PASTOR WILMONT I will get right to the p...

PASTOR WILMONT I will get right to the point. I have a member of the congregation, Raymond Jessup. Do you know who he is?

BRET I’ve heard the name.

PASTOR WILMONT Most people in the congregation have. He owns the building where the Second National Bank is located. As you may know, there are various business offices upstairs, including professional offices.

BRET I know. And a Chinese laundry downstairs.

PASTOR WILMONT I see you know the building. Well, quite unprovoked, he came up to me after Sunday service and said he understood you’re studying medicine. I admitted it. He then volunteered that when you’re ready to open your medical practice, he will provide you with an office rent-free for one year.

BRET Really? Why would he do that?

PASTOR WILMONT Christian charity, in case you forgot. He says he knows you’ll need time to build up your practice before you can bear the burden of rent. I assume you find the offer attractive?

BRET Of course, I do. That’s very thoughtful and generous of him.

PASTOR WILMONT Good. I thought you might, especially since by then you and Martha will be considering marriage and the usual consequent, children.

BRET It kind of looks that way.

PASTOR WILMONT Yes, it does. And I’m delighted. She’s a good Christian young woman and a welcome addition to the family. So it’s settled. Call Mr. Jessup in the morning, offer him your heartfelt thanks, and tell him you accept his offer. To that end, I shall give you his phone number.

BRET Great. I’ll call him.

PASTOR WILMONT First thing in the morning. You don’t want to let such an unexpected advantage go unattended too long. It requires immediate acceptance.

BRET Will do. And thanks, Dad. I’m not used to having your help with my medical career.

PASTOR WILMONT I have prayed about the matter and have been instructed to choose between the lesser of two evils.

BRET I don’t understand.

PASTOR WILMONT It has come to my attention, through the grace of another congregant, that you have accepted a position as the assistant to an avowed atheist.

BRET That’s not true at all.

PASTOR WILMONT The congregant has furnished me with details that make the unfortunate situation alarmingly credible. Admit it. You’ve taken such a position.

BRET Well, it’s very different from how you described it.

PASTOR WILMONT Then you have indeed taken it?

BRET I got the highest grade in biochemistry, and my professor asked me to be his lab assistant. He takes on one assistant every year. To be selected is considered a great honor.

PASTOR WILMONT Your chemistry professor? Tell me the truth. Is he a God-fearing Christian or an atheist and surely damned?

BRET He’s actually neither one.

PASTOR WILMONT Jewish?

BRET No, sir.

PASTOR WILMONT Mohammedan?

BRET Neither, sir.

PASTOR WILMONT Then what the hell is he?

BRET A Nobel Prize-winning medical researcher.

PASTOR WILMONT Oh, and no doubt a high-priest among the scientific elite. I don’t give a damn about scientific accolades. I asked about his religious beliefs, if he harbors any.

BRET He does, but they’re his own beliefs.

PASTOR WILMONT His own beliefs? I take it that is another way of saying he does not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and his heavenly Father?

BRET It’s more complicated than that. He has devoted himself to the care of life.

PASTOR WILMONT This paltry, sin-stained life? What about the next life?

BRET I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll just get upset.

PASTOR WILMONT I want to know the danger in which you have placed yourself.

BRET Will you just let me talk?

PASTOR WILMONT Go right ahead. I’m always willing to hear what the latest incarnations of blasphemy are. The knowledge assists me in defeating it.

BRET He says the one thing we can know for certain is that we have life, by which he means this life.

PASTOR WILMONT And the next one?

BRET He says he’s open to the idea, but that he has no information on which to make a decision.

PASTOR WILMONT He disregards the copious evidence provided in the Scriptures? What sort of upbringing has he had?

BRET He was raised as a Catholic.

PASTOR WILMONT Then has at least been baptized and made aware that the only way to enteral life is through Christ. Therefore, unless he repents, he is damned for eternity. And you can tell him I said so.

BRET I don’t think that’s my place, sir.

PASTOR WILMONT Oh, the arrogance of unbelievers! It is surely due to the presence of Satan within him.

BRET Whatever it is, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be very troubled by what you’re threatening him with.

PASTOR WILMONT And what about God’s wrath?

BRET He believes that, if there is a God --

PASTOR WILMONT -- If, Son?

BRET I’m not talking about myself. I’m only telling you what he believes.

PASTOR WILMONT Go on.

BRET He believes that believing we were put here to be happy is the only way to justify that God, if he exists in the person we believe he does, is good.

PASTOR WILMONT He seems to have invented a veritable host of his own patently erroneous answers. How does he transmogrify all of these misconceptions into anything that might be considered a religion, if he troubles himself to do so?

BRET He believes that the most direct form of worship to whatever is, as he calls it, the ultimate source of life, is through the care of this life. He has made it his religion.

PASTOR WILMONT Then he has made his way to the brink of hell. May his soul burn there for eternity. But to the only critical matter that concerns me. (reaches out a takes his arm) Tell me his beliefs have not traduced your own fine Christian ones?

BRET No, they haven’t, sir.

PASTOR WILMONT You are still as steadfast in them as you were before you accepted the damnable position?

BRET What else would I be, Father?

PASTOR WILMONT I take you at your word. (releases his arm) But I must ask you one more question. When you finish your medical education, you do still intend to go into practice?

BRET Why would you even ask?

PASTOR WILMONT The same parishioner has vouchsafed to me that he is tempting you to go into medical research, too.

BRET He has mentioned that I might consider doing so a couple of years after I finish my internship.

PASTOR WILMONT Well, you damn well better say no. I’m sure you can count your devout Christians who do medical research or any other kind of scientific research on the head of a pin and still have room leftover for a peck of devils. Now, promise me you will not be so misguided by him as to accept an invitation to such a hornet’s nest of unbelief.

BRET Well, father, I have thought --

PASTOR WILMONT -- I will not even entertain your excuses. It is sinful enough that you plan to abrogate the ways of the Lord by intervening in health matters with “modern” medical treatments. I will not tolerate that you enter the den of scientific iniquity inhabited by a predominance of misguided materialists. Do you understand me?

BRET Yes, father.

PASTOR WILMONT Good. Then so be it. (takes a business card out of his wallet) Here is Jessup’s business card. Call him and commit to the office space first thing in the morning. And let me know as soon as you do. (hands him business card) Do I have your word on it?

BRET Yes, sir.

PASTOR WILMONT Good. Then perhaps it is not too late for you to redeem your immortal soul. I suppose it would be too much to ask you to resign your role as the assistant to this inventive acolyte of Satan?

BRET I don’t think that’s necessary, Father. I promise you, I will not allow my Christian faith to be weakened by him.

PASTOR WILMONT Swear you won’t on this Holy Bible. (holds it out) Come on, Son, swear.

BRET (puts his hand on it) I swear.

PASTOR WILMONT Swear what?

BRET That I shall not let my faith in the Lord be weakened by him.

PASTOR WILMONT Good. Now, leave me to my reading.

BRET Yes, Father.

[Lights fade down]

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