Imagine if you will, if you can, if you may
a young boy who sets out from his village one day
and hikes over hill, over dale, and through glen
to bring his sick village back medicine.
The village is saved through divine intervention...
medicine choppered in by a new religious mission.
They heard the boy's story and healed all the hurts
and in the process the whole village converts.
The boy's friends and family all gather in hymn
to God and the boy who acted to save them.
Small comfort it is that all others were saved...
he perished at the mission from hazards he braved.
With his dying breath he gave them his story,
never hearing word one of God or His glory.
He never praised Jesus in life, but what matter?
Imitation, it's said, is the best way to flatter.
Author notes
I realize we're all flawed, simple, "sinful" creatures... but I personally find it unthinkable that God would use our own nature as an excuse to damn everybody, nor that He'd make "accepting Jesus" the standard for redemption. 
The fact that we'll never live up to a Godly standard perfection is a reason to try harder, not to deny what capacity for goodness we all possess!
Written August 23rd, 2004
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damn... you have a intriguing style!
original and quite provocative
i'm going to have to strap on your words
more often...
and play them like a girl with chalk
you got something!
ashes~~~ -
Thank you for the honorable mention! Along the theme of the contest, though... is it not possible to accept one's flaws and mistakes without accepting Jesus? And if so, is it still necessary to accept Jesus? And if so, doesn't that mean that accepting Jesus still is the point? Feel free to respond or not... I merely raise points for anybody browsing through to consider, not trying to jumpstart a debate.
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Only as a child may one enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Children are special, and are loved above all others. In response to your author's note I must say this: Accepting Jesus as a living being or the Son Of God is not the point. By accepting Jesus, you are also accepting your flaws and mistakes. You are admitting that you were wrong, and are willing to accept the judgment and forgiveness of a parent figure. Once again, only as a child may one enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Not as a prideful adult. You have written this very well. Thank you for entering.
Second Gospel
Second Gospel
Edited on Aug 27, 7:40 p.m. because ''. -
I have to say wow this poem was expertly written and with a downright valid argument. I myself find it extremely ironic that the ones praising their God the loudest are the ones killing in his name... killing, maiming and full of hate - in the name of religion. I find it hard to conceive that heaven is made for them and not the person who spreads love and peace. I'll let you know when I die tho -
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Runawaytrain, I would be inclined to agree with you on every particular there. I don't think we can know whether there is a heaven or not... if there is, it will be a nice surprise, but really, shouldn't we concentrate on making the best of the world and the life that we know we've got for sure?
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Well, I can't say for sure whether there is a heaven, but I know there isn't a hell, except the one we create for ourselves. I believe that God is generous and forgiving, and I believe religion is a consequence of geography. If we had been born in Afghanistan, we would be Muslim.
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I love those lines, too... it's my response to Christians and similar who say "Mankind is unimprovably sinful."
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Good write Isis. it appeals to the days when I was christian, I struggled with this issue so much. I never told anyone though. Anyways good write.
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This was really good. I enjoyed reading it...You did a wonderful write, It made me feel nice! From ASmileIs4Ever2
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wow...that's about all i can say. This is such a great piece, it truly is. The last four lines just took my breath away, "With his dying breath he gave them his story,
never hearing word one of God or His glory.
He never praised Jesus in life, but what matter?
Imitation, it's said, is the best way to flatter."
You did such a great job with this idea and did it divinely too. This is great!
LuVz
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This was a wonderful write. I enjyed it, it made me feel comforted, I thank you for this.
--You have just been Dented-- -
Thanks, I was worried that the "reinvention" would come off hackily, as it was a bit of a gymnastic effort on my part to try to end with "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," but few applicable words rhyme with "flattery" and "sincerest form" would throw off even my rude attempts at meter.
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Inspiring
I love your reinventing of the phrase about imitation and flattery. C. S. lewis makes a similar point in the last book of the Narnia Chronicles as do universal salvationists. This is a very good parable. Simple in its style but rich in meaning it was a refreshing read offering more heat and a lot less light.
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