A Lost Little Lamb
 

Sherry was a beautiful young lady as I remember her in my mind. We grew up together in church, she a little bit older by a year or two as I recall. I remember her being smart, brilliant actually. When we would have Bible competitions she was always one of the best. She sang in the youth choir and never missed a church service or youth function. When our church started a Bible Quiz Team, she was one of the ones who excelled.

Her mother was a single mom. She had two brothers who were older and always seemed rough, long hair (a real sign of a backslidden state, in the 70s especially), sneaking around smoking behind the church, slipping out of service to get into mischief. Mom couldnt seem to control those boys. I remember Sherry talking about going to see her dad. Her dad occasionally came to church events, a Christmas musical, a dinner, something his kids were involved in. I vaguely remember what he looked like.

Sherry's mom never seemed to be a joyful Christian. She complied with the dress codes of the church and looked the part when it came to her hair and attire, but as far as a victorious, happy, loving Christian, not so much. I can still see her with a kind of hard, stern scowl she always seemed to wear. When and if she smiled, it almost seemed like unfamiliar territory to her face.

By the time I could really grasp people were "out of church" or "backslidden" Sherry's brothers were on their way out and then eventually gone. I don't know if they came of age and moved out or if they chose in their older teen years to go live with dad or what. I just remember for a while it was just Sherry and her mom coming to church.

I remember Sherry's mom being hard on her. She was condemning, critical, and flat out mean. In fact Sherry's mom got remarried to real nice guy who was a divorced man who worked with my dad and got saved. Sherry's mom seemed like a new person. Harold was handsome, funny, loved to laugh and had a great personality. The marriage lasted less than a year and Harold found a different church to attend. He would ask my dad occasionally at work "How's the Wicked Witch of the West doing?"

I began to notice Sherry kind of rebelling. I can remember smelling smoke on her at times at church. I heard about boyfriends that weren't nice guys. I don't remember Sherry being too involved in church or coming to too much after we all hit high school years. It seemed she was following the same path trailblazed by her brothers years before.

I got busy growing up, having fun in school with my friends, dating, going to church, youth group, church camp, living in my healthy, happy and secure home planning for my future, going to Bible school, following my call to ministry, starting my ministry and serving the Kingdom. I don't recall thinking of Sherry much or wondering what happened to her outside of seeing her mother faithfully plugging away service after service, year after year. I would occasionally ask her about Sherry and her boys but the report was never good, always critical, always negative. So I'm sure after a while I just quit asking. In fact you just kind of avoid that kind of person at church.

A couple of years ago Sherry sent me a friend request on Facebook. I accepted. She sent me a private message greeting me and telling me she lived in Tennessee too, but in a whole other part of the state. She had a five year old boy. She was excited about getting reacquainted with folks from her church years. After some small talk she confessed to me that she was an alcoholic and wanted me to pray for her. She said her life was very tough, most of it stemming from the drinking. I was saddened by the news, I tried to encourage her, I tried to point her to grace, to not be deceived by the notion that God obsesses over our attire and all of the nit picky things her mother constantly railed on her about as well as others. She said she knew that Jesus loved her and that she wouldn't be alive if not for His grace. I told her I'd pray for her.

A week later she wrote and said all was well and she had quit drinking and that life was better and thanks for the prayers, blah, blah, blah. Addicts often do this. They pour out their soul, they get honest and transparent. Then they back track and try to assure you all is alright, they've turned the corner, etc. I responded positively and encouraged continued progress.

I would see her occasionally on FB but we didn't message each other again for a couple of years. Then the other day I got a desperate message. Sherry contacted me to inform me she was dying. She was on 24 hour oxygen. She was confined to a motorized scooter to get around. She sent her phone number, asked if I would please call.

I did. She began to share the disharmony of her present circumstances. Her now 7 year old son had been taken from her some time back because she got arrested for fighting with her boyfriend in public. She loved the boy dearly, even though he was the product of a rape (gasp), her electric was getting turned off, she needed $132.00 and was wanting help from me but it was okay she got some help elsewhere. The longer she talked about the mess her life had become my mind became overwhelmed at the complexity. My heart sank, my chest felt heavy and several times my eyes welled with tears. I finally interrupted Sherry and asked her if I could pray for her right now. She received the offer. I stepped outside onto the patio of the coffee shop where I was and prayed. At the end of the prayer she thanked me, I encouraged her that she could depend on the Lord and that the Body of Christ was here to help her.

As I was praying I could see the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl in my Junior Sunday School class. I could see her young and innocent full of promise and potential. I thought of all the scriptures she'd memorized. I thought of the worship experiences and touches of God upon her life. I thought of her singing in children's choirs and youth choirs. I thought about how tragic her life had become. I thought about a mean-spirited mother who never seemed to understand God's love and grace and one who never transferred that into her children's lives. I thought about a church culture that emphasized outward appearance and emotional experiences with very little discipleship and mentoring and teaching on how to become mature and rooted in Gods love.

I know Sherry will have to answer to God for her decisions as an individual. None of us can blame anyone for not serving God. God is good to us and loves us so that no matter what happens to us we are able to see His goodness and discern at least a measure of His grace in our lives.

But what a sad, sad story. And hearing her plight reminded me of how tragic and pitiful we all are. I certainly didn't consider her messy life without considering my own. We are all little lambs who've lost our way. We have all gone astray, we have, everyone, turned to our own ways. Some individuals seem more desperate, others are certainly in more dire circumstances. But we are all in a sense in a terrible position like Sherry. And stories like Sherry serve to remind us of the gruesomeness of sin and it's consequences. It serves to remind us that legalism can't save us.

There is only one way, one truth, one life: Jesus Christ. And only through the power of the Gospel and our full fledged faith in the Cross and the Blood of Jesus do any of us have any hope. I'm thankful the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all---yours, mine and Sherry's.

If you think about it in the days and weeks to come, say a prayer for Sherry---a lost little lamb.

And if you don't mind, say a prayer for me too...I need the Savior just as much to come and rescue me...

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

My heart was so heavy as I read this, because I know "Sherry" is not alone. There are thousands, if not millions of little lost lambs like Sherry out there. One of my husband's brothers is one of them. You put it so eloquently indeed DB, and I will spend time in prayer for Sherry, and others like her. Only JESUS can bring complete restoration into her life. My husband's brother needs restored too into the fold.

Let us all never forget that we could be as down and out as Sherry, if not for the grace and mercy of Jesus.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Amen KBW, amen...

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Thanks for sharing. A sobering but all too often seen case. I will be praying for her.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Thanks CC. When are you coming back to Memphis? Sorry we missed each other last time.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

I have known quite a few "Sherry's" when we were in the church. They were all perfect Pentecostals at the time, and aren't even Christian's now.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

The simplicity of the gospel was never made known unto them no doubt... but all the dos and don'ts were... so sad!

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Standards emanate from a death-centric Christianity.
We make those people in our factory.
It is truly by God's grace that anyone gets "saved."

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Thanks for the story, DB.
Brings to mind many sad endings that I have encountered over the years.
God help us to be sensitive to others that need encouragement or are hurting.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

A hard hearted, mean spirited mother destroyed her....


And yet you take this as an opportunity to take a shot at standards of Holiness and the worship culture of the Apostolic movement.

I was raised in that...I still live it, I am well adjusted, married, with two very well adjusted girls who love to worship and are not ashamed of the standards they live by.

It was not the culture that destroyed this girl but a mother that had no understanding of the difference between legalism and true Holiness.

But of course you couldn't miss an opportunity to get a dig in on "Apostolic Identity"

I would imagine that for every young person that went to a conservative church and backslid , there are just as many from liberal, charismatic, supposedly "grace" churches that have backslid too....



....you just cant tell the difference.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Deacon, I really needed this. Thanks.

And as for our self-appointed "strait shooter"...

Sir, I think your choice of usernames is appropriate and revealing. You want to viewed as someone who "tells is like it is." Someone who stands for truth at all costs and holds tight to the old paths of Apostolic Identity.

I actually feel sorry for you. You seem so angry and locked in to this culture war within your miniscule movement.

I remember a time when I expended a lot of energy and passion on AFF. I debated issues almost 24/7. Over time I realized that I was wasting myself on these issues and with people who did not care for me personally. So I gave up. I now only occasionally visit, posting very infrequently.

Straight Shooter, life is short, and I'm feeling charitable, so here is a free piece of advice. Love your family. Work hard. Love God. Vacation frequently. Live with no regrets. Accomplish your goals.

The Apostolic Identity war is over and nobody won. Gradualism took its toll.

Most of the things we used to fight about are now widely accepted. Jewelry, movies, TV, shorts, ball games etc.... What a waste of keystrokes!

Save your anger for something meaningful.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

SS - I believe you took this the wrong way.
Rules without relationship results in rebellion.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

You are exactly right...this is what legalism is.

Legalism is not a set of standards to live by.

Most everyone has a set of standards.

Legalism is as you said rules without relationship, and the belief that those rules will save you without having a relationship with Christ.

Unfortunately too many throw the baby out with the bathwater. In their attempt to avoid legalism they slide into antinomianism and license becomes the only rule they live by.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

From reading the story about Sherry (may the Lord help her) standards were the least of her worries. Are people who believe in standards still getting thrown under the bus?

Hey, Ed Gein's mom use to make him listen to her read the Bible, and he ended up digging up dead bodies and creating living room furnishings out of the corpses.

Should we abstain from reading the scriptures to our kids?

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

If I remember right Carrie's mother also locked her in the prayer closet every time she disobeyed her. And look what happened come Prom time!

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Ah, yes, Stephen King's Carrie White, and Hollywood's accurate portrayal of a single Christian mother, and her telekinetic daughter, complete with statue of Saint Sebastian, and velvet tapestry painting of the Last Supper.

:rolleyes2

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

This is a sad, sad story Deacon. I think we all have too many 'Sherrys' in our background....and it's heartbreaking.

I do thank God, though, for the kids that I saw struggle with the things Sherry struggled with..and some with even worse things..and are living a holy, clean life several decades later. And they give God and His church the glory for the victory!

Praying for all the 'Sherrys' out there....especially the ones I know!

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

:thumbsup

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Please forgive me, but don't we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?

Does the church and home environment we live in have to be regulated, and micromanaged like it was a exotic salt water aquarium? What I'm trying to say is this, even in churches which have no standards you have sad stories of youth going in the opposite direction of what they were taught.

Whether they be in Pentecost, or Buddhism, children grow up and ultimately make their own choices on how they are going to live. My father was an atheist, my mother believed in her own brand of "spiritualism" and I was raised with the bare essentials of Catholicism. Still I chose a path which my peers, and my interests had taken me. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ speaks to everyone, and draws everyone, we all have free will to do as we very well please.

I thank the Lord Jesus for His mercy and blessings, and pray that everyone listen and obey to the still small voice. The Lord doesn't wish that any should perish, nor does He take pleasure in the death of the wicked.

Yet, no matter who we are, or where we are, the Lord is trying to reach us, but it is up to us to allow Him to influence us to the saving of our souls.

Welcome back

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Its entirely possible that DB was referring to a specific church, SS, not the entire organization.

And, your last comment is highly offensive, and shows the narrowness of your mind.....I think you are trapped in the narrow mindset that many Apostolics share....the only difference in a person who is saved and not saved is their outward appearance.......hence, when a charismatic person backslides, you can't tell the difference.

Well, if you understood true Christianity, you'd understand that pure religion and undefiled has nothing to do with outward appearance, but everything to do with actions and attitudes of the heart.......but, I can't blame you for not knowing that.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

I'm amazed at how many people dismiss the passage in I Samuel 16 that states "Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart."

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

In Matthew chapter 23 Jesus addresses the "holiness" and "identity" folks of his day who placed all the emphasis on the outward and visible. Read that chapter some time. It's pretty rough.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Nothing???...really??

How far are you willing to take that statement.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

I will take it as far as scripture takes it.

Now, you tell me how Jesus defined Christians?

Let me help you get started......."by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have____________"

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

The disciples did then and the disciples do today,
show great love, in preaching the unadulterated
Word of God......teaching the plain plan of Salvation,
teaching holiness is still right unto the Lord.......

I thank God for the Preachers that are allowing God
to work thru them to reach this lost and dying
world!

Disciples will indeed show love, but, they also
will not cower down and not preach against sin.

Alot of people want just the love side, but dont
want anything to do with being told things that
they do are absolutely wrong.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

:highfive

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

:hug4

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

But how did Jesus define disciples?

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

I really was moved by deacon's story, but will admit I wondered about this too...

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Yup

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Amen.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

How can you define that Scripture any other way? Samuel assumed that Jesse's son was God's choice for king because of his physical appearance. God told Samuel not to get fooled by what he saw---that God doesn't judge a man by outward appearance. I don't know how plain that could be.

Fruit is never a reference to outward appearance---it's always a reference to things like love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness and self control. You shall know them by the kind of life they live, the way they treat people, their commitment to God.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

They preached Christ and Him crucified. The crucified Christ died for sins. The Gospel exposes the sinful state of man. The bravest, most courageous preaching isn't preaching against sin, it's preaching the Cross.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

A big amen. No one needs another accuser.
Show right to overcome wrong.
"I don't need another Savior."

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Ozzy also sang that he didn't want to change his bad behavior.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Then Oz can go to hell,
but I will not be accusing him,
or even judging here, as best I am able.
For all i know, the song is a parody of
an evil person's behavior.

The point being that we all have
free will, and accusations do not bring people around.

Re: A Lost Little Lamb
 

Still waiting for an answer on this one...........