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Why Christians Don't Understand Non-Christians
ArGee | 1/3/01 | ArGee

Posted on 01/03/2002 11:19:13 AM PST by ArGee

A very rich man decided that he wanted to show kindness to the people of the fair city where he lived. Since he was very rich indeed, he decided to throw a banquet for the entire city. He rented the largest sports arena in the city and began his plans. He planned for huge amounts of the best food possible, making allowances for every religious and medical diet. He advertised the banquet in every possible manner - television, radio, billboard, door-to-door canvassing. Considering that there might be some who could not travel, he arranged for free bus transportation to and from the event, and some special-needs vehicles for all who could not ride busses. He even scheduled the banquet to run for 24 hours a day for several days so that everyone could be sure of being served.

He planned long and hard and finally the big day came. The rich man ate quickly and then went about wishing all his guests well and personally making sure that all had every need met. After a while he went outside to tour the grounds and talk with those who had not yet gone in, and those who had already left. Everyone was happy. Many were profusely thankful. It was a glorious occasion.

At one point the rich man noticed a group of people sitting outside a locked door with most unpleasant looks on their faces. Sensing they were not happy, he went over to them. He did not introduce himself but simply asked them if he could be of service.

"We want to go in through this door," one of them replied.

The rich man explained to them that the hall was arranged to feed a large number of people as quickly and effortlessly as possible. This required order inside, and the entrances and exits had been carefully planned to be as efficient as possible. He then offered to go call one of the golf carts that were avaialbe to help people who could not walk far to take them to the entrance. But the man replied, "We do not want to go in the entrance. We want to go in this door. We don't understand why we can't go in any door we wish. We think the man who set this banquet up is mean and hateful for insisting we go in through the entrance. He has tried to bill himself as a very kind man by offering this banquet, but he is not kind at all if he will not indulge us and let us go through this door.

The rich man was distressed at these words, but still attempted to please these people. He tried once more to explain to them what was behind this particular door, and how if they went in this door they would disrupt the meal service being offered inside. He offered to drive them himself, not only to the door, but inside the hall to their tables if they would only go through the entrance to enjoy the meal. Again the man said, "No, but only a hateful man would keep us from going through the door of our choosing. And we will sit here and tell anyone who will listen to us what an awful man he is until he lets us in."

At that the rich man was enraged and he shouted, "Enough." Then he called a police officer to have them thrown off of the property and ordered that they not be allowed to return until the banquet was over and all the scraps had been hauled away. Then, mourning for their loss, he turned to visit with other guests.


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To: Eternal_Bear
Are you a shooter? You are in the x-ring!
321 posted on 01/03/2002 6:12:08 PM PST by reg45
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To: Texas Eagle
I can hardly wait to read all the vitriolic responses

LOL!

322 posted on 01/03/2002 6:12:10 PM PST by Humidston
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To: RaceBannon
Ah.... Job.

Yet another example of what a whacky cosmic-practical-jokester God can be.

In my opinion, upon reaching the kingdom of heaven Job would have been perfectly entitled to punch God right in the nose.

323 posted on 01/03/2002 6:13:50 PM PST by OWK
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To: Belial
You don't need religion to establish frameworks.
Christianity or any other religion doesn't offer you God's love. God's love is there regardless.
Control is correct
You don't need religion to realize that you won't live forever.
324 posted on 01/03/2002 6:13:52 PM PST by stuartcr
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To: OWK
Are these the actions of a loving God? I think not. So I must draw one of two conclusions from these observations.

Either the God of Abraham does not exist....

Or

Those who describe him have attributed things to him, which could not possibly be so of a loving God.


Only 2?

#3. Your definition of a 'loving' GOD is not the same as His.

325 posted on 01/03/2002 6:17:23 PM PST by Elsie
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To: Thorn11cav; ArGee
If you mean Second Thessalonians 2:11, "Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false," I'm not sure that applies to this particular illustration... Paul was writing about the second coming of Christ and the end times (v 3, "Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed").

I think ArGee is merely trying to describe how the "lost" refuse to follow the simple plan of salvation, and their time is up when they stand before the Lord in judgement. My point is just no matter how many times we refuse Him, was can still "enter the banquet" by making Jesus Christ the Lord of our life.

326 posted on 01/03/2002 6:18:08 PM PST by vrwinger
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To: Magician
We have our own more open and accessable paths to where we want to go in this life and in the next.

Mt 7:13

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

327 posted on 01/03/2002 6:18:26 PM PST by netman
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To: stuartcr
You don't need religion to establish frameworks.

No, but things exist in multiplicity. For example, Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper. One size doesn't fit every need for a framework. Given an itch someone will make a scratcher for it.
328 posted on 01/03/2002 6:18:44 PM PST by Belial
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To: soundsolutions
Not only does God require that one be morally perfect, he cannot have it any other way, because it would go against his perfect nature.

No matter how perfect we become, we cannot be as perfect as G-d, because if we could be as perfect as G-d , we would be G-d. Since there is Only One G-d, our limited level of perfection is irrelevant.

329 posted on 01/03/2002 6:18:57 PM PST by reg45
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To: stuartcr
You don't need religion to realize that you won't live forever.

Not at all. But it can help you come to terms with that fact.
330 posted on 01/03/2002 6:19:47 PM PST by Belial
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To: Elsie
No... only 2.

Abusive trials, murderous tantrums, and ransoming humanity to impossible standards are not love by ANYONE'S definition.

331 posted on 01/03/2002 6:21:02 PM PST by OWK
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To: Belial
I don't think a belief in God requires an established framework.
332 posted on 01/03/2002 6:21:03 PM PST by stuartcr
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To: reg45
The Holy Quran teaches...

1. The divinity of Jesus - I guess you don't believe in that since the Quran is all lies.
2. The virgin birth of Jesus - I guess you don't believe in that since the Quran is all lies.
3. The Supremacy of G-d - I guess you don't believe in that since the Quran is all lies.
4. The Bible is a Holy book - I guess you don't believe in that since the Quran is all lies.

For you to say what you say shows how little you know about the Quran.


Could you cut and paste these Suras from the online Koran to prove your point a little clearer?
333 posted on 01/03/2002 6:23:32 PM PST by Elsie
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To: Belial
That pretty much sums it up. I also read some interesting posts on this topic at the atheism section of the CARM-Board.
And here is an other interesting article on beliefs and religions.
334 posted on 01/03/2002 6:25:41 PM PST by BMCDA
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To: soundsolutions
No sir! I am not trying to get anyone to accept Jesus, based on logic alone.

If the truth of Christianity (or any other religion) could be proven by logic, there would be no need for Faith. Faith is the foundation of religion not logic.

335 posted on 01/03/2002 6:26:35 PM PST by reg45
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To: OWK; editor-surveyor; skull stomper; the_doc; Ethan North; All
"That whole thing was kinda weird.

You'd think that a just and loving God would have been disappointed in Abraham for saying anything other than "Hell no, I'm not killing my son"."

As I mentioned in a previous thread, it never ceases to amaze how many people feel qualified to comment on Scripture and theology without knowing anything about the subject. Whenever French impressionists are discussed I typically don't join in; I don't study French impressionists and therefore have to much respect for the facts to offer unqualified static.

Too bad most people don't feel the same regarding the Scripture of the LORD and the most important things men may know-- of God, His salvation and how to glorify Him and His Son, Jesus Christ.

336 posted on 01/03/2002 6:26:38 PM PST by Matchett-PI
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To: BMCDA
I don't claim to be an expert on the bible but if I remember correctly there was this "tree of knowledge" whose fruits were not intended for human consumption.
Close......
Genesis 2
16. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
17. but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
(I always find it interesting that Adam COULD have eaten from the Tree of Life, but didn't.)
337 posted on 01/03/2002 6:29:52 PM PST by Elsie
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To: OWK
Do you enjoy being abused? Trying to talk logic and facts to a believer is like trying to feed salt to a slug. Forget about it..... and no, I am not comparing believers to slugs, it is a metaphor...(that was not for you OWK, it was for the people that are so easily offended.)
338 posted on 01/03/2002 6:31:16 PM PST by Aric2000
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To: Elsie
I always find it interesting that people could actually believe there was a tree of life, or that a book could accurately tell you what the very first humans on earth did and talked about.
339 posted on 01/03/2002 6:32:43 PM PST by stuartcr
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To: lexcorp
That was very well put....
340 posted on 01/03/2002 6:32:57 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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