Some people just don't learn

I don't normally just quote an entire passage from scripture but I think this story warrants it. (I normally assume people reading my blog are biblically literate enough to recognize what I'm quoting. Presumptive? Probably.)

Luke 16:19-31

[19] "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. [20] At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores [21] and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

[22] "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. [23] In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. [24] So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

[25] "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

[27] "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, [28] for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

[29] "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

[30] " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

[31] "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Isn't this guy full of himself? The story starts out with him living it up with this homeless guy (we don't know why he's homeless) literally dying right outside his doorstep. He won't even let the man have his leftovers, which I'm sure weren't good enough for the dogs we're told were allowed lick the guy's sores. (Seriously?) One day, they're both dead and the rich guy sees Lazarus, the man he left to die on his doorstep, and he's doing alright. Abraham is taking care of him and the other guy is in "Hades". Instead of recognizing that he's obviously a jerk who should have been nicer to Lazarus while they were alive he asks Abraham to have the man get up, come into hell and serve him. Oh, let him bring me some water! Seriously? I suppose we should be grateful he didn't have the guts to ask Abraham to let them switch places. Abraham tells him, no, that's impossible, and basically tells him he's getting what he deserves.

Then he actually has the guts to ask that Lazarus serve him again, this time by going and trying to warn his brothers (who are apparently as big of jerks as he is) so they don't end up in the same way.

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

I guess that's the point, isn't it? There's no amount of religious teaching that can help some people. Not just enough to save them from hell, because that's never really enough, is it? If you don't end up in the basement, but you continue thinking like you're only trying to avoid it, are you really free? Does it give you any kind of comfort? Knowing you're only being good enough to avoid hell to avoid hell?

Actually, doesn't it kind of miss the point?

If you're only being good to avoid hell, you aren't good at all.

I'd even go so far as to say you're "defective".