Toward the end of my churchgoing days, while visiting friends I went to a worship service at their church. An enthusiastic pastor conducted the service, and I soon realized I was the only new person there.

This was easy to notice because she appeared to be directing everything she said to me. While speaking, she held my gaze and, when it was time for the altar call, she launched an all-out effort to get me to come forward.

But by then I’d learned that if I obeyed an altar call because someone pushed, I’d end up heaping lies upon lies. So I sat lodged in my chair, watching her do everything short of rant and rave. Her tone and volume ramped up quite close to that.

Finally she gave up, declaring me “blessing-proof.” I could tell she was baffled, and thought maybe she’d never before encountered anyone she couldn't manipulate.