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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Exam (09/12/13)
As I lay motionless on the bed staring into the darkness, it suddenly appeared like I had been transported into another world. I saw myself holding a red pen, sitting at a desk in a large hall full of books, each with a name on it. At the corner of the room, a giant book placed on a raised platform had the inscription: “The Book of Life.”
Beside me stood a man dressed in white flowing robes. He smiled broadly as he turned to me and asked, pointing at the huge book, “Do you know what that is?”
I answered, “I have read in your word that the names of all the saints are written in the Book of Life. How privileged I must be to see this wonderful book!”
He smiled again. An indescribable peace and calm was palpable as he continued speaking. “You are not permitted to look at that book yet. But I am giving you this marking script, which has been written by the ink of the Spirit. I want you to go through these few scripts and mark them. You will then know what it takes to score highly in my kingdom.”
I looked down at the pile of handwritten scripts before me, some yellowing with age. At the top of each script was a title printed in large letters, “The Exam of the Ages: Understanding Christ.” Beside me was the marking script of the Spirit, by which all other scripts were to be assessed.
I took the script of Peter, followed by each of the Eleven. They all scored 50-65 percent. They scored highly in obeying Christ by writing the scriptures, withstanding persecution, and encouraging brethren who were going through various difficulties.
But this was not the case when it came to leaving behind their age-old traditions to follow Christ. At one point, the original marking script had the words, “For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. The old practices were only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order, which is already here.” Aha, I now understood, the baptism of John was passing away, yet the apostles went on to prescribe ceremonial washings for all who accepted Christ.
Oh, and something else all the Eleven got completely wrong: the casting of lots to elect Matthias to take a seat among the apostles. The marking script of the Spirit here read: “And it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. No man has permission to take over this prerogative of Christ.”
It was then time to turn to the successors of the apostles, the Church Fathers. With every succeeding script, the score went even lower. Gradually, humility was lost and they turned the church into a contest of egos. Titles became important, with the number of followers replacing service to others as the measure of greatness. They scored particularly low when it came to the Spirit’s rebuke: “For when one says, ‘I follow this spiritual leader’, and another says, ‘I follow that denomination,’ it shows you are not spiritual but worldly.”
The drop in scores continued into the Dark Ages, when hardly any spiritual leaders managed a score of 10 percent. Murderers took over the reins of the church, sending some to be burnt on the stake as armies massacred the rest. “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ and any other command means you should love your neighbor as yourself,” read the Spirit’s marking script.
I could no longer hold my peace. “Was this still your church that was doing all these evils?” I asked the man standing by my side. “No, it wasn’t,” he answered calmly. “There are no dogs and murderers in my church. But many of those being burnt on the stake and wiped out in massacres were my people.”
The scripts of thieves in the contemporary church were handed to me, and they scored no better than the murderers. And my heart was heavy with sadness.
“Go, tell them what you have seen. They are a hard-hearted lot, but don’t worry. I will be with you. The few who choose to listen to you will score highly, even more than the Eleven.”
I woke up, and realized I was still in bed.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Nancy Bucca
09/21/13
I found this very thoughtful and very interesting. You make a lot of good points as far as how the church has failed to live up to Christ's standards. However, I think you need to explain more fully the comment about baptisms and ceremonial washings, because when I read the scriptures I don't see the apostles administering the baptism of John but of Jesus. Plus, they seemed to know that the state of the heart was far more important than the outward sign.

That said, I do enjoy your creative approach and think you nailed the topic. It could end up a winner. Here's wishing you the best...
Yvonne Blake 
09/24/13
This is an interesting approach. If you leave a space between your paragraphs, it will help the readers. (I did the same thing when I was beginning.) I was a bit confused at your train of thought and why a man would be "grading" others' lives, but it was a unique perspective.