Sounds like a harmless flake, really. But how do you know that up front?
Our church has had similar incidents. The most recent being a known diagnosed and usually medicated schizophrenic. The guy is also first cousin to our security team leader, which caused some of both discomfort and chuckles. The guy is prone to episodes of unexplained excitement, which caused a few to shy from him. More then a few times it took a man from the fellowship offer him a friendly handshake, and simply sit with him to calm him.
And we have had a couple of darker incidences where someone showed up looking for their own version of "justice".
Situations like this certainly need to be monitored and guarded against due to the eventuality that someone will be truly and violently disturbed. Violence has and will occur in any place that people meet. And more so if they meet to discuss or teach/learn about right and wrong.
When Betty Sue goes home to her boyfriend and tells him she aint gonna fornicate or do dope with him anymore 'cause she learned better down at the church house, it'll get a reaction.
Sometimes her boyfriend comes and learns about right and wrong for himself.
Sometimes he'll come to tell those do-gooders off.
And either of those the church can accommodate. Anything beyond that begs for a solid security plan.
The community needs to know and recognize our meeting houses as being safe places. But we should not mistake a church house for the Temple of God.
Last edited by johnw; 10/19/20. Reason: clarity
