Sinners in the Pulpit: The Cost of Corrupt Leaders and Stolen Trust

A gathering was summoned at the village square, and in no time, a multitude of villagers had assembled. The urgency and gravity of the situation had compelled them to come together. They engaged in a discussion about the troubling state of affairs within the village.

I'd love to share this incredible story with your readers, if you'll allow me to. It's a tale that my grandfather passed down to me, and the valuable lesson it holds has guided me on my own journey. Although the story is quite lengthy, I've condensed it to focus on the most important details. So, let's begin.

Once upon a time, there lived a humble widower with his six children in a tiny house. They were so destitute that the father had to toil tirelessly just to provide for them. Despite his immense efforts, the children seemed to take his sacrifices for granted.

Despite his relentless efforts toiling away on his farm, drenched in sweat day after day, in order to provide for his family, they remained unsatisfied. The insatiable children would clamor for more food even after being given a meal. Fearing their disappointment, the father would give in and provide them with extra portions. And when he failed to do so, they would rush to the pot and help themselves to a significant portion of what he had set aside for the next day.

When it came to clothing, their only concern was the latest fashion trends. If the father returned with ordinary and affordable garments, the children would scornfully refer to them as "filthy rags" and recklessly discard them. They would then demand additional money from him to purchase the fashionable attire of their own choosing.

The father's health deteriorated over time, making it difficult for him to work as hard as he used to in order to support the family. As a result, the boys had to cut back on their meals and couldn't even get enough food to maintain good health. They also couldn't afford nice clothes anymore. The fancy clothes they used to dream of were now a distant memory.

One day, the brothers gathered together on a mat, feeling hungry and sad. Suddenly, the fourth child, youngest brother stood up and exclaimed, "I have an idea!" The others eagerly urged him to share. "What if we go to town and find jobs?" the young boy suggested, beaming as if he had just discovered the solution to all their problems.

Come on, seriously," the eldest exclaimed. "Is that the best plan you can think of? Don't you realize that given the current state of this country, it's the last thing we should be hoping for?"

"Well, it's worth a shot," he replied. "Maybe we'll get lucky."

"Okay," the other brother suggested, "we could consider a different approach. People are feeling so frustrated today... We could easily win them over with something that resonates and not just survive, but thrive."

"Great idea!" cheered the others enthusiastically. "Tell us more, let's hear it!"

We're going to head out to the most remote part of the country,' he declared, 'and establish ourselves in the church industry. We'll attract numerous followers who will generously support our cause.'

One inquired, 'Shouldn't we go to seminary school before starting a church?'

Another responded, 'Catholic and other denominations have different approaches. Catholic priests go to seminary, while others learn through experience. We'll just attend various church services, observe their methods, grasp how they recruit members, and strategize on how to collect funds.'

'What a brilliant plan!' they all cheered enthusiastically. 'Incredible, guys! We're going to make a fortune. We'll all be millionaires in no time! What an amazing day that will be for us all!'

And so the adventure commenced, as they journeyed from one church to another, immersing themselves in study, reading, and observation. They shared their knowledge, exchanged ideas, and devised new strategies. Months flew by, while their hardworking father struggled to provide for the family with little help from his children.

Eventually, the time came for the grown-up siblings to bid farewell to their father, leaving behind the youngest two. The next day, they embarked on a bus, traveling for hours. After a grueling journey on bumpy roads, dusty highways and humid climate, they reached a sparsely populated town.

Disembarking, they continued on foot, walking through dense forests until they reached a remote village. As evening fell, they found themselves in the village square, surrounded by curious villagers.

As the sun began to set, the brothers harmoniously exclaimed, "Good evening, dear folks! We are wanderers who have journeyed across this land, spreading the 'Good News' in hopes of brightening your lives and bringing you joy." The villagers warmly embraced them, their faces filled with delight, as they extended a joyous welcome to the brothers.

But how did they manage to win over the hearts of the villagers? Well, these four brothers possessed striking features reminiscent of their mother's deep blue eyes, a white man's accent, loose curly hair, and a light tanned complexion that stood out amidst the villagers' appearance. Their resemblance to the pictorial images of Jesus Christ, which were widely circulated in churches, worked to their advantage. It was a time when technology was nonexistent, leaving no means for the villagers to conduct a background check.

Soon enough, a series of miraculous events unfolded, performed by the four brothers. This further solidified their presence and credibility within the village. As days turned into weeks, the brothers began conducting church services in a small clearing at the heart of the village. The captivating nature of these services attracted more and more people from the village, drawn to the brothers' message of hope and happiness.

In just a matter of months, a church was constructed and beautifully furnished. The brothers, taking charge of the situation, assumed all the important roles. The eldest became the Vicar, followed by the Curate, and the third brother became the head of Lay readers and charismatic sessions. Unfortunately, the youngest brother faced challenges due to a learning disability, so they assigned him the role of a cleaner, guiding volunteers on how to maintain the church's cleanliness.

As time went on, the church became deeply rooted in the community, attracting more and more people. The brothers, who initially arrived looking tired and thin, now appeared plump and dignified. However, during this period, the village fell victim to a highly organized gang of thieves. Despite efforts to stop their activities, no progress was made.

The residents lived in constant fear, unable to sleep peacefully at night. They remained vigilant, on guard for any slight sound that would evoke a sense of helplessness and terror.

A gathering was summoned at the village square, and in no time, a multitude of villagers had assembled. The urgency and gravity of the situation had compelled them to come together. They engaged in a discussion about the troubling state of affairs within the village. However, the highlight of the entire assembly was an address delivered by an elderly woman.

"Behold, our village has descended into chaos. The virtues and goodness that once thrived have vanished into thin air. Our fellow villagers now exhibit behavior akin to wild beasts in the jungle. Gone are the days when the wisdom of our elders was revered and cherished. Selfishness has taken hold, leaving no room for consideration towards others. Evil has transformed into a twisted game, with everyone participating in it gleefully. People employ all sorts of means to harm one another. The insatiable thirst for power and wealth drives them, and they are unafraid to stoop to any depths in their pursuit."

"Thieving, once a serious offense, has lost its severity. The big looters thrive and grow fat at our expense, while we continue to suffer. But let them not believe that they are triumphing, for they most certainly are not! God watches over us from above, meticulously noting every wicked deed. Yes, He keeps a tally of all your sinful actions. Just as God keeps count, so does Satan. And on the Day of Judgment, both of them will stand on opposing sides, selecting those who have aligned themselves with either of them. Satan will gather his followers on one side, while God will have His own on the other. Now is the time to repent and choose God's side before it is too late..." The brothers exchanged knowing glances, their understanding unspoken. The meeting then resumed its course.

After each heist, the band of thieves would reconvene in the church's backyard to divvy up their spoils. Nestled within the yard was a small, secluded room that occasionally hosted intimate gatherings or educational sessions. One fateful Saturday morning, the thieves returned to this secret spot, burdened by their ill-gotten gains, ready to distribute the wealth amongst themselves.

As the first rays of dawn began to break, the cleaner emerged to dispose of some grimy water. Nonchalantly, he poured it into the gutter and began making his way back inside. However, his footsteps halted abruptly when he caught wind of hushed voices emanating from the very room he knew to be off-limits. This section of the church was strictly reserved for his brethren, and as far as he knew, he was the sole occupant at that hour. Intrigued, he paused and strained his ears to catch every word. The voices became unmistakably clear.

“You, You and me together……”

“You, You and me together……”

Just as he was about to continue on his way, the voices erupted once more, filling the air with their secretive chant.

“You, You and me together……”

His mind raced back to the words of the old woman at the meeting: He immediately recognized the conversation between Satan and God.

'Egads! Oh my goodness!' he gasped as the truth sank in. 'Already? She knew it was imminent; yet she didn't warn us to prepare? What do I do now? Oh no, it's too late! The DAY of RECKONING is upon us! ... Oh Lord! ... Oh Lord-God have mercy on me! Help me, Almighty!" he wailed, tossing his head in fervent prayer.

Meanwhile, the thieves were busy dividing their spoils in the corner. Noticing some items left behind on the path, one inquired, 'What about those on the path? Who gets those?'

“We must leave them behind,” one of them muttered.

The janitor was stunned. His head was spinning and throbbing with pain. His heart pounded relentlessly against his ribcage, as if trying to break free. He was certain his end was near.

Where could they be on the path? I haven't spotted them yet!" The voices echoed in his ears, closer than ever before. His entire body trembled violently, as if caught in a storm. His heart raced at an alarming pace, threatening to bring about his demise. His mind spun inside his skull, causing dizziness and confusion.

Overwhelmed by fear, he threw himself onto the ground, rolling and thrashing about, desperately pleading, "Oh God, have mercy! I beg of you, please have mercy! Oh God, I beg you!" His cries pierced the air, drawing the attention of the thieves who emerged to investigate the commotion. Shocked by the sight of their brother in such distress, they hurriedly helped him calm down and sit up, urging him to explain what had happened.

"It's the day of Judgment! I heard God and Satan deciding who to take with them," the cleaner exclaimed.

Perplexed, the thieves questioned how he had come to know this, but he simply repeated his previous statement. The cleaner's screams attracted neighbors and watchmen to the church, and as they entered, they noticed people gathering in the backyard.

Curiosity piqued, they approached the scene to find four men surrounding a young man who was wailing uncontrollably. Inquiring about the situation, they discovered that three of the men were wearing face masks. The neighborhood watchman demanded they remove their masks, and to everyone's astonishment, they turned out to be the three brothers, the Vicar, the Curater, and head of Lay readers. The watchmen's gaze then fell upon a pile of stolen goods tucked away in the corner of the room. The thieves had been in the midst of dividing their ill-gotten gold bars when they were apprehended.

The air was thick with tension as the furious mob swarmed outside the vigilante's office, their voices echoing like a thunderous roar. The four culprits huddled together in a corner, their hands bound and blood trickling from their wounds, their eyes filled with terror. The leader of the vigilante troop stepped out, attempting to appease the crowd by assuring them that justice would be served. The local police were called upon, and the thieves were apprehended, along with the recovered stolen treasures.

The trial brought to light the identities of the robbers, their family backgrounds, and the motive behind their plan to infiltrate the church. They cunningly extracted valuable information from church members during their weekly confessions, using it to carry out their criminal activities. For instance, they discovered that there was a gold mine near the village, where underpaid miners secretly kept some gold to support their families.

Exploiting this knowledge, the thieves mercilessly targeted these vulnerable workers, instilling fear and dread in their hearts. Moreover, the gang cleverly disguised their true intentions by engaging in charitable acts, diverting funds to sustain their extravagant lifestyles. Shockingly, it was revealed that some of their victims had lost their lives during these heinous operations. The trial also exposed their collaboration with other criminal groups, implicating corrupt officials and influential elders. Their depravity knew no bounds, as they even resorted to selling orphans to child traffickers, knowing that no one would come looking for these innocent children.

Unveiling yet another astonishing truth, it came to light that the brothers had been orchestrating fraudulent miracles. During their time working for the white colonizers, two of the boys stumbled upon bottles filled with peculiar white tablets while delivering goods to their master.

Intrigued, they approached their master and inquired about the tablets. Oblivious to their intentions, the master innocently explained that it was a medication known as penicillin and its purpose. Seizing the opportunity, the boys discreetly pocketed the tablets and smuggled them back to their village. With cunning creativity, they ground the pills into a fine powder and mixed it with water, dubbing it holy water. The ailing villagers eagerly consumed this concoction, resulting in some experiencing recoveries. However, those who remained unhealed were quick to attribute it to their own lack of faith or the divine will.

The three elder siblings received a punishment of 50 years of hard labor, while the youngest was acquitted. However, the villagers were not content with the verdict. They revisited the old church and set it on fire, converting the area into a garbage dump that remains so till this day. The village leaders established a rule that no Christian church would ever be permitted on that land again, urging individuals to seek God within themselves.

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