The Ripple Effect
From Reality to Relativeville
I still remember well the first time we met. In fact, I don't think it possible for me to ever forget. It seems that some things remain with you forever, no matter how much you'd like for it to leave. I met Mr. Convert on one of my frequent trip to the town of Relativeville.
I was leaving Reality, a huge city in the capital of Absolution, the place where I was born, and boarding the first train to Relativeville. I noticed Mr. Convert right away. Unlike everyone else who took the train trip, Mr. Convert stuck out like a sore thumb. I watched as he boarded the trained, maneuvered his way passed other passengers, and ever so calmly sat down parallel towards me - we were about arm's length from each other.
"Hello, I'm Christian. Christian Convert" were his first words, and he leaned forward to shake my hand.
"Sectarian. Sean P Sectarian. Nice to meet you." I continued, "Is this your first trip to Relativeville?"
"Yes sir, and I'm very excited about the visit."
"What sort of business do you do?" I asked.
"I am a speaker for the truth movement and I'm on my way to a business meeting where some partners and I will discuss how to implement strategic ways to relate truth to the people of Relativeville. I hear they reject universal truth there and I was hoping to speak with some of the people and try to understand why they deny such orthodoxy."
In that second everything changed. "How dare you! Who are you to tell people what is truth and what isn't?" The bold shout came from a younger woman not far from us.
I interjected, "Miss, what is your name?"
"I'm sorry, but I over heard you and Mr. Convert's conversation and I believe it is wrong for him to make staunch and definite claims about truth. It is impossible for anyone to know truth, because truth cannot be known."
Undaunted by the vehement rebuke, Christian spoke. "I'm sorry but I didn't catch your name." She responded, "I didn't give it. But, since you asked, it's Antinomian. Miss Antinomian."
Christian: It's nice to meet you Miss Antinomian. I was wondering if you may be able to help me with something? You mentioned that 'it is impossible for anyone to know truth, because truth cannot be known.' From that I can tell you do not adhere to the orthodox ways, am I right?"
"Yes, you are right. The old ways were true for the people then because of their culture, but it is not the right way for all. Not all cultures are the same and I doubt very much that our founder and president will not pardon those who have never heard of his laws and ways."
Interested in her remark, I commented that I agreed with her estimation and proceeded to ask a question. "Christian, would you agree with Miss Antinomian and I that our President is a good and merciful man?"
"Yes sir, I do!"
"Then surely you agree Christian, that those who have not heard his laws and demands, as well as those who opt for a different way to follow his demands, will also find mercy from him?"
As Christian began to speak, he was interrupted by Miss Antinomian who exclaimed, "The President is a gracious man because he has already paid the debt that we as his citizens had owed by our own fault. Therefore, I am well in my right to live as I ought, for I am freed from my wages, and freedom is now mine to enjoy by right and as his gift to me."
I noticed the change in Christian's face. He showed concern as if what Miss Antinomian believed was a snare that would no doubt lead to grave danger. I thought to myself, "I do not understand this man."
Christian began to speak. "Have you read the manual that the president has left for us all? It states his laws and tells us that since we have all broken his laws, we are indebted to his justice. The laws weren't given to us for judging ourselves as just in the president’s estimation, for we all know that none has ever successfully kept the whole of the law. Rather, the laws were given to lead us to the means by which we may be found right in the president's estimation. You know the story of the President's gift - for he so loved us that he took upon himself the debt that was due to us all and paid it himself.
The innocent paid the ransom for the guilty, thereby justifying many. You all know that the President is more than just a loving man, but that he is also a man of justice and will not let the guilty go unpunished. Therefore, he has saw it fit to pay the price in our stead, and if we by the law which reveals our guilt, come to see our trespasses and trust in what the President has done for us, and not in what we ourselves can produce, we will be made right in his estimation. Moreover, we show that we trust him when we turn from our ways to his. It is by his grace that we have been made right with him. It is not deserved, nor is it merited."
Just then, another stood up to protest. "I too have read the President's manual and I don't at all see what you see. In fact, I have read of his goodness and love and mercy and grace. Where do you come off telling us that we must forsake our ways? Has he not given us freedom to do what we please?"
Christian: "Well sir, I am not sure if the last part of your question was rhetorical or not, but how about we start off by you telling me your name."
"Moralez. Nobel Moralez."
Christian: "And the woman with you?"
"Piety. My name is Piety. Nobel and I go to the University in Relativeville and we do not at all agree with you. In fact, as Nobel mentioned, we too have read the manual and do not see it as you do. I feel you should consider well what Miss Antinomian said some time before - that is - 'It is impossible for anyone to know truth, because truth cannot be known.' For you to look at the manual through your myopic view will not only cause parochialism, but also cause you to miss the big and obvious picture, namely that not everyone sees the same thing the same way."
With this, the whole of the cart erupted with applause, and with shouts and cheers they motioned grateful gestures at Piety. I watched Christian. I looked closely for any change in his demeanor, but there weren't any. He still had the confidence as if what he had to say was the only truth; though by now, he did show one thing different. I noticed his eyes and how they seemed to have both a sense of fear and love peering from them. I began to be somewhat puzzled over the dichotomy of his very visible emotional attributes.
As the cheers began to rest and the people readily awaited a rebuttal, Christian spoke. "Piety, would you consider yourself to be a good person?"
"Most assuredly, I would!" she replied.
"And, Nobel Moralez, would you consider yourself a noble and moral man?" Moralez wasted no time and emphatically answered yes.
Christian: "Piety, Nobel, Miss Antinomian, and Mr. Sectarian, as well as everyone else, please allow me to speak candidly for a moment. I am all too aware that we all see things differently and that because of this, we do not all arrive at the same conclusion, usually. I would therefore, like to perform a test to prove truth and our innate ability to know it. It is written in the President's manual that we should love him above the gifts that he gives us. Yet, who among us have kept that law and not esteemed the things which he freely gives as of more worth?
Oh, you say that you do not love the gift more than the gift giver himself, but who do you spend more time with? Futhermore, have you always put him first above everything else? All of you who are indebted to him for all of his graces, have you always given him the love he so deserves, or do you fall painfully short of it? It is also written within his manual that we should not give the praise due to him to another. Yet, which one of you have not changed the words in his manual to suit the "president" that you have shaped within your own mind?"
Does your president resemble the one described in the manual, or is he an image shaped with your own mind and imagination? Lastly, the President commanded in his manual that we ought to keep the day in which he deemed a holiday as precious. Yet, may of you do not keep that law, but instead work on that day of rest. Furthermore, many still transgress both the 2nd and 4th commandments by a holding a supposed sabbatical and serving a false president. Now, I am not asking if you agree with these laws or not, that is another topic altogether. I am, however, asking if you, like myself, have broken them? If you have, please raise your hand."
I watched as slowly but most assuredly, all the hands of the cart went up. Myself and Miss Antinomian were the last ones to raise our hands. Christian continued. "The President is a very powerful man. It is said of him in the manual through his servant Daniel, in chapter 4 v35 that, "the president does what he wants with his people and no one can stay his hand or say to him, 'why have you done this?' You all know too well his power and might. You all have heard about his armies and how in the book of 2 Kings 19:35 one of his agents were able to take out thousands of men and how he himself, by his word alone, is able to cause or stop any situation. You have heard of the endless depths of his wisdom and knowledge, and how unsearchable his judgments are. These things are recorded in the book of Romans, chapter 11 and verse 33. You have heard that his ways are not our own and that his thoughts surpass ours and that we are dwarfed by his surpassing greatness. You have heard and you do know this to be true. I will in no way suggest to you that if you choose to see things another way, that it will alter reality or cause these truths to be anything other than immutable. The President has demanded that everyone conform to his ways and that we trust in him alone, since we know that he is wiser than we. Yet, and notwithstanding the obvious, you choose to deny this truth.
And, you know what I say is true, for everything in you rebels against it. That is why you change the meanings of his manual and hold fast to other ideas. You would rather have your will done and not his. You, like those recorded in Psalm 2, rage and the plot in vain. You set yourselves up and take counsel together against our President and say, 'let us burst his bonds apart and cast away his cords from us.' Yet, the one that sits in office laughs and holds you in derision. He is a great leader who fears none, but is ready to forgive all who in humility, admits their guilt and turns from their ways to his. In his tender mercies, he will offer life and it more abundantly to those who seek forgiveness. You know his laws are true, for your consciences' testifies that they are right. Is this not what the manual teaches us? You must therefore, make the choice to receive or deny his ways. This is his mandate: That all who trust in him by turning from their own ways to his, and remain trusting in him, will be made right in his estimation."
Just then, I heard the train conductor's voice. "Next stop Relativeville." We were here. I noticed the clock, it was 9 am, the same as always. My trips from Reality to Relativeville were always short ones and today was no different. No one spoke, but with angry and hasty facial expressions, all got ready to leave as the doors were beginning to open. "About time!" Someone in the back anxiously exclaimed. A few teenagers snickered at his bold remark.
Christian looked at me as he got up to leave. "Have a good day," he said. I waved him goodbye as he left. Piety and Nobel walked behind him, seemingly confident that he was wrong and that they were good enough in the President's estimation.
I heard them as they left. "He is so wrong," Nobel said. Piety shook her head in agreement. “Last stop on the train” shouted the conductor. It was now 9:02 and the last two people were now making their exit.
I alone remained.
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