Internet Cafe Jerusalem
Internet Cafe - Jerusalem
When I asked a Christian leader in Jerusalem whom he found himself up
against most often in Jerusalem, he said, "Muslims and Catholics." While the former
came as no surprise, I was surprised to hear the latter in the same breath,
but didn't have to wait long see it for myself.
That night, I ended up in a discussion about God with the Arab Catholic owner of a West Jerusalem internet cafe, his Arab Orthodox assistant and an American agnostic staying in Jerusalem. After about an hour and a half, the Catholic owner of the internet cafe in particular seemed open to the Gospel and began to concede that traditions may have to be cast aside when they contradict the Bible.
Just then, two Catholic friars, including the man's own priest walked into the internet cafe. Upon hearing about the topic of our discussion, their eyes narrowed. They sat down and quickly divided the discussion in two. While the younger friar engaged me with questions, the older reeled in the internet cafe owner.
By the time the discussions merged again, the Catholic owner was back to parroting the need to pray to Mary, saints, etc., while glancing over at his priest, who nodded and smiled in approval.
The clincher came when the American agnostic asked the senior priest, "I have very nice Muslim friends. Can they go to heaven without believing in Jesus?" Even the other patrons at the internet cafe stopped typing and turned around for the answer. The priest looked around at everyone, smiled, then replied, "Yes." When I blurted out, "What!", he added, "Of course! Jesus loves eeeeverybody."
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through Me." (John 14:5-6, emphasis mine)
That night, I ended up in a discussion about God with the Arab Catholic owner of a West Jerusalem internet cafe, his Arab Orthodox assistant and an American agnostic staying in Jerusalem. After about an hour and a half, the Catholic owner of the internet cafe in particular seemed open to the Gospel and began to concede that traditions may have to be cast aside when they contradict the Bible.
Just then, two Catholic friars, including the man's own priest walked into the internet cafe. Upon hearing about the topic of our discussion, their eyes narrowed. They sat down and quickly divided the discussion in two. While the younger friar engaged me with questions, the older reeled in the internet cafe owner.
By the time the discussions merged again, the Catholic owner was back to parroting the need to pray to Mary, saints, etc., while glancing over at his priest, who nodded and smiled in approval.
The clincher came when the American agnostic asked the senior priest, "I have very nice Muslim friends. Can they go to heaven without believing in Jesus?" Even the other patrons at the internet cafe stopped typing and turned around for the answer. The priest looked around at everyone, smiled, then replied, "Yes." When I blurted out, "What!", he added, "Of course! Jesus loves eeeeverybody."
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through Me." (John 14:5-6, emphasis mine)