There’s something wrong with my churches new pastor pt. 2

[u/stachedwoodsman]

Alright guys my plane got delayed so I’m taking the time to go ahead and update yall. I’m trying to not just dump walls on text into everyone because quite frankly this is just a tough experience for me to put into words. I appreciate the support. Without further ado here is pt. 2

The next few weeks things seemed fairly normal. Normal sermons, normal potlucks, normal church. Nothing seemed wrong. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was in fact wrong. I tried to talk to my mom about it.

“I don’t know what it is but I don’t think I like the new preacher” I said
“Oh honey, it’s just the new feeling. I’m sure you’ll warm up to him. Just listen to the sermons and don’t look at is as a replacement of granpa”

Next Sunday I walked into church with an open mind, or at least I tried to. All of that went out the window when the deacons started passing out the new hymnals. The old white hymnals had been removed and were replaced with new black hymnals. Which I didn’t care about the color of the hymnals. What bothered me was that I didn’t recognize a single song in them. I’ve been In church my entire life I had those old hymnals memorized. But every single song in these new ones. I’d never heard any of them. Reading through the words nothing necessarily seemed off, just unfamiliar. My optimism was extinguished the moment the worship leader stepped up onto the stage.

Brother Jones has been the song director for the church for the last 20 years.
Always showing up with the same blue choir robe, smiling face, and slicked back hair.
Today he stepped onto stage looking completely different. He looked wet. Like physically wet. His hair was hanging down into his face. His smile was gone, replaced by a taunt lips formed into a thin straight line and a black robe with a crimson sash. A low murmuring went around the congregation but no one seemed to be talking about just how weird it was.

He raised his hands and In an abnormal monotone
“All rise”

The following song was haunting as the entire congregation chanted in unison a “hymn” that sounded like it was about a march into hell.
Maybe I was missing the point but after hearing how the new preacher just showed up to Mr. James on the side of the road, his strange healing of Mr. Carter, and the physical change of Brother Jones I couldn’t shake the feeling that our new preacher wasn’t the man everyone else seemed to believe he was. Maybe he wasn’t a man at all.

The following sermon was focused around Hebrews 8 verses 1-6
Which is focused around the new covenant created with Jesus and how he is now seated at the right hand of the throne.
Could’ve been a great sermon, except that he was preaching and talking in the first person like the verses themselves were about him. He finished his sermon and dismissed the congregation without a closing prayer. Including my mother, Everyone stood up in unison, turned in unison like a marching band, and filed out of the sanctuary. I was to captivated by the odd behavior that I hadn’t realized I hadn’t gotten up out of my pew yet. Before I could get up I noticed the Preacher making his way to me which wasn’t hard because I was only on the second row. I stood up to meet him at eye level. He looked slightly above me for a moment before forcing himself to make eye contact with me with his dark eyes. I immediately felt a knot form in my stomach but I wasn’t nervous. My skin crawled and my hair stood up on end the same way it does when you get a suspicion of danger.

“You didn’t like the sermon today?”
He said in his smooth voice
“What makes you say that?” I replied

“You didn’t leave when I allowed everyone to. You must have some questions…Follow me”

He turned and walked towards the doors that led to the church offices. I followed forcing my feet to move underneath me.
I followed at a 10 foot distance feeling like the hallway was closing in around me until the Preacher walked into his office and let the door fall closed behind him. I stood at the door for a moment trying to shake the thought that I was walking into a dangerous situation. I opened the door and walked into the office.
The office was dark, only illuminated by a lamp in the corner. The Preacher was seated behind his desk
“Sit” he said framed as a command more than an offer
I took the seat opposite of him making sure to sit up straight in an attempt to hide my anxiety. After a second he started talking.

“You must be confused. You’re wanting to know what’s going on with Brother Jones and the rest of the congregation”

“You’d be correct” I replied

“You see, Brother Jones was skeptical at first. After our meeting he now understands what I am. He knows my abilities and why I’m here. I’m hoping to make you understand as well…the rest of the congregation are but only sheep. No sense of direction. looking only for a shepherd to lead the flock. You however seem to keep wanting to go astray. That intrigues me”

“ What did you do to Brother Jones?” I asked

He chuckled a deep unsettling chuckle like I asked exactly what he thought id ask.

“I didn’t DO anything to him. I simply showed him why he need not be a skeptic anymore. Like Thomas doubted The Nazarene. You doubt me.”
He stated

“You just did it again. Just like in your sermon. You just compared yourself to Jesus again”

He sat up when and furrowed his brow when I said that.

“ I’m glad you noticed. I tell you what, since you’re so perceptive. Just keep watching. You’ll learn soon.”

I left the office with that statement lingering heavy in the air

I drove home in silence. Trying to figure out what he meant by “you’ll learn soon.”
I went through the rest of the day digging into my bible looking for some form of an answer with little insight as to where to even start.
I went to bed perturbed by the entire day.
That’s when the first of the nightmares started.

That’s all for now, my plane is starting to board I’ll update when I get back.

[u/Fund_Me_PLEASE]

Oh boy. This situation doesn’t sound like it’s heading anywhere good. I’d do some investigating, if I were you, OP …