I received two invitations this week. One was hand-delivered by the father for the wedding of his son. Weddings are always special, as they are full of love and family. They also serve as a reminder of God’s role in the union, as he established the institution that has impacted societies for millennia.
Even when I can’t attend, the invitation is my prayer card. Each time I look at it, I pray for the couple, their families, their future.
Yet, another invitation also came, this time delivered by email. It had my name on it, just like the other and said:
Dear Carol B.
Your presence is requested at the Dark Baptism of the teenage witch Sabrina Spellman.
Join us as we gather under the eclipsing blood moon, at the stroke of midnight on her sixteenth birthday.
Bear witness as Sabrina signs her name to the Book of the Beast and begins her journey on the path of night, just as the Dark Lord intended.
And it’s signed by her family, Hilda Spellman and Zelda Spellman.
I’m not the only person who received this invite, because Netflix was using it as advertising! Yes, advertising a baptism to the Dark Lord! Where have we gone in this world?
I cannot imagine the uproar for a network or cable company, if they sent a similar advertisement for a show that dramatized a Christian baptism. We would be hearing it from all sides, but a baptism to Satan is allowed?
There are many invitations in our world today. Invites to join a club or sorority. There are invitations to be on a company or non-profit board of directors. We get invitations to weddings, proms, baby showers, recitals.
Not all invitations should be accepted. In our click-it-and-win-it culture, we should beware of accepting links to shows like the one above. Avoid the tendency to “just take a look” when a picture of a seductive male or female shows up in your news feed. We can’t say “think before you act;” now it has to be, “think before you click.”
Do you know one event that doesn’t send invitations? Funerals, because you never know when it’s going to happen. Yet, there is one invitation you need to accept before it’s too late.
The invitation of Jesus.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Have you accepted some invitations that have led you down a dark path, made you weary and burdened? Jesus has a hand-delivered invite just for you. He’s knocking at your door right now. All you have to do is believe and let him in.
Get your name on the Book of Life for eternity. It’s an invitation worth accepting.
Grace and Peace