The Everyday Club

9/26/10    Dan,    35
Today I met Dan, who was walking his dog Lucy at the park. He is here from L.A. to perform the wedding ceremony for his sister (he has been "ordained" on the internet). Dan grew up Catholic but joined a Pentecostal Church after being led to pray a "sinner's prayer" when he was 18. He became heavily involved and well-versed in the Bible and apologetics, going to witness at malls and parks regularly. At some point, however, he fell away from church and into alcoholism. He is now recovering with the help of A.A., and from his strong arguments against the faith has obviously spent a lot of time finding ways to debunk what he formerly believed - the inspiration of the Bible, Jesus' divinity, and our need for salvation among other things. He still considers himself very spiritual, getting inspiration from nature, but prefers to pick and choose what moral guidelines he will follow. He blames God, who created the world, for the state that it is in, and thus avoids responsibility for his sin. He thinks there is no reason to fear God and he made many statements in judgment of God, though he feels God has no right to judge him. Was Danny truly a fellow believer at one time? Apparently not, for one evidence of genuine faith is "if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel" (Col. 1:23)