666 Tattoo Revisited

Had an interesting response to my post about Anti-Christ Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda and his Growing in Grace Church. Here's what one of his followers emailed to me:

"Let me tell you that I know for a fact that Jose Luis DeJesus is the 2nd coming of Christ.

First, let me correct you guys: He has never asked us for money, jewelry (rolex watches). I know that for a fact because my husband gave him one as a present...It´s difficult for people to understand that we are so thankful and therefore choose to make up stories (perhaps it´s because to them,there is not much to thank God for... still see themselves as sinners, still think the Devil is around, still think they can be lost and if they ever earn their ticket to salvation it´s because of their own effort...that´s some "loving Father"!.)

I honestly don´t know how did people come up with the "giving all of our money" idea...if you´d investigate us you´d conclude that we are very prosperous (how could we give Him those presents if not???). Remember that woman in Jesus of Nazareth´s day that gave Him a perfume worth one year´s sallary? perhaps you could stop and think what did Jesus do for her that she was so thankful?.

Second. About Honduras...think about it, if it wasn´t that He is saying truths that the religious

system doesn´t want to hear He wouldn´t be banned.

Third. I display my tatoo with pride because it always makes people ask me about it...then I can explain that it means, religion has been the one who has frightened people with the number when what´s written about it is that there´s wisdom here(but religion always tries to forbid all kind of science and wisdom and make it seem "deeds of the devil"). I´m very very proud to say that God is among us. I invite you to study His teachings. Go to www.CEGenglish.com."

Call me crazy, but this writer makes a few good points. Bear with me. In the Bible, there was a woman who used very expensive perfume to cleanse Christ's feet, and even his disciples considered this a waste. With that in mind, who says you can't buy a Rolex or other gifts for your pastor? Even in the "normal" churches I've attended, collections were often taken for the pastor and his family. True, I didn't give an expensive gift, but aside from the amount, what's the difference?

The writer apparently has a 666 tattoo to show her devotion and allegiance. This may sound crazy to most of us, but is it any different than marking your forehead during Ash Wednesday? Yeah ok, it's not permanent but I'm talking about outward, public displays of religious faith. Lots of people get tattoos for worse reasons.

So I emailed the writer back and apologized. For the reasons above as well as this: I've just spent several months in a shamanic mystery school with a stranger who I'm paying to "teach" me stuff. I haven't given him any gifts and he hasn't asked me to tattoo myself--but really, am I any different? My concern is hucksters, frauds, those who prey on people for their own, selfish ends. I like to think that the facilitator of my shamanic workshops isn't in that category, and he seems decent enough. But where do you draw the line? If this Jose guy gives this person hope, who am I to judge? Seriously. I may disagree and think his followers are all deluded, but there are plenty of people who would say I am just as deluded.

So, been thinking a lot about free will. Not only does it mean you get to choose as you like, but it also means you take the risk of being a complete fool. And does anyone have the right to take that away? I suppose I'm prejudiced against this Jose guy because of all the Christian undertones, but my response says more about me than it does about the truth of this guy's claims or his followers' sanity.