An Ecumenical Parable

From Max Lucado’s “A Gentle Thunder”, pp. 139, 140

Some time ago I came upon a fellow on a trip who was carrying a Bible.
“Are you a believer?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said excitedly.

I’ve learned you can’t be too careful.
“Virgin birth?” I asked.
“I accept it.”
“Deity of Jesus?”
“No doubt.”
“Death of Christ on the cross?”
“He died for all people.”

Could it be that I was face to face with a Christian? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I continued my checklist.
“Status of man.”
“Sinner in need of grace.”
“Definition of grace.”
“God doing for man what man can’t do.”
“Return of Christ?”
“Imminent.”
“Bible?”
“Inspired.”
“The church?”
“The body of Christ.”

I started getting excited. “Conservative or liberal?”
He was getting interested too. “Conservative.”

My heart began to beat faster.
“Heritage?”
“Southern Congregationalist Holy Son of God Dispensationalist Triune Convention.”

That was mine!
“Branch?”
“Pre-millennial, post-trib, noncharismatic, King James, one-cup Communion.”

My eyes misted. I had only one other question.
“Is your pulpit wooden or fiberglass?”
“Fiberglass,” he responded.

I withdrew my hand and stiffed my neck. “Heretic!” I said and walked away.