Here's a puzzler for you, thoughts welcome...
As part of our children's work at NSCC we run a Kids Club and every week we visit local families, most of whom aren't Christians. My wife is expecting the imminent arrival of child no1. At one of the homes where the family like my wife alot, the father was home and was slightly worse for wear having been on the beer. This put him in a generous frame of mind and he decided to give me a gift for my wife and about to be born child. Very kind.
The present was a pirate copy of the film (just out in the UK), Kung-fu Panda. We want to see the film. So given that pirate copies are bad what should I have done?
a) accept the gift but not watch the film - so not really accepting the gift
b) accept the gift and watch the film
c) refuse the gift and risk alienating a friend who won't understand why we've refused
d) Any other ideas?
Ho-hum.
One God, Many Idols
1 hour ago
4 comments:
Possibly: Accept the DVD, watch the film, and then buy it when it comes out and replace the pirate copy?
Arrrr
Thank you for sharing this dilemma. It is a hard one. When the matter in question is something the person is not likely to understand, as it is in this case, I lean toward preserving the relationship and hoping there will be an opportunity later on to influence the person for good.
I faced a similar situation a few years back when a non-Christian member of my extended family invited me to watch a pay-per-view sporting event that he had somehow rigged up to receive without paying for it.
I have to admit, I caved and accepted the invitation, although it bothered me. My rationalization was that I needed to maintain that relationship, and he would likely take offense if I declined. I don't know if that was right or not.
(Of all things, it was the fight where Tyson bit Holyfield's ear! I had no idea I was going to be a witness to history!)
d) Accept the gift, buy a legal copy of the film and watch either.
ha ha
reminds me of the time someone offered to nick us some replacement hub caps. "thanks but no thanks" was our response
I'm not sure that option a) counts as not really accepting the gift. Don't most of us actually do that every Christmas with some gift or other that we really didn't need/want?
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