The Cult of Imallset
Heads up and watch out, there is a church in town, a very dangerous cult type church called the church of “Imallset.”
What makes this church different from the rest and dangerous enough to require this warning? The answer is simple. I have met the pastor. I have heard his sermons and I have attended his church on and off through the years. He is a cruel and uncaring person filled with harsh judgment and condemnation. His church and its practitioners are exact and without blemish, superior to common folk and critical of any view that is not their own. To be sure, it is a cult of the worst magnitude, destroying families and damaging friendships. Allegiance to this church is the source of many divorces. It is the parish of the perfect, the congregation of the competent, the flock of the unforgiving. Only the loyal can remain in its pews and the tithes are more than most can afford. This is the church of Imallset.
Walking down Elm Street the other day I was stopped by a homeless man asking, “Brother, can you give me some money?” As my manner is, I said no, adding, “but, I would love to take you out to dinner.” I assured him it was “my treat.” Looking at me with disdain, he scoffed and stated plainly, “I’mAllSet.” I walked away in bewilderment. What does his religion have to do with having dinner? It reminded me of a conversation I had with a member of our congregation after Sunday service. He seemed to me to be a burly sort, distant, drifting farther and deeper into the woods of solitude. Actually it was his wife who reached out to me very concerned, asking if I would “try to help him, reach out to him, and spend time with him,” she said. So off I went. However, it soon became clear that my help was unwelcome. Sensing an ulterior motive, he asked plainly, “Did my wife put you up to this?” Opps, busted. Just as quick, he made the pronouncement, “I’m All Set,” then turned and walked away. Gosh, I had thought all this time he was Christian. Apparently, he felt more connection with this other cult, church thing. But the clincher was meeting the pastor. A hard, judgmental, take no prisoners sort. Seems when Jesus was handing out mercy, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness, this guy was busy studying the Bible. The story of how I met him is kind of funny, actually. It was in my bathroom of all places. I had just finished showering, walking over to the sink to shave, wiping steam off the mirror, and from the bedroom my wife called out, “You remember, honey, today we have marriage counseling.” I replied sharply, “Honey, I’m really not into it,” then looking into the mirror with its drippy steam, I said, “I’m all set.” And in that moment I saw him staring back at me in my bathroom mirror. The pastor of the cult of “Imallset” was me.
What makes this cult so dangerous? It is a lie, or should I say, “the lie.” The truth is that we are not “all set.” Quite the opposite, we are desperately dependent. Dependent on God, on others, on family, on friends, on more than who we are. You may have heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” I might say it takes a village to be human. It is our connection which becomes our compass. It is our secrets that become our sickness. To be happy in life, fulfilled, and at rest requires trusted relationships with all masks and veneers aside. The “I’m all set” conspiracy of pride within the human heart requires that we suffer in silence. We hide the broken, more fragile, parts of who we are, not realizing or acknowledging that those we seek to impress are tormented by the same fragile humanness, being filled with a similar brokenness and pain. We hold in and cover those parts of us which most desperately need the light of day to find healing. “Looking good” puts distance between who we are and who we want to be, our better selves.
The truth is that the homeless man needs a good meal and time with a friend more than he needs money. The truth is that the husband and father in my church needs the love of his wife and children more than impressing his pastor. The truth is that my wife is right, I need marriage counseling. If I could be half the husband to her that she is wife to me, both our lives would be immeasurably better. Yes it is certain, I am not, most definitely not, “all set.”
If I remember correctly, the first time this lie found traction was in the Garden of Eden. The devil used it; tempting Eve into thinking she had no need for anything or anyone, only a certain fruit on a certain tree. I guess they were not “all set” either, and how revealing that the first lie is the same lie which I find so much trouble with. Apparently there is no new thing under the sun, especially pride.
The Sermon on the Mount can be found in the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7. It is what I consider to be the most fundamental teaching of Jesus for all people, especially those who call Jesus “Lord.” I call it “God 101.” It begins with the beatitudes, the first of which is: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). There are certain things in life of which poverty would be considered a blessing, like pain or sickness. “Blessed are the poor in sickness, for they will be healthy,” for example. Plainly, for some things in life, the less you have, the better off you are. In the Bible, the use of the term “spirit” can be applied in several ways, one of which represents the person him/herself, their personality and willfulness. I find it just so telling that in the beginning of the beginning of Jesus’ first teaching, we find this most powerful truth. “Blessed are the poor in self willfulness.” Another way of saying it may be, “Happy are you if you are not full of yourself.”
To be open and honest about the things in life which trouble us; to confide in a trusted friend; to expose our weakness and not be afraid of not being ‘all set;’ to find a common humanity, good or bad: these are the things which draw us together and make us stronger in our weakness. Perfect people scare me because deep down inside I know that I am not perfect, no one is, and no one could be in our broken world.
The church of “Imallset” is always proselytizing, always looking for new recruits who will love the lie that “I do not need you.” I am glad for you to know that I am not who I should be, could be, want to be. I am not “all set.” If you perchance are also broken, imperfect, and hiding secret sin, maybe we should have coffee.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends…..
John 15:15
Ornan’s threshing floor is a selection of journal entries, sermon parts and pieces, and writings by Stephen Carey, pastor of Main Street Mission.
Main Street Mission is a non denominational Christian inner city outreach ministry located at 57 Manchester St. Manchester NH.