As I had expected, out in front of the Civic Center in the plaza, it was a chaotic, noisy madhouse. Pelagian street preachers (those who I've been told sometimes call themselves the "Pervert Patrol" from Tulsa) (see here what I think of them) with their bullhorns preaching a bunch of not particularly persuasive hate-filled screeds, Black Israelites bellowing at the top of their lungs, hundreds of Roman Catholics praying responsive prayers (mostly to Mary) (who else, right?) with their own amps and holding idols and large pictures of Mary, mainline Protestant groups singing milquetoast "worship" songs, some other Roman Catholics playing bagpipes, people blowing shofars...
Anyway, as I expected, virtually nobody actually attending the Black Mass hung around outside and talked to anyone. Like last time, all the paying attendees slunk in the side to enter and skulked out the side to exit.
Really, in a vacuum this event was not a big deal. According to press who observed the Black Mass on the inside, about 40 people attended. Seriously, who cares? The only reason this attracted so much media attention is because the Satanists played the Media Whore game and the local Roman Catholic archdiocese played their willing dance partner. Thus the Roman Catholics' efforts entirely backfired in my opinion. They were mad about this event.
But, happily, it attracted such a large crowd that some servants of the Lord Jesus were able to take advantage to outreach to them.
I prepared a tract centering around the Roman Mass. I was thinking I'd probably do some street preaching too.
The attitude of many of the RCs was best summed up in: "why are you talking to us when the real enemy is inside?" At which point I tried to remind them that they're the ones who are members of the religion that anathematised the gospel and perverts the Lord's Table.
My friend
gave out a lot of the aforementioned tracts about the Mass; I had less success with that.
I had some good conversations. I rebuked the Pelagian street preachers, who then rebuked me for wasting time rebuking them
when there were hundreds of lost people just over yonder. I told one of them (this guy) I
can do both and this is worthwhile, and he rudely told me to
get on with it, like a schoolboy double-dog-daring me to preach, to show
him how it's done.
There's only so much childishness a man can take before you just don't know what to say anymore. It's like it's hard to talk intelligently, like the dumb creeps into your own brain by osmosis.
But I figured I'd rather not waste the
opportunity or let my 'yes' be 'no', so I fired up my brand new amp and
preached about the Mass for a while at that point. The Pelagian guy had a
camera on me pretty much the whole time as if to intimidate me or prove
a point. The preach went well, and when I was done he came over, almost
apologetic, and said "hey that was good stuff, solid preaching."There's only so much childishness a man can take before you just don't know what to say anymore. It's like it's hard to talk intelligently, like the dumb creeps into your own brain by osmosis.
Aaaaaannnndddd also my camera malfunctioned and didn't record any audio. Disappointing, as there were numerous interesting incidents.
But at least I praise God that the Gospel went out to many. I am left dumbfounded at how few Christians were there to witness of the Gospel, in a place where hundreds of people are gathered in a place in order to publicly discuss a spiritual matter. Where are you, church of God?
But at least I praise God that the Gospel went out to many. I am left dumbfounded at how few Christians were there to witness of the Gospel, in a place where hundreds of people are gathered in a place in order to publicly discuss a spiritual matter. Where are you, church of God?
Most of the Satanists, I mean the real hard core types dont actually believe in Satan, which I never quite understood. The hanger on shock and awe types seem to be into it to shock, who ever they are trying to shock. I always found it all rather boring to be honest. If they really want to find Satan go look at the largest financial institutions they definitely follow Satan.
ReplyDeleteI was there also and think you've accurately described the carnival.
ReplyDeleteBut I think Paul Coakley, CEO of Oklahoma Catholics, Inc., was the media whore finding the Black Mass an opportunity to make some headlines for himself. My question is did he know he would stirring up all these cockroaches of religious fanaticism?
briand1,
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right. Good comment.
Anonymous,
I'd be surprised if it surprised Coakley.