There has been a religious discussion on a board that I post. It is a place that I care deeply about the other ladies. I do not wish to offend them. We come from different places, different religions, etc. But the board is not a religious board, but a large family one. I want to maintain a place where discussions revolving around large family life is discussed and moms of many can feel comfortable with one another. But when one of the posters began asking another about their particular religion, how does one stay quiet? So I wrote an analogy as to why it is impossible to not seem contrary. Here it is: (and these friends are of the Mormon persuasion.)
Let me see if I can give you an analogy. Suppose you had a dear friend who couldn't swim. Your friend has purchased a Life Boat for the purpose of going on a rafting trip. Now you have seen this Life Boat. It is built out of raw wood, complete with a raw wood life preserver. You can see that this boat may stay afloat for awhile, but once it is water logged it is going to sink. Since your friend can't swim, she will surely drown. So you try to point out to her that her life boat is actually not going to save her, but she will sink and drown.
Your friend tells you that you just don't understand that she purchased this life boat from a legitimate source and it is indeed a life boat, complete with a life preserver stamped right on the boat. She has other non-swimming friends that begin to ask her about this boat and express their desire to go rafting on her life boat.
Now you, as her friend who cares deeply about her, would you choose not to say anything so as not to stir up strife amongst friends?
Here is another analogy. You and a friend decide to move to Hawaii. You don't need to take any belongings with you as you will be able to purchase everything once you arrive. So you make plane reservations to Hawaii. Your friend instead buys a canoe. She plans to take off from the coast of California and canoe all the way to Hawaii. What do you do? You have other friends who want the same thing. Some have also made plane reservations, others are talking about following the canoe route. Since you all enjoy being friends where you are at, and once you arrive in Hawaii are you going to bother to point out that your friend in the canoe is probably not going to make it to Hawaii? Afterall, most likely the worst that is going to happen is your friend will be in the canoe for awhile, but then go back to living in California. California is not Hawaii, but certainly not the worst place to live.
So, where am I going with this? You wonder why I seem a bit argumentative when you are explaining your religion to someone else. You believe most of us who are decent people will be in some level of heaven and only the truly evil people will land in hell. You don't like it when you think others misunderstand the road you are on to your destination, so you try politely to help them understand. But it isn't a big deal if they don't quite make it to the same destination as you as long as they are going to make it to some level of heaven.
I on the other hand don't see it as such. I am in the first analogy. I see a heaven and a hell and nothing in between. I care deeply about you, but the path I see you on does not lead you to destination of heaven that I am on. I see it leading to a place of eternal torment. So while you might see me as mean-spirited by pointing out what I see as fallacies in your leaky boat, my true desire is that you end up in eternity with the One True God. I can't not say something when I see your destination as not just a lower level of heaven, but in an eternal place of fire.
Let me see if I can give you an analogy. Suppose you had a dear friend who couldn't swim. Your friend has purchased a Life Boat for the purpose of going on a rafting trip. Now you have seen this Life Boat. It is built out of raw wood, complete with a raw wood life preserver. You can see that this boat may stay afloat for awhile, but once it is water logged it is going to sink. Since your friend can't swim, she will surely drown. So you try to point out to her that her life boat is actually not going to save her, but she will sink and drown.
Your friend tells you that you just don't understand that she purchased this life boat from a legitimate source and it is indeed a life boat, complete with a life preserver stamped right on the boat. She has other non-swimming friends that begin to ask her about this boat and express their desire to go rafting on her life boat.
Now you, as her friend who cares deeply about her, would you choose not to say anything so as not to stir up strife amongst friends?
Here is another analogy. You and a friend decide to move to Hawaii. You don't need to take any belongings with you as you will be able to purchase everything once you arrive. So you make plane reservations to Hawaii. Your friend instead buys a canoe. She plans to take off from the coast of California and canoe all the way to Hawaii. What do you do? You have other friends who want the same thing. Some have also made plane reservations, others are talking about following the canoe route. Since you all enjoy being friends where you are at, and once you arrive in Hawaii are you going to bother to point out that your friend in the canoe is probably not going to make it to Hawaii? Afterall, most likely the worst that is going to happen is your friend will be in the canoe for awhile, but then go back to living in California. California is not Hawaii, but certainly not the worst place to live.
So, where am I going with this? You wonder why I seem a bit argumentative when you are explaining your religion to someone else. You believe most of us who are decent people will be in some level of heaven and only the truly evil people will land in hell. You don't like it when you think others misunderstand the road you are on to your destination, so you try politely to help them understand. But it isn't a big deal if they don't quite make it to the same destination as you as long as they are going to make it to some level of heaven.
I on the other hand don't see it as such. I am in the first analogy. I see a heaven and a hell and nothing in between. I care deeply about you, but the path I see you on does not lead you to destination of heaven that I am on. I see it leading to a place of eternal torment. So while you might see me as mean-spirited by pointing out what I see as fallacies in your leaky boat, my true desire is that you end up in eternity with the One True God. I can't not say something when I see your destination as not just a lower level of heaven, but in an eternal place of fire.
5 comments:
Joanne, what a great anaology. It's so hard when you care about people to balance hurting feelings and wanting them to understand the truth. I think you have done a wonderful job.
((((HUGS))))
A hearty amen!
((((Truth)))))
It is hard. I haven't read the posts, but I understand. My husband comes from a Mormon family. My mother and father in law are now deceased, but I will remember the days of visiting missionary boys (sent by mom, with all hope that Ken would enter the fold once again) and the home teachers who arrived when we visited...and the struggle to be truthful and gracious at the same time.
Best I can say is, listen to the Holy Spirit, and follow those nudges as to when to be silent or when to speak (or type--heh heh) how much or how little to say, how to be straighforward and respectful at the same time.
Only the Spirit knows who is listening and who will not.
Prayers for you...
Very well written and sensitive to others!
We have friends who are Morman and unfortunately the discussion is now silent. Another friend grew up in the Morman community and most of her family are still part of it. There is no easy way, just keep doing what you know to be right and go as you are led.
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