Not Quite So Hypothetical
Okay here is the scenario…
Let’s say it’s the late 90’s and four friends are sitting around talking about life as usual. Then someone brings up the topic of how on New Years Day 2000 all the computers are going to shutdown or freakout or something. They learn about all the different world systems this could effect - power, water, transportation and so on. The future looks pretty grim. They do some research and learn that, yes, the concerns are indeed valid and people everywhere are conducting great efforts to correct the problem of Y2K before the clock strikes twelve. As they study more, they learn that there is no way the problem will be fixed in time. So all together, they agreed that Y2K was coming and they should begin preparing for it.
Now lets fast foward to January 1, 2000 and see where they are:
Friend 1: Now lives in Montana with a rabbit farm and a stockpile of firearms.
Friend 2: Stored about two and a half months of food and water in the basement.
Friend 3: Stored maybe a week’s worth of food and water in the basement.
Friend 4: Has two cases of beer and some chips from the big party the night before.
Which friends thought Y2K was going to occur and what do you base your answer on?
September 30th, 2005 at 10:16 pm
They all did and Friend 4 was gonna have a party while he still could…..
October 1st, 2005 at 8:39 pm
Sorry for the tangent, but I can’t help but draw a contrast…
Think about the way people did stuff like that based on speculation that computers would go haywire.
Now think about the way people DIDN’T do stuff like that based on the fact that a category 5 hurricane was two days away…
October 2nd, 2005 at 1:16 am
I think I see where you’re going with this…
How about on the day of reckoning:
Friend 1: Knew he’s a Christian and lived it like his life depended on it.
Friend 2: Did enough so he felt he was “safe” but held back his favorite parts of himself and of this world from Christ.
Friend 3: Heard the gospel, went to church, and gave a token amount, but didn’t get totally involved (spiritually or materially).
Friend 4: Claimed there is no God.
Which one really believed Christ was coming back? What would you base that answer on? And…which friend are you? (I’m pretty sure #3 and #4 (and some of #2) will be hearing something to the effect of “I never knew you…”)
October 2nd, 2005 at 6:11 pm
Well I had my stockpile of firearms long before y2k
muahahahahaha
October 3rd, 2005 at 3:14 pm
Ok, Jeffrey’s on to me. The tricky category is the “just in case” crowd. Those that stored some provisions just in case. The difference that the faith is placed in actions themselves. It’s easy to say, “Hey, I said I believed in Jesus. I went to church and prayed and lived a pretty good life. Doesn’t that get me something?” It’s a motivation thing that is about where the action is coming from instead of judging the action itself.
It’s like some church sign that we passed that says, “You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.”
With the common message of the Evangelical church being “pray the prayer and you’re in - once saved, always saved”, I think there will be more Friend 2’s that will be hearing “I never knew you” than we suspect.
Hugh, I wonder about that too. Maybe there is a difference between what I know to be factually true and what I believe. Even competing with other things that I believe. I know a cat 5 hurricane is coming but I’ve riden out all the others and I believe everything will be okay. Is it correct to assume belief is stronger than knowledge? Just some thoughts.