Over on Ben Witherington’s Blog today he posted the following story with the disclaimer “If it is a true story it is enormously sad and tragic, and shows how bad theology can kill you. If it is only a fictitious story it is enormously hilarious… and shows how bad theology can kill you.” Turns out it is not a true story, thank God. While I read it, I at first started crying from laughing hysterically. I then I started to feel a different kind of tears coming on because I have known and loved people in my life who just might have followed Mrs. Williams out of the window. Here is the Story:

” A Little Rock woman was killed yesterday after leaping through her moving car’s sunroof during an incident best described as a ‘mistaken rapture’ by dozens of eye-witnesses. Thirteen other people were injured after a twenty car pile-up resulted from people trying to avoid hitting the woman, who was apparently convinced the rapture was occurring when she thought she saw twelve people floating into the air, and then passed a man on the side of the road who she believed was Jesus. “She started screaming ‘He’s back! He’s back!’ and climbed out through the sun roof and jumped off the roof of the car.” said Everet Williams, husband of 28 year-old Georgeann Williams who was pronounced dead at the scene. I was slowing down but she wouldn’t wait until I stopped,” Williams said. “She thought the rapture was happening and was convinced that Jesus was gonna lift her up into the sky,” he went on to say.

“This is the strangest thing I’ve seen since I have been on the force,” said Paul Mason, first officer on the scene. Madison questioned the man who looked like Jesus and discovered that he was on the way to a costume party, when the tarp covering the bed of his pickup truck came loose and released twelve blow-up sex dolls filled with helium, which then floated into the sky. Ernie Jenkins, 32, of Fort Smith, who has been told several times by his friends he looks like Jesus, pulled over and lifted his arms into the air in frustration saying ‘Come back, come back,’ just as the Williams car passed him. Mrs. Williams was sure it was Jesus lifting people up into heaven as they drove by Jenkins. When asked for comments about the twelve sex dolls, Jenkins replied ‘This is all just too weird for me. I never expected anything like this to happen.’”

I find that even though it is not true it still has a certain sort of sadness because we don’t have to suspend our disbelief to much to envision it really happening. Have you read any bumper-stickers lately that read: In case of rapture, this car will be unmanned?

Peace,

Wayne