Why Christians Don't Understand Non-Christians

ArGee | 1/3/01 | ArGee

[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.

[Zon]

they seemingly can't imagine thinking outside of the narrow compartmentalized box

You mean like imagining a being that doesn't have sex?

Yeah, that making love-sex stuff is just a sin, isn't it? </sarcasm>

If you study the G-d of Christianity and Judaism you will discover one thing more than anything else.

G-d is not like something a man would invent.

You got that right. Seems awfully degrading to man, IMO. But then again I can see creating beyond the limitations of the God of Christianity and Judaism. 

Shalom.

Aloha.

[LazarusX]

Non Christians wish to not believe in anything but themselves, moral or immoral behavior is just fine.

I've heard this many times and get the impression that the person saying it is a sociopath held in check by his belief in an invisible authority figure in the sky. Most of us can be decent people because that's the right thing to do, not because we'll be punished by some god.

[stuartcr]

Absolutely true, there are many good, moral and wonderful things done by non-Christians daily, even the ones afflicted by the satanic depravity of original sin.

[Anamensis]

But as you pointed out, all we have to go on is a 2000 year old rumor of a banquet. We see many people leave(die), with the fervent belief that they are going to a banquet, but not a single person ever returning with a toothpick in their mouth.

Ha ha! Yes, exactly!

[nattyman]

What is "the right thing to do"? Is it simply what society or the government says is the right thing to do? Christians try to be "decent people" out of love for God and for their fellow man, not out of fear.

[L,TOWM]

If it was part of a plan, where does this free-will stuff come in?

In the myriad ways these people sang their praises to Him, a varied and individual cacaphony that blended into a sweet sound of love for Him; love that He initiated. It is also expressed in the variety of ways we indulge our prideful hatred for a loving, but just, Creator.

I guess some people were lucky enough to get eaten so love could be expressed?

You're not too far off the mark. Substitute "blessed" for "lucky".

Still have a hard time understanding something that could compel someone to let themselves get eaten

"Seek and you shall find. Ask and it shall be given to you. Knock and the door will be opened." Compel is definately the wrong term also. There is a range of emotions spelled out in Foxe's "Book of Martyrs", but the sullen compliance of some one being forced to the executioner's dock is not mentioned.

I guess missing the banquet would be compelling enough for you?

Absolutely. And I pray that it never comes to that. I do love my life. But, if my conduct in dying for Him brings but one person to Christ, than it is worth it.

We all die. I know where I am going, whether I die in my sleep, or am martyred in horrible way. The sacrifice of a few years, in exchange for being the final eye opener of some one coming to truth and eternal fellowship with Him is quite a fair exchange in my book (and in G-d's).

[Anamensis]

I am eating. I have been eating for over 10 years. The food is the best food I have ever known. Sometimes it tastes a little bad when I see the people on the outside refusing to come in.

All I see is you holding an empty plate and lifting an empty spoon to your mouth and saying "it's so good, it's so good" as if you are desperately trying to convince yourself and others that something is there.

[Anamensis]

You seem to be in it for the long haul, whereas ArGee gave up trying to answer all the responses long ago.

I hope by now you know me better.

Well, I wasn't blaming you for it, it's a very long thread.

[LazarusX]

Whose definition of "loving" will win out, OWK's (based totally on an extremely limited understanding of all the factors involved) or God's (based on a total and perfect understanding of everything)? Hmmmmmm. Tough choice . . . .

Since OWK appears to be real, and there is no indication the same is true for any god, I'd say OWK.

[nattyman]

Jesus returned from the banquet "with a toothpick in his mouth" and over 500 people witnessed it. Some of them wrote about it in the New Testament, and many of them believed it so much that they even suffered death because of it.

[stuartcr]

I prefer to believe that people do good regardless of society and/or religious beliefs. People also do bad regardless of society and/or religious beliefs. People are people, some good, some bad.

[ez2muz]

"...the God of Abraham comes across to me as a demented tyrant who stomps about the earth in bloody murderous tantrums if he is not properly genuflected to.

If such attributes were applied to a human being, people would immediately recognize them as horrific, brutal, and tyranical. And yet when applied to something the call a God, they fall to their feet in worship.
I'll never understand it."

Every time I have read through the Bible, these types of stories always stand out to me. I don't understand it either.

It's like in Wal-Mart; the father who is constantly dogin' his child - waiting for her/him to step out of line then BAM!, down comes the hammer.

I think, "What a troubled, miserable human being. God help that child."

So, while questioning the actions attributed to God, I hope for his influence to help the child.

Kind of hypocritical on my part.

Perhaps the God of Abraham - as depicted in the OT, is not an accurate portrayal of the God of Humanity?

[stuartcr]

So they had free-will to sing, but not to avoid being eaten?
Blessed=lucky=getting eaten...right
Believe as I do, and you won't have to get eaten.

[ArGee]

I was looking for something more substantial than a bible quote.

What more do you need? I am not being flip. What do you consider to be 'substantial'?

Shalom.

[ArGee]

If God takes over the thread, and someone writes something, will it be as valid as the bible?

Absolutely. But if it contradicts the Bible we will know it is not G-d.

Shalom.

[OWK]

Perhaps the God of Abraham - as depicted in the OT, is not an accurate portrayal of the God of Humanity?

I don't see how it could be... even assuming the existence of God.

[ArGee]

Thank you.

Shalom.

[stuartcr]

A very old book, compiled by 40 men over the years, chronicles a man rising from the dead, and you believe it, verbatim, no questions asked?

[gdani]

But if it contradicts the Bible we will know it is not G-d

As if there are not plenty of contradictions within the Bible itself, not to mention everyone who interprets the Bible to their liking - which accounts for even more contradictions...

[L,TOWM]

Believe as I do, and you won't have to get eaten.

True, nothing will gnash its teeth on an atheist or agnostic. I'm more interested in not gnashing my own teeth, though.