you scriptural quotations that seem to say alcohol intake isn’t wrong. But what will this do? It will only make our good book seems self-contradictory.”

He gulped down the remnant of his beer and said “You haven’t touched your drinks,”

“How can we?” I asked

“Yeah, how can we?” Felix took over, “Under such a circumstance.”

“What circumstance are you talking about?” Gerald asked

“Don’t pretend Gerald,” Felix said with some irritation. “It is clear as a crystal that you are committing sin this very moment.”

There was silence during which Gerald stared at us while lightly knocking the tips of his fingers together. I was beginning to feel happy because I thought the way Felix had matter-of-factly told Gerald his fault had convicted him. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Hitherto, Gerald had spoken casually, almost jokingly. But now he spoke with the seriousness of one who meant to get a point across.

“Sin,” he said after a long silence. “Sin,” he repeated, “What is sin?”

“It’s,” … I began but was stopped by Gerald’s gesture.

“I already know the answer,” he said. “It is the transgression of the law. ‘You shall not kill; you shall not bear false witness or lie; you shall not make any graven image of anything whether in heaven or on earth.”

Gerald smiled at us and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Then he went on.

“You shall not kill, but go on Elijah and kill two hundred prophets of Baal, or Phenihas and pin those people to the ground, it is accredited unto you as righteousness. And you can go on and lie, Rahab that the men came and went on their way. Because of that lie, you and your household shall be saved when Jericho is destroyed, and how much more, you will be placed in the genealogy of the Messiah. There is not problem in making the Ark of the Covenant with two cherubs. The LORD himself ordered it; therefore it’s an exception to the rule though it is an image of creatures in Heaven. Or let’s come to the fourth commandment, the one that separates us Adventist from the rest. Let’s take the scenario in which the apostle plucked grain on the Sabbath. Well, when asked concerning this, Jesus defends his boys by stating other instances in which the law was broken.

“Are these acts sin?” Here Gerald finally let out a long withheld belch.

“Excuse me,” he said and went on. “Again I ask, are these acts sin? I know you will not wanna say yes. But come on man, the law is being transgressed. They should be labeled sin. However they are not. That brings me to my point that the act in itself cannot be labeled without the motive. Motive is like a musical clef, a note placed on the second line of the staff could be B or G or another depending on the clef placed on that staff. But without the clef that note has no letter name.”

The place was quiet, I felt like I have just been defeated in a major debate. I had nothing to say and it was also clear that Felix too had nothing to say. The silence lingered for a little while and was finally broken by Gerald again.

“The floor is now opened for questions,” he said

“Come on Gerald,” I said bitterly. “This is no press conference

“What then is your motive for drinking beer,” asked Felix.

“To quench my thirst,” Gerald said. We were waiting for him to go on but he said no more.

“But don’t you think there are better alternatives to quenching your thirst.” I asked.

“There are,” he answered simply. “And I frequently use them.”

“But why include beer, I countered, “knowing what drinking beer does, or let’s say over consumption.”

“Well, let’s look at ice cream, chocolate, candy, soda and other junk food that have almost no nutritional value. They even cause teeth decay … yet you consume them without any qualm, because they are pleasurable to the taste buds. Well?” he concluded with an I-don’t-know gesture.

“Okay; let’s not lengthen this matter.” Felix said. “Can you give this same talk to the church’s Elders and board?”

“Can’t wait,” Gerald said.

“What?” Felix and I said almost simultaneously.

“Yes, you heard me right,” Gerald said. “Then I shall finally prove my point.”

“What point? I asked after a little pause.

Gerald reached on the table for the empty can of beer. “That even if I were to die with this beer can in my hand,” he said. “Will God kick me out?”

Felix wore a puzzled frown and said, “I can’t seem to make the connection.”

“Then let me make it for you.” Gerald said, throwing the empty beer can on the table, which made a considerable loud noise and left me wandering if the beer had made him drunk.

“Now,” he said in his philosophical tone, Felix and I knew we were in for another one.

“Every time Jesus talked about the goodness in man, he always said, ‘if you then being evil know how to do so and so, what about you heavenly father in heaven.’”

From the looks on our faces, Gerald knew we still could not understand what he was driving at.

“You wait,” he continued, “I will get to the point soon.”

He got up and went to the refrigerator and, fortunately for us, got a can of sprite. He laid it on the table without opening it and continued. “If this matter reaches the board or elders and they being men, being evil, don’t throw me out of the fellowship or even suspend me from the church’s activities, then it is clear that the heavenly father cannot throw me out of his kingdom.” He opened his sprite but still did not drink it.

Well, the matter did reach the church’s board. I cannot say how, but one thing I know it was not through me. Probably through Felix but I cannot actually say. An emergency board meeting was called for Sunday. A few elders called for immediate punishment. However, the majority suggested that the meeting continue the next Sunday during which they will summon the convict himself. Felix said he was just a spectator.

During the week, Gerald continued attending choir practices, prayer meetings and other church activities. And on Sabbath he sang in the choir in the full presence of the board. I could not understand why. But I was even more shocked when in bible study that Sabbath afternoon; Gerald raised his hand several times and was recognized. He answered questions and made contributions so well said that they received approving nods from elders and board members.

So, Sunday did come and Gerald was summoned. I waited restlessly at my house for Felix to come and give me the outcome. I did not know what to wish… I didn’t want Gerald to be suspended but at the same time if he was not punished …

The door swung open without a knock. Felix came in and sat heavily on the sofa.

“What happened Felix,” I asked anxiously.

“I can’t believe it,” Felix said “The elders and board said that Gerald will undergo some counseling. They said they cannot hold him totally responsible for his attitude because of the church and home he is from. Once he has made up his mind to be and Adventist, those habits will gradually be dropped.”

“Mean while,” Felix continued with some emphasis. “He shall continue to sing in the choir and participate in every church activity as usual.”

There was a lengthy moment of silence. I looked at Felix. He had his hand under his chin and wore a deep frown.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” I asked

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“What Gerald said, you know, about man being evil and God being good. Do you think he’s right, Felix?”

“I can’t really say,” Felix said, still frowning. “But I think it’s quite logical.”

“It sure is,” I said and we went into another moment of silence.

Two light taps on the door broke the silence.

“Come in,” I ordered and in stepped Gerald, not triumphant at all.

“Hi guys,” he greeted.

Without responding to the greeting, Felix went straight to the point we were pondering.

“So,” he said, “you have proven a point. You win.”

“Not really,” Gerald said with a rueful sigh.

“What do you mean, ‘not really’?”

“Well, I may have proven a point, but I also learned a vital lesson.”

Our stares urged him on.

“Those elders really love me that they can’t afford to throw me out. But I could see that they were really hurt. And I feel so horrible that my actions made them so. It is quite true that God loves me and may not want to throw me out. But if those elders being men, being evil, can be so grieved because of my drinking habit, I think God is even more grieved. I think I should try in all my weak ways to abstain from alcohol, God being my helper.”

With that he bid us good bye.

We went to the window and watched him walk down the lane. A little girl passing by dropped some coins. Before she could even think, Gerald was on the ground gathering them. He gave that little girl her coins. She thanked him and he continued going swinging his arms in parallel motion. I was smiling and when I turned to look at Felix, he was also smiling. I knew what was on his mind because that was also what was on his mind. God would never throw someone like Gerald out of Heaven.

~END~