.
†. Luke 16:23-25 . . The rich man died and was buried. In hades he lifted up
his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his
bosom. And he cried out and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my
tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.
Luke 16:19-31 is often claimed to be a parable. But I have to ask: Can you
think of even one of the Lord's many parables that could not possibly, by
any stretch of the imagination, be a true story? Neither can I. Every one of
them could easily pass for a genuine event taken from real life; and my next
question is: Why would Luke 16:19-31 be the one lone exception? And
besides; three real-life people are named in the story: Moses, Lazarus, and
Abraham. In no other of the Lord's many parables are people named.
If the Lord were to fabricate a fictional tale about real-life people; wouldn't
that create a false impression about them? If the rich man, and Lazarus, and
Abraham weren't actually in the netherworld at the time of the story, then
why would the Lord say they were if it were not so? I honestly don't think
that a man who labels himself the truth would stoop to saying untrue things
about real-life people.
†. John 14:1 . .You believe in God, believe also in me.
I just don't think I could trust a man who tells whoppers about real-life
people. Nobody's reputation would be safe in his hands.
You know what can be even worse than going to hell? Your own children
following you down there. Here's a cute story I heard once. I don't know if
it's true or not but it sure is pertinent.
A boozing farmer went out to his barn in the dead of night after a snowfall to
sneak a pull from his liquor bottle. Just as he got to the barn door he heard
something behind him. Turning, the farmer recognized his little boy coming
towards him. In amazement he asked the little guy how he ever managed to
find his way out to the barn in the dark. His son replied: It was easy; I
walked in your footsteps.
For some families, the only thing they have to look forward to in the afterlife
is a sad reunion in fire; for example:
†. Luke 16:27-29 . . Then he said: I beg you therefore, father [Abraham]
that you would send [Lazarus] to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.
That poor man had no way to contact his surviving kin and let them know
where he was; but his biggest fear was that he knew them well enough to
know that all five were coming down where he was-- there was nothing he
could do to prevent it. Imagine that man's anguish had those five been his
children.
BTW: the man's five brothers have long since joined him. Luke recorded that
event nearly two-thousand years ago.
Buen Camino
/
†. Luke 16:23-25 . . The rich man died and was buried. In hades he lifted up
his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his
bosom. And he cried out and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my
tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.
Luke 16:19-31 is often claimed to be a parable. But I have to ask: Can you
think of even one of the Lord's many parables that could not possibly, by
any stretch of the imagination, be a true story? Neither can I. Every one of
them could easily pass for a genuine event taken from real life; and my next
question is: Why would Luke 16:19-31 be the one lone exception? And
besides; three real-life people are named in the story: Moses, Lazarus, and
Abraham. In no other of the Lord's many parables are people named.
If the Lord were to fabricate a fictional tale about real-life people; wouldn't
that create a false impression about them? If the rich man, and Lazarus, and
Abraham weren't actually in the netherworld at the time of the story, then
why would the Lord say they were if it were not so? I honestly don't think
that a man who labels himself the truth would stoop to saying untrue things
about real-life people.
†. John 14:1 . .You believe in God, believe also in me.
I just don't think I could trust a man who tells whoppers about real-life
people. Nobody's reputation would be safe in his hands.
You know what can be even worse than going to hell? Your own children
following you down there. Here's a cute story I heard once. I don't know if
it's true or not but it sure is pertinent.
A boozing farmer went out to his barn in the dead of night after a snowfall to
sneak a pull from his liquor bottle. Just as he got to the barn door he heard
something behind him. Turning, the farmer recognized his little boy coming
towards him. In amazement he asked the little guy how he ever managed to
find his way out to the barn in the dark. His son replied: It was easy; I
walked in your footsteps.
For some families, the only thing they have to look forward to in the afterlife
is a sad reunion in fire; for example:
†. Luke 16:27-29 . . Then he said: I beg you therefore, father [Abraham]
that you would send [Lazarus] to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.
That poor man had no way to contact his surviving kin and let them know
where he was; but his biggest fear was that he knew them well enough to
know that all five were coming down where he was-- there was nothing he
could do to prevent it. Imagine that man's anguish had those five been his
children.
BTW: the man's five brothers have long since joined him. Luke recorded that
event nearly two-thousand years ago.
Buen Camino
/
