Syrupy colloquialisms glaze the sketch that ZZ Packer uses to
unpack a narrow-minded, judgmental Christian caricature in “Every Tongue Shall
Confess” short story.
Readers seep into the mind of Sister Clareese Mitchell on
Missionary Sunday. She is perpetually obedient with an undercurrent of rage as she
wears a stark white dress during her monthly cycle and sits fearful of a bloody
downpour at Greater Church Emmanuel Pentecostal of the Fire Baptized.
Packer layers the self-righteous Bible tooting stereotype by
using similes to show an introverted, dateless woman who seeks to drive the
hell fire out of others. Yet Sister Clareese remains clueless to her own blazing resentment that targets everyone in her midst. Packer shows the cross-eyed lead
character with twisted eyes and a twisted view of showing God’s love to others.
Sister Clareese leads the church choir and sits on her perch
in the choir stand glaring down at all: 'the liar,' a deacon who vulgarly
groped her; the 'flashy' Pastor Everett; and the possible ‘pick pocket’ ex-con
who is visiting.
The author jets between Emmanuel Pentecostal and cutaways of Sister
Clareese working as a RN at University Hospital. The sister puts on the “Armor
of God” to fight for souls and do good works; while she forgets God call for her
to love and forgive.
Packer’s is a master at character development; she frames
Sister Clareese as an intelligent Jesus freak who has lost her way in her zeal
to win souls for Christ. The Christian is caught presses her ‘come to Jesus
message’ a bit too hard on jubilant amputee and musician, Cleophus. He questions: “Why does God allow pain in the
world?” She answers with a loud voice
and storms out the hospital room as the amputee falls to the ground –and her caring facade unravels.
Packer seems to take a swing at know-it-all Christians
such as Sister Clareese who bruise the unchurched with their dogmatic
proselytizing and overlook the need to first show love. The hospital makes her pay for her misstep in yelling at a patient, by suspending Sister
Clareese.
She seems to miss the wake up call to put the brakes on her overbearing
evangelism. It seems like Packer gives
her lead no arch – she stays stuck the whole story. Packer, in the last few
lines, however, gives her a chance to be redeemed. Cleophus visits her church and his
mere presence on Missionary Sunday seems like a fig leaf of friendship and hope
after their debacle.
