May 16, 2011

Dear Marketplace Friend, 

    Great quotes are memorable synopses of something far larger in scope and substance.
    I saw the picture of a tombstone recently that said it all:”I Have Nothing Further to Say".  If anyone is going to mark the location of my remains someday, I would love to have that sentiment punctuating the end of my earthly journey…
    Cinema connoisseurs love to capture the memory of a movie through quotes that are lifted from the screenplay. A film trilogy about an Italian family in New York produced this one-liner: “My father made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.” (Michael Corleone, in The Godfather, 1972.)
    The “offer” that son Michael referred to was just one example of the strong-arm, do-or-die style of the Mafia approach to influencing people to make decisions in alignment with the “Big Boss.”
    What a contrast to the way the real Big Boss operates. If we were scripting a mainstream movie on the life of Jesus, we might put this line out for the Star: “My Father made him an offer that he chose to refuse.” (Jesus of Nazareth, in Luke’s Gospel, c. 29.)

    Read the unedited account of a story Jesus told, about the way people then – and, now – respond to opportunities extended to them by His Father: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” (Luke 14:17-24.)
    Don Corleone wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, but the God of Heaven hears – and allows – that answer, constantly.
    It happens, first, when people are invited to trade death for life, and to accept His offer of forgiveness from sin and entrance to Heaven in return for their repentance and surrender. The turn-down rate continues to be startling, but the offer from Heaven continues to be extended.
    Here’s the part that amazes me: once “in” through faith in Jesus, thoughtful people who are now Family of God progeny continue to make really bad decisions, when God’s invitations continue.
    The conflicts that assume higher priority status are interesting:

    Those are all on a reasonable priority list, but… how important and unique was the invitation to the banquet?
    People use very little creativity, when people turn God down. We hear it constantly in TMP, when men hear the offer to spend 12 days – over three years – in a process that will clarify and launch their Kingdom life to the level of Calling. Assets, operations, family conflicts: they still trump the Kingdom.
    Don Corleone wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. The God of Heaven just takes their name off His list… and finds someone who is willing to make Him the priority.
    I wonder how many people turned down an invite to William and Kate’s wedding?
 
Bob Shank