Tonight I learned that I am the enemy. That according to the preacher down the street.

I live four houses away from The Temple of Joy: A corner house converted into a church.

Back in April, the church was damaged in a fire.

After the fire the church put up a tent in what was once the back yard and began having tent revival style services four nights a week. I think most people in the neighbohrood were cool with this at the time since everyone felt bad for the congregation.

Not content to merely preach to themselves, the chuch began hauling out their rather significant PA system and blasting sermons at the neighborhood residents. Did I mention four nights a week? For two to four hours at a pop? The speaker they have chosen to aim at the neighborhood happens to point right at the side of my house. So like it or not, I get to go to church four nights a week.

So how did I become the enemy? Last week I was out walking my dog and bumped into the preacher. I mentioned that we didn’t mind them having services outdoors but that they had gotten rather loud and could he perhaps turn the volume down a bit or at least not aim the speaker at my house (which I might point out means that it is NOT pointing at the 25 people in folding chairs there to hear the word).

The preacher was very friendly during our conversation and thanked me for letting him know. They certainly didn’t want to offend anyone in the neighborhood he said earnestly.

But tonight, while walking my dog, I heard yet another sermon. This one about how the members of the congregation needed to harden themselves for battle with their enemies. They needed to lay “spiritual traps” on all the roads in this neighborhood so that “people walking by can’t avoid hearding the word of Jesus.” Because, he told them, their enemies are trying to make them turn down their speakers. Their enemies are trying to silence them.

Hmmm.