Very clearly a parable about Israel (the rich man) and the Gentiles (Lazarus) finding themselves on opposite sides of "the covenant" than either of them ever expected.
Where Is Muhammad Ali Now?
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Very clearly a parable about Israel (the rich man) and the Gentiles (Lazarus) finding themselves on opposite sides of "the covenant" than either of them ever expected.
Santuzza, I've been thinking a lot about your words and as always I greatly appreciate what you share. More importantly I believe God is saying, well done, My daughter. That said however, I admit that I do in fact pass judgment on people who deny Christ. MA was muslim, and muslims shun the saving grace of Jesus Christ, therefore I am to conclude that he does not have salvation. We are obligated to make disciples of all nations, and acknowledging that no one gets to the Father but through Jesus is part of that obligation.
I understand what you're saying. If someone REALLY cornered me, I'd probably say something like "If he was an unrepentant Muslim, he is certainly not with God." But that's just an "if." Because we simply can't really know, and I don't want to condemn anyone who may, in his last weeks/days/hours came to know our Lord. That's all I'm saying.
Fiction can be defined as stories about people, places, and events that,
though untrue; are plausible; viz: realistic.
Fantasy can be defined as stories about people, places, and events that are
not only untrue; but implausible; viz: unrealistic.
For example: a story about a boy like Pinocchio is unrealistic; while a story
about a boy with autism is realistic. The difference between Pinocchio and a
boy with autism is that the one is compatible with normal reality; while the
other is far removed from normal reality.
I have yet to read even one of Jesus Christ's parables that could not possibly
be a real-life story. They're all actually quite believable-- farmers sowing
seed, women losing coins, sons leaving home, wineskins bursting, tares
among the wheat, leavened bread, barren fig trees, the blind leading the
blind, et al.
Now; if he had told one that alleged the moon was made of green cheese;
we would have good reason to believe that at least that one was fantasy;
but none of them are like that. At best; Christ's parables might qualify as
fiction; but never fantasy because none of them are so far removed from
normal reality that there is no possible chance of it ever being a real-life
story.
Luke 16:19-31 is commonly alleged to be a parable; which of course implies
that the story is fiction; and some would even say fantasy. But the parable
theory has a fatal flaw.
Abraham, Moses, and the prophets are real-life persons; they are neither
fiction nor fantasy.
Abraham is especially notable because he's held in very high esteem by at
least three of the world's prominent religions: Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam.
Abraham is also the friend of God (2Chrn 20:27, Isa 41:8). I simply cannot
believe that Jesus Christ-- a man famous among Christians for his honesty
and integrity --would say something untrue about a famous real-life man;
especially one of his Father's buddies.
And on top of that, the story quotes Abraham a number of times. Well; if the
story is fiction, then Jesus Christ is on record testifying that Abraham said
things that he didn't really say; which is a clear violation of the
commandment that prohibits bearing false witness.
There is something else to consider.
Luke 16:19:31 didn't originate with Jesus Christ. No, it originated higher up.
In other words: Jesus Christ was micro managed.
● John 3:34 . . He is sent by God. He speaks God's words
● John 8:26 . . He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those
things which I have heard of Him.
● John 8:28 . . I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as
the Father taught me.
● John 12:49 . . I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me,
He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
● John 14:24 . .The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who
sent me.
When people allege that Luke 16:19-31 is not true to life; they insinuate
that God is a person of marginal integrity who can't be trusted to tell the
truth about people, not even about His own friends, which is ridiculous
seeing as how Titus 1:2 and Heb 6:18 testify that God cannot lie.
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There's quite a number of things believers know that unbelievers won't know
anything about until it's too late to make any difference.
● 1John 5:19-20 . . We know that we are children of God, and that the whole
world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God
has come and has given us understanding
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There's quite a number of things believers know that unbelievers won't know
anything about until it's too late to make any difference.
● 1John 5:19-20 . . We know that we are children of God, and that the whole
world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God
has come and has given us understanding
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Ali's estimated worth at his passing was 50 million dollars; but so what?
● Mark 8:36-37 . . For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
If perchance the Bible has it right; Ali's soul was lost even before he passed
away.
● John 3:17-18 . . God did not send His son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not
condemned, but whoever disbelieves in him stands condemned already.
If perchance the Bible has it right; Ali went out of here cursed with God's
discontent.
● John 3:36 . . He that disbelieves the Son shall not see life; but the wrath
of God abideth on him.
You know, even if perchance the Koran has it right; there's no guarantee
that Ali made it to safety because Islam's god is very strict and not all that
easy to satisfy.
Every year, several millions of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca. You
know why they do that? Mostly because they're scared-- they're scared
because Islam has a hell.
"But he whose balance (of good deeds) is found to be light, will have his
home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will explain to you what this is? A Fire
blazing fiercely!" (101:8-11).
The Koran contains many warnings and descriptions of the severity of the
eternal punishment of Jahannam (hell fire).
Suffering in Islam's hell is both physical and spiritual, and varies according
to the sins of the condemned. As described in the Koran, hell has seven
levels; each one more severe than the one above it.
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Ali's estimated worth at his passing was 50 million dollars; but so what?
● Mark 8:36-37 . . For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
If perchance the Bible has it right; Ali's soul was lost even before he passed
away.
● John 3:17-18 . . God did not send His son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not
condemned, but whoever disbelieves in him stands condemned already.
If perchance the Bible has it right; Ali went out of here cursed with God's
discontent.
● John 3:36 . . He that disbelieves the Son shall not see life; but the wrath
of God abideth on him.
You know, even if perchance the Koran has it right; there's no guarantee
that Ali made it to safety because Islam's god is very strict and not all that
easy to satisfy.
Every year, several millions of Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca. You
know why they do that? Mostly because they're scared-- they're scared
because Islam has a hell.
"But he whose balance (of good deeds) is found to be light, will have his
home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will explain to you what this is? A Fire
blazing fiercely!" (101:8-11).
The Koran contains many warnings and descriptions of the severity of the
eternal punishment of Jahannam (hell fire).
Suffering in Islam's hell is both physical and spiritual, and varies according
to the sins of the condemned. As described in the Koran, hell has seven
levels; each one more severe than the one above it.
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