Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Dinner Problems

I was invited to a stranger's house last weekend. I did not know these people, they may have been very nice, or they may have been psychopaths. But, I decided to go, since I was invited. It’s always nice to be invited. I arrived at the specified time. There were a lot of strangers there. It seemed kind of weird; I had never been to a house like this before. What was even stranger is that these people, who I didn’t know from Adam, asked me to eat with them. Now, I’m not a paranoid person, but I don’t know who these people are. I don’t know if they know that I don’t like certain foods, or even if they know that I am lactose intolerant and have a deadly peanut allergy. On top of that they are serving something that doesn’t look like what they say it is. How can I trust these people? They are so danged persistent that I eat with them. It’s really weird, and very awkward. What should I do? I mean, it was nice to be invited, but I don’t think I want to eat what they say they are eating. I’m not even sure if I believe they are eating what they say they are eating. What if I’m allergic? What if it’s laced with poison that they are immune to? And why are they so danged persistent? This must not be a very important meal if they have to push it onto people. Ok, I’ll eat it, but I’m not coming back the next time they invite me!

2 comments:

Orycteropus Afer said...

True story or parable on evangelism?

Rev. Jim Roemke said...

This story is based on a true story. I, against my judgment, went to my father's ELCA church one Sunday. I did not commune there, but the pastor made a point of telling me afterward that I am always welcome at the table there. He was kinda weird about it, like, please, please, please take communion here. And I thought it would make a good story from the other perspective of the close communion perspective. Why are we trying to force people into something that they may not be ready for? Some LCMS pastors seem just as desperate that people take communion and it is really pathetic. I hope that that comes across here.