So I Stay Near The Door

[Ben E Lou]

Extraordinary Living for Ordinary Men[/u]"]
I stay near the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,
The door is the most important door in the world-
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There's no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it...
So I stay near the door.

The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door-the door to God.
The most important thing any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch-the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man's own touch.
Men die outside that door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter-
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
The live, on the other side of it-live because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him...
So I stay near the door.

Go in, great saints, go all the way in-
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics-
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, if silence, of sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in,
Sometimes venture in a little farther;
But my place seems closer to the opening...
So I stay near the door.

There is another reason why I stay there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great, and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia,
And want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled
For the old life, they have seen too much:
Once taste God and nothing but God will do anymore.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far inside do not see how near these are
To leaving-preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,
But would like to run away. So for them, too,
I stay near the door.

I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door,
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay in too long,
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there, too.
Where? Outside the door-
Thousands of them, millions of them.
But more important for me-
One of them, two of them, ten of them,
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
So I shall stay by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
"I had rather be a door-keeper..."
So I stay near the door.This is to explain my rather veiled reference here (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showpost.php?p=897778&postcount=72). I've got to run, but I'll say more later.

[sachmo71]

The toxins from the patriotic undies have finally gone to hiz head.

[gottimd]

The toxins from the patriotic undies have finally gone to hiz head.
Well in that picture he is near the door.

[flere-imsaho]

I like it. Though I've often wondered, what do you say to those who are not anywhere near the door, and decline to look for it altogether? Must you still "help the people who have not yet even found the door"? That's not a rhetoric or sarcastic question, either (to stave off the inevitable comments).

[HomerJSimpson]

This is to explain my rather veiled reference here (http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/showpost.php?p=897778&postcount=72). I've got to run, but I'll say more later.



With a true tear in my eye, I say thank you. Just, thank you.

[HomerJSimpson]

I like it. Though I've often wondered, what do you say to those who are not anywhere near the door, and decline to look for it altogether? Must you still "help the people who have not yet even found the door"? That's not a rhetoric or sarcastic question, either (to stave off the inevitable comments).


Yes. You help even your enemies. What do you say? Just that you're there.

[Franklinnoble]

You're treading on doctrinally thin ice here, Ben. There's a very fine line between going into the secular world to evangelize, and hanging out there too often because you enjoy the pleasures it has to offer. We've all been caught in that trap at one time or another - myself included.

[Jesse_Ewiak]

Of all the people on this form to chastise about their religious beliefs and practices, I'm pretty sure SkyDog ranks about #2,566.

[KWhit]

You're treading on doctrinally thin ice here, Ben. There's a very fine line between going into the secular world to evangelize, and hanging out there too often because you enjoy the pleasures it has to offer. We've all been caught in that trap at one time or another - myself included.
"Going into the secular world?" Where the fuck do you live, anyway?

[WSUCougar]

You're treading on doctrinally thin ice here, Ben.
That's where the rubber meets the road, bud. I think you could learn a thing or two from the analogy.

[Draft Dodger]

Standing by the trapdoor aware of me and you
Are the actor and the clown they’re waiting for their cue
And there’s a lady over there she’s acting pretty cool
But when it comes to playing life she always plays the fool

[Ben E Lou]

I like it. Though I've often wondered, what do you say to those who are not anywhere near the door, and decline to look for it altogether? Must you still "help the people who have not yet even found the door"? That's not a rhetoric or sarcastic question, either (to stave off the inevitable comments).That's a great question. (Please remember, now, the perspective from which this comments comes--from one who is firmly convinced that walking through the door is the key to real, full, abundant life.) Hopefully, this response will make sense. Theologically speaking, it is the role of the Holy Spirit, not me, to convince someone that they need to look for the door. Jesus repeatedly called believers to be both "salt" and "light" in the world. What did he mean by that? The "light" metaphor is fairly obvious, but salt is a little more confusing. As best as I can tell, based on the context and on the whole of Scripture, he was calling his followers to display the following characteristics of salt:

SALT...
...makes you thirsty. Similarly, believers are to live lives that make those who haven't found the door, nor are interested in finding it thirsty for it. How is that to be done? My study of Scripture and my 17 years in vocational ministry are in accord as to the answer to that question: by living a full, real, abundant life in the midst of those who haven't found the door, the kind of life that makes them say, "There's something different about that guy/those people. I'm not sure what it is, but I want what they have."
...helps bring out flavor. Similarly, believers aren't to be dull, dry and boring, but should add a little "spice" to the world, if you will.

So, with that as a background, I'd say that the believer's response to those not looking for the door is live a "flavorful" life--one that the Holy Spirit can use to encourage the nonbeliever to take a hard look at the "life that is truly life," as Paul called it.

[Ben E Lou]

There's a very fine line between going into the secular world to evangelize, and hanging out there too often because you enjoy the pleasures it has to offer.Agreed. It is something that I always try to keep in balance.

[Subby]

You're treading on doctrinally thin ice here, Ben. There's a very fine line between going into the secular world to evangelize, and hanging out there too often because you enjoy the pleasures it has to offer. We've all been caught in that trap at one time or another - myself included. That's why I advocate staying out of secular leper colonies. Too many pleasures!

[flere-imsaho]

SD: Thanks for the thoughtful response. Definitely makes it more clear to me.

[Buccaneer]

Once again this proves that SkyDog and I are of one mind in matter of faith, as had been since the beginning.

[mhass]

SALT...
...makes you thirsty.
...helps bring out flavor.
Definitely key attributes in my opinion. I might add acts as a preservative. Which is to say that it is the job of the Christian to keep the lives of those we meet from "spoiling" or "rotting" in the eternal sense.

[Kodos]

Nice posts, SD. Usually attempts to get me "closer to the door" only push me farther away (I don't like pushy religious people), but I liked the quoted material and your other points. :)

[Ben E Lou]

(I don't like pushy religious people)I'm called to love 'em, but I don't like 'em very much, either. Quite often, the biggest road-blocks to a person considering making a decision to follow Christ are Christ's followers and so-called followers.

[WSUCougar]

Once again this proves that SkyDog and I are of one mind in matter of faith, as had been since the beginning.
You mean, like, the "Let there be light!" beginning? Damn, you really are old.

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm called to love 'em, but I don't like 'em very much, either. Quite often, the biggest road-blocks to a person considering making a decision to follow Christ are Christ's followers and so-called followers.


It is sad, but shuoldn't. Christ's followers should be known by their love (which is how Christ said they'd be known). Sadly, the most vocal claimants are generally haters and strife-sowers.

[HomerJSimpson]

You mean, like, the "Let there be light!" beginning? Damn, you really are old.


Bucc said to Adam, "Ew-woo! God's gonna get you for that!"

[Toddzilla]

I'm called to love 'em, but I don't like 'em very much, either. Quite often, the biggest road-blocks to a person considering making a decision to follow Christ are Christ's followers and so-called followers.

Maybe a silly question, but here goes:

Can a person "follow Christ" by trying to exemplify his life and his teachings and not be a "Christian"? Can someone be considered as "following Christ" by leading a moral, virtuous, and charitable life and *not* belive in the "son of God" stuff? I'm trying to summarize the parable of the man who has never heard of God or Jesus, who lives in the Amazonian jungle or in pre-1492 America that led a virtuous life and as a victim of circumstance never knew of Christ or christianity. Is that man damned to hell? Does he go to heaven, a place he never knew existed?

I know my question is simplistic and may miss a few key points, but I hope you get the idea....

[mhass]

Maybe a silly question, but here goes:

Can a person "follow Christ" by trying to exemplify his life and his teachings and not be a "Christian"? Can someone be considered as "following Christ" by leading a moral, virtuous, and charitable life and *not* belive in the "son of God" stuff? I'm trying to summarize the parable of the man who has never heard of God or Jesus, who lives in the Amazonian jungle or in pre-1492 America that led a virtuous life and as a victim of circumstance never knew of Christ or christianity. Is that man damned to hell? Does he go to heaven, a place he never knew existed?

I know my question is simplistic and may miss a few key points, but I hope you get the idea....
In short, God (and Christ) said that Christ was the only way to heaven. Period. That being said, most evangelical Christian pastors would tell you that God will only hold you accountable for what you knew. But the specific answer to your question is that the Bible doesn't provide an "out" for those never exposed to the Word that I know of. Instead, He spurs His followers to reach every nation with urgency for that reason. There is some theological thought that those never exposed to the Word would be given a "second chance" so-to-speak, to acknowledge Him upon Christ's return to Earth. But we've far exceed my scriptural knowledge at this point and questions like yours are best answered by someone more qualified than I.

[Kodos]

This seems like a good thread to bump during the Christmas season. :)

Again, I'd like to thank SkyDog for managing to draw me just a little closer to the door with this thread. Most people's attempts in the past have only served to push me farther away, because it always feels like they are talking down to me. And a lot of Christians that I've run across seem to use their religion to make themselves out as better than the rest of us, or worse yet, they use their religion as a justification for forcing their beliefs onto others. I'm not saying I'm anywhere near going through the door (after all, I've been pretty far out here for a long time now), but it makes me want to at least keep an eye peeled in case I should run across it.

Merry Christmas, folks.

[sovereignstar]

happy holidays, kudos!

[Kodos]

Festive Festivus, Soverunstar!

[sovereignstar]

Festive Festivus, Soverunstar!

I didn't call you Kudos. It was the white wine. :)

[Bonegavel]

Isn't it some kind of violation to post the lyrics to a song? They require permission from the copyright holder.

Thankfully, your God forgives this kind of stuff.

edit to add :D

[Kodos]

Just bumping one of the better pro-religion threads at FOFC. Keep hanging near that door, SkyDog.