“Now some of us have the notion that we can carry on just like we please to. That if—how is it they say it: ‘If it feels good, do it.’ Now I’m talking about fleshly things. You say, ‘What you mean, Brother Barden?’ You know what I mean. My Jesus. Now I’m gone step on some toes this morning, but that’s what my job is, now ain’t it?”

. . . Oh yeah . . .

“That’s right. Now hear what Paul says in Romans Chapter One:

“‘They are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

“‘Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

“‘And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

“‘Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

“‘Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

“‘For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

“‘And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

“‘And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient . . .’”

Reverend Barden paused and picked up his pocket handkerchief, slowly unfolding it, looking down at it carefully as if composing his thoughts. He wiped his forehead, which was wet with sweat, paused for a moment, then refolded the handkerchief and placed it gently down. He brought his hands together prayerfully, but narrowed his eyes with a vengeance.

“Now the other week,” he began, “I saw something on the TV that upset me right much. It was one of them talk shows, you know, where you got the host and him talking with this one today and that one tomorrow and so forth. You all see them, you see them every day. Well, this particular morning, I switched on my TV set and you know what I found?”

. . . No, Lord . . .

“Well, this host fellow was talking to about six people, up on that little stage of his (they was all white, you know), two women, four men. And their topic was . . .” Reverend Barden stopped and leaned forward, his shoulder first, as though he were about to part with something in confidence. “. . . Live-in Lovers.” The expression on his face read, Can you believe it?