Keith R. Mangold
I’ve enjoyed thinking about a familiar allegory recently, and how it relates to Church. It concerns a man who was caught in a flood. The waters came up to the first floor of his house. A paddler came by in a canoe and said, “Hop in; I’ll help you.” But the man said, “No thanks; I’m waiting for God to rescue me.” The floodwaters rose to his second floor, and then a speedboat stopped to save him. Yet, once again he refused aid, telling the boat that he was waiting for God to rescue him.
Finally the waters rose until he was stranded on his rooftop. A helicopter flew by, dropped down a rope, and encouraged the man to climb up, but, no, he told the pilot to leave, as he was sure God would rescue him.
