RSS Feed |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Gospel Truth
Put those words in the mouth of a boss and they do not sound very nice. They are coercive, threatening and force us into a choice we really don't want to make. The "highway" seems more inviting than the "my way." Put the same words in the mouth of Jesus, however, and they sound quite different. And Jesus in fact said, "My way or the highway." Read Matthew 7:13- 14. This text begins the closing section, the "invitation," of the Sermon on the Mount. It offers a series of twos that lead us to only one choice. Two Gates Every cognizant human being comes to the place where, in the words of Robert Frost, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood." In Jesus' words, there is a gate at the entrance to each road. It is obvious from his authoritative command, "Enter," that Christ would have us to take "the one less traveled by." As you gaze at the two gates, "the narrow gate" and "the gate [that] is wide," you have to ask yourself a question. Which one have I chosen? Or, which one will you choose? Since Jesus used an imperative to point to one over the other, it is imperative that we learn the vast difference between the two. "The narrow gate" represents the entrance to the kingdom of God, the new covenant, or simply Christcentered Christianity. It is clearly accessed only by grace through faith in the one preaching this Sermon on the Mount. It is entered by those who embrace the Beatitudes, desire to be salt and light, cling to Christ's imputed righteousness, obey God's word, shun hypocrisy, and become like little children. In a perfect gospel paradox, the narrow gate opens up to something truly great. But there is another gate, "the gate [that] is wide." This would be a catch-all, a combination of everything contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This includes false versions of Christianity, any and every other religion, and those who profess no faith at all. Legalists line up at the wide gate. There is also a sign there that says, "For those who are Christian in name only." Every cult and every other world religion take their mixture of truth and error right through the wide gate. And broad-minded liberals, those who would make John Lennon's "Imagine" their anthem, will sing it as they sail through that wide gate. Two Ways The two gates obviously lead to two ways, the "narrow" and the "broad." Honestly, here is where the latter has a little more appeal, especially to modern sensibilities. The "way" obviously symbolizes a way of thinking and living. Who among us really want to be the narrow-minded person in the group? Aren't the broad-minded superior in intellect, achievement, and compassion? Please understand that Jesus didn't mean "way" in that way. Christ had no patience for the narrowminded, judgmental scribes and Pharisees of his day. I don't think he thinks much of contemporary concepts like the "moral majority" or the "religious right," either. Although, Jesus was a "my way or the highway" kind of guy. He wasn't trying to be mean, but what did he mean? Jesus meant that the "gate" you choose will be revealed by the corresponding "way" you live your life. Christ was very careful with his words. In this text it is the gate that determines the way, not the way that brings you to a gate. If you have been conformed to enter narrowly, you will live narrowly. If you stay the same and choose widely, you will live broadly. "Narrow" implies focus. Those who truly follow Christ through the narrow gate live the narrow way. It is a way marked by true worship, costly discipleship, genuine fellowship, compassionate ministry, and ongoing missions. Over on "Broadway," everything is cool and anything goes. All roads lead to heaven, so enjoy your own alternate lifestyle. I can be Christian and not obey Christ or I can obey some teachings of Christ without getting involved in a Christian church. Grace is cheap, pleasure is paramount, and the gods of all religions are equal. Which "way" did Jesus say is the only way to live? "My way or the highway," he said. Two Destinations I believe in justification by faith and I believe faith is justified by works. I believe belief belies behavior. And I believe the way we live determines the way we die. So did Jesus. Jesus said those who "enter through the narrow gate" and correspondingly live like "the way is narrow" have discovered the true gospel that "leads to life." The gospel gate fits us into going and living the gospel way. At way's end there is no end, only eternal life in heaven. The only thing heartbreaking about this simple truth is that "there are few that find it." Then where does the majority go? First let me say that the majority is moral and religious. They are mostly good people, humanly speaking, with broad minds and big hearts. They just don't like to be told what to do, they don't want to hear "My way or the highway" from anyone, including Jesus Christ. So they go their own way and wind up in the place Jesus refers to as "destruction." That's the place reserved for the "beast" in the book of Revelation. But the beast will be joined by the boat full of Pharisees and nominal Christians and sincere religious people and agnostics and atheists and all who simply refused to put Jesus as the undisputed captain of their ship.
I believe heaven and hell are two literal places where literal people literally spend eternity. I know that's a little narrow. Just like the one choice Jesus challenges us to make: "My way or the highway."
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
