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.
Because the carnal mind cannot camprehend the things of the spirit.
It isnt my job or priority to "understand" [loaded word considering I comprehend them just fine] anyone who doesnt accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. If any one wants to show me where it says that I should...
...feel free.
:o)
I admire your patience even more than your intelligence.
I am curious: do you read threads like these hoping that someone can persuade you that God exists? Or do you just really enjoy debate?
Dead is dead.
All the good works in the world will not bring back the 3000 or so who died in the WTC at the will of a Judeo-Christian Religion.
I will not be holding my breath.
Yes. ;^]
This is an incorrect and very ignorant understanding of the God of Abraham. If I posted over on the thread, How has my life changed since reading Atlas Shrugged and never read the book,(which I have, at 13 and my life never changed a bit, yet my mental and spiritual life changes daily when I am in the Word,) imagine the broohaha that would arise from these people who have no shame whatsoever from cursing and denying their Maker. The fact they they may have evolved full-blown from a cocatrice's egg, is of course a reasonable alternative, but you will find that addressed on the Evolution-Creation threads.
Yeah, it's not like we read "Lord of the Rings" (or see it) and think it's evidence of elves. Yet the Bible is taken as evidence of gods. Bizarre.
Kindly keep your blasphemous statements to yourself.
Of course it is not just the book or the recent documentary, it is also the earlier works such as The Hobbit and the lost books found in a cave, along with the recently unearthed middle earth goblets made of a strange substance and mass-produced by Burger King, and of course the many works of art- paintings, etc-- that depict not only elves, dwarves, etc. Taken in totality, how can one help but believe in elves?
Here is the direct Scriptural proof:
1 Peter 3:18-20 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,In other words, Jesus went to the place of the dead to preach there. Why would he go, if not to give them a chance to receive Him? A less direct Scriptural proof follows:
Luke 16:22-23 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.If the rich man was in hell, but not at Abraham's side, then Abraham was not in hell. If you read the entire story (Luke 16:19-31) you will decide with me that Abraham was in heaven. Yet Abraham was before Christ. Therefore, G-d has indeed made a way for everyone to hear and accept the Gospel.
There are Christians who will disagree with me that people can hear the Gospel after death. But I think Scripture supports me. However, if you hear the Gospel in life, that is your time of decision. I don't believe Scripture supports "one last chance" after death for those who heard in life.
[Safely Home]Sounds like a fascinating book. Thanks for the reference. I'll check my local bookstore.
Check a local Christian bookstore. Or check Christianbooks.com
Shalom.
He has already issued it. It is in Shengjing. Did I spell that OK? I learned it from that book I told you about.
Shalom.
Actually, no, you have the assumption wrong. They are outside already. He isn't going to throw them into hell, he's inviting them into Heaven (relationship with Him would be more accurate). You take the approach that you should be in heaven by right, but get cast into hell for something you do wrong. The Bible teaches that you are born in a place very close to hell. The doorway to Heaven is opened to you by the grace of G-d. It is a tremendous gift that He has made the way. And He made the way easy. He won't cast you into hell if you make a mistake. But you will fall there if you don't go through the door. Do you see the important difference? He won't condemn you. He will invite you in. If you refuse to go in, you condemn yourself.
The underlying assumption that God orders eternal torture for men who make the wrong choice, does not fit with the with the kindly host analogy. Even the worst host in the world would invite a guest back after he apologized humbly and begged forgiveness for a year. How could Almighty God never forgive, even after trillions of years of sincere repentence?
Read "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis. The more correct underlying assumption is that everyone who has not chosen to go through the door will never change their minds. After a while their hearts become too hard.
Shalom.
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