In church today, the sermon touched on Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 and I find it to be a dismal passage.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
For Christians, it is supposed to be a powerful reminder to make sure your faith is genuine and not just hypocrisy. This may in fact remind a saint to not be a spiritual jerk and perhaps we're all the better for it.
In the mean time though, it suggests a bleak picture for humanity. The big picture of the fate of humans appears depressing. Why?
Well, the Christian story already tells us that Jesus is the only way to be "saved". Most Christians believe this entails being saved from hell. So the picture is already sad...many people born in the wrong family having no, or only a bad experience with Christianity are damned.
But that's not all. It gets even worse. The small group that does know about Christ, who seek to serve him and do good in his name. Many of them won't make it either. Why? They didn't do the "Father's will". Whatever the hell that means. Apparently you can even botch Christianing.
What a sad picture..."Hi Jesus, it's so good to see you, I've longed for this day!"
Jesus replies, "who are you? Sorry but you're not on the list, I'm not going to let you stay in my presence, I don't want and cannot have anything to do with you forever. Nice try! You gave the church thing a chance, you healed some people, but you didn't get the "my will" thing right so no dice. See you never!"
WFT?
This verse promotes insecurity, fear, and a drive towards legalism.
It makes me think of Duane. I was in the hospital with Duane this year not long before he died. He was in tears, couldn't say much. But he said, with fear in his eyes, "I hope I get to heaven...I hope God let's me in...I hope I did enough, I should have done more."
Bullshit...pissed me off...not him, but that that's what he had been taught. His faith brought him no peace, just angst and fear. I just told him that he's going to be alright, "God's got you".
This gate business is garbage, it's an unhealthy preoccupation. Since when does Jesus try to make people worry?
Speaking of the gate and "narrow way"...I find it a bit perplexing that Christians see themselves as a minority in the US. Christians are a majority in this country. Christianity is enshrined in ways that Christians don't even see. They only feel the receding of the privilege they have enjoyed for centuries. Atheists and skeptics are more of a minority. In fact, they enjoy very little public esteem. For years, statistics showed that Americans when choosing political candidates would pick an atheist last. There's some good news in a 2015 poll that they have moved up one rung on the ladder giving "socialists" the bottom place.
Even if "True Christians" are a small lot, "smallness," is no guarantee of being on a good road. Cults tend to be small. There is no virtue in over zealously guarding tribal identity. We made it in, we're right, the rest are wrong and headed off towards a less than desirable end. (see here for a great talk by Megan Phelps-Roper who left Westboro Baptist Church when she realized her "narrow way" was a sham.) The narrow road teaching just functions to salve the angst caused by maintaining an insular group mindset.
For what it's worth, I much prefer the image of a parade. A bunch of folks, all different stripes, cruising down the lane bathed in rainbows of color, oceans of music, and the movement of dancing. Smiles, awe, wonder, let's all go together and have a blast.
Who knows, there might even be someone at the end who runs out to greet us, who was watching from a long way off: someone who knows us.
And loves us.
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