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.
To take it a step further, even if all of the walls of the building were glass, making the reason for the choice of entrances plain for all to see, it still wouldn't matter, for their lack of understanding arises by choice, not by deficiency.
When I first read the title of the thread, I thought it was ill-conceived, since all christians were once non-christians themselves, thus should understand. - The difference is now obvious though: it is between the Elect, and the willfully lost.
"Friends, If you see a problem in this little story, please let me know what it is so that I can correct it. If you think it is accurate and useful, please invite your non-Christian friends to the thread. I'd like to know what they think.
Shalom."
I appreciate such a fine effort, my friend, but I would definitely have changed the ending.
The "rich man", assuming this is meant to portray a Christian who is anxious to share the joy of Christ's love, wouldn't have become enraged, have 'em tossed out, etc.
The "rich man" would have been very happy for those who entered and enjoyed the banquet (a banquet that "fills" the "guests" forever) but would have been profoundly sad for those who refused the invitation. I would have had the "refuseniks" standing outside the open door, simply refusing to go in because............well, pick your reason ("There's a catch, I just know it!"; "Who are YOU to tell us what to eat??"; "Why did you make us walk all the way over here to get this meal?"; "I don't like what you're serving; I think you left out my favorite foods deliberately.", etc. , etc.). This would not have dissuaded the rich man, and he would have wept inside for he knew how truly hungry these people were, even if they didn't.............yet he also knew that it would NEVER be proper or appropriate to force them to enter and partake of the meal.
He would have told them "I am sorry that you do not wish to come in, but know that you are welcome........at any time. We want you here, and you will enjoy the meal unlike any meal you've had in your life. You are loved by all of us, and I only wish I had better words to convince you. We'll see to it that there is plenty of food if you decide to join us after all; it will be warm, very tasty, satisfying, and plentiful."
Why Christians don't understand non-Christians.
I don't understand why so many people, regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs or with their religious beliefs think there's just one very rich man. Certainly a very rich man would seek a very rich woman so that they may enjoy each others company. And the very rich man and very rich woman would have children so that they too could enjoy being very rich children, then growing to be very rich men and very rich women. And before you know it there are very rich men and very rich women and very rich children everywhere. The very rich man, very rich woman and very rich child knows how very rich people came to be.
For generations there have been people that have asked for proof that a very rich man exists. Where is the proof that many very rich men, very rich women and very rich children don't exist?
What I see in each person is evidence that very rich men, very rich women and very rich children are abundant, and most unfortunately, regardless of any religious belief, it is their thinking inside the box that they seemingly can't imagine thinking outside of the narrow compartmentalized box that external authorities set the boundaries of their thinking for them. It is horrific to limit nature's boundary-free conscious mind to the boundaries set by external authorities.
Western societies operate in general by the religious code "do unto others". In other words, push your values onto others -- make others rise to your rightness. Nature's code is "do not do unto others". In other words, leave others alone to create their life as they see fit so long as they don't initiate force or fraud against others. Thus allowing each person and the child buried deep within to rise up and become a very rich man and very rich woman as intended by the conscious mind-body/human nature.
Well-put point.
As a Christian (and VERY much a "work-in-progress" Christian at that), I can only respond that when one hears the Truth, you know it. You just know it like you've never known anything before in your life. Jesus' message of no-holds-barred love, forgiveness, peace, compassion...............of salvation through His own sacrifice...............just brings tears to the eyes of the most hardened. I know.
It shouldn't be an issue of "fire insurance". Christianity attracts because of its honesty, its simplicity, its promise of life everlasting.........and its wonderful message(s). I've seen Christianity and true Christian faith do unbelievable things in many, many peoples' lives. We do not and should not attempt to "frighten" people into the faith.
All Christians can and should do is put that message before the world. There are many ways to do that, but the best is living a life that is a true testament (or "witness") to Christianity. It attracts people; always does. Unfortunately, too many of our faith have a problem with that OR attend churches that fail to teach a personal relationship with the Lord; they just go through the motions every Sunday. THAT is supremely sad, IMHO.
I owe the good Lord everything, and I cannot imagine how I got through this world without Him (ok, I do............and "not very well" is the answer).
God bless.
The same kind of God who would come to us, born in the flesh himself, and willing to have his own blood shed and pay our debt so that we could have eternal life.
What's sick are those who pretend not to understand, and demand to their dying day that God relent, and allow them an exception. - It's sick that they wasted an opportunity for eternal life, and will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Why do you fear him?
Why do you fear him?
This is totally at odds with scripture. You misunderstand the parable of the prodigal son.
No... a serious one.
I can understand why someone might want to love their God.
But fear?
What kind of God wants to be feared?
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".
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