A parable for today...

[regnaD kciN]

Sorry for injecting religion into this thread (if you don't like it, exit now), but I was just reflecting on Matthew 18:23-34...

"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt."

...and came up with the following version for our time. Maybe the Religious Right free-marketeers would do well to ponder it?

"There was once a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him $900,000,000,000 in sub-prime mortgage lendings was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord released him and paid his debt out of taxes collected in the royal treasury.

But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves with an overdue credit-card balance of $20,000 for an uninsured surgical procedure to save the life of his daughter; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and forced him and his family into foreclosure so that he could pay the debt.

And what will the king do, when he hears this story...?"

[zeemike]

1. I think it is entirely appropriate for these days.

The only problem with using this to convince Christians of anything is that it was something that Jesus said.
And the Christan right know noting of what Jesus taught and hate everything he stood for.