The Wide and Broad
“For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.” I’ve often wondered if the broad road sign reads, “Heaven” or “Hell?” If it says, “Hell,” then what would be the point in Jesus’ mentioning of it? Putting a warning on a road marked “Hell” would be like printing a Surgeon General’s label on a keg of gun powder: “Caution, may blow your mind.” Since Jesus follows up this statement with an admonition; “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolfs,” the assumption is that the travelers believe they’re treading down a highway to “Heaven.”
We know that Hell’s caretaker isn’t an ugly lizard of a being with fangs, a forked tongue, and the owner of red suit, but is rather, as Paul states, “…disguised as an angel of light” (2Cor 10:11). Therefore, his servants, these same false prophets from Jesus’ warning, “also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” and preach to us that this wide and broad road their congregation is travelling upon is indeed the one true way to Heaven. Ah, but we are reminded that many religions preach that their paths also lead to heavenly dwellings. Touché, but Jesus isn’t talking about them, is He? For these travelers are those who “[say] to [Him], ‘Lord, Lord!’ [and yet] will [not] enter the kingdom of heaven.” If the path named “Christian” is wide and easy, you might reconsider your destination.
NARROW IS THE WAY (Matthew 7:13-27)
The Narrow and Difficult
“‘Lord… are there few being saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able” (Luk 13:23,24). If “many” take the road marked “Heaven,” then the conclusion is that only the “few” will “make every effort to confirm [their] calling and election” (2Pt 1:10). If we asked a Christian today, “Are few saved?” what would be his/her response? What would be yours? That all a person needs to do is believe and they shall be saved? Jesus’ response wasn’t quite so inviting.
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.” When Jesus heard these words Himself, He built His house (we call it the Church) upon His rock—a disciple of His named, “Peter” (Mt 16:18). This disciple heard God’s word, “Go and make disciples,” and himself went and “remind[ed others] about these things, even though [they] know them and are established in the truth [they] have” (2Pt 1:12). The way marked “Disciple” is hard. You see, it entails building our foundation in Christ upon His Word every day through study, meditation, and application. The narrow road means we call “friend” those whom Jesus has called His own (John 15:13,14) and that we are willing to hate those we love the most in order to follow God who most loves us (Luke 9:23-27). To follow Jesus means we must make disciples adamant about their obedience to His commission. Few dare tread this path because an easier way is set for them that requires little more than faith, attendance, and a willingness to sing. “So you’ll recognize them by their fruit,” says our Lord. What fruit are you bearing for this Christ you call “Lord, Lord?”
Monday, February 11, 2008
UNSCHOOLED
Part One
I have a confession to make. Some times I feel proud that I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s Degree and am about to do so again with a Master’s. I think to myself, “At least I’ve made the effort to better myself so that I don’t have to labor with my hands like the uneducated.” I imagine this is what the Pharisees thought of Jesus’ misfits; “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). I don’t think the apostles were ashamed, however, for the same was said of their Lord. “The Jews were amazed and asked, ‘How did this man get such learning without having studied?’” (John 7:15).
You know how school works, right? “For the lips of priests ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction” (Mal 2:7). One person preserves knowledge by dispensing to those who reap from what the scholar has sown. The teacher studies what others have studied from still further others, and then shares his lessons with his students expecting that they might learn from him as he did from his teachers and they from still others. The learned spend time studying books written about Jesus by authors who had studied other books written about Jesus, and then passing it on to us as we learn from their knowledge of our Lord. However, this wasn’t the way our Jesus schooled His men.
Part Two
As some of you know, I’ll be teaching cadets at the United States Military Academy hows to writes gooder come August of this year. Considering what I’ve learned from the University thus far, I’m nervous thinking that it will be my job to educate the future leaders of America in the art and science of communication. What if I don’t know my stuff? What if I teach the way less excellently?
What if the person who preaches to us about Christ isn’t really as in tuned to Jesus as they think? Jesus found common men considered “unschooled” by their religious leaders and trained them to become like the Eternal King of Heaven and Earth. His training plan did not follow the accepted format of educational experts back then or now. Today, we teach about Jesus from a lectern called “pulpit” to a classroom called “congregation” and expect that those who hear truth will inevitably reciprocate its practice. Jesus’ training was hands-on, like the unschooled laborers of today who teach their skill not from the pages of a book but by the sweat of their brow and dirt-caked hands. Jesus trained His disciples to make disciples by teaching them Person to person, not pulpit to pew. You see, if you follow Jesus’ lesson plan then you will never worry if you know your stuff or if you’ll lead others astray. Jesus’ disciple-making methods are not about telling others what you know but rather introducing them to Him who you know.
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1Cor 2:4,5).
I have a confession to make. Some times I feel proud that I graduated from college with a Bachelor’s Degree and am about to do so again with a Master’s. I think to myself, “At least I’ve made the effort to better myself so that I don’t have to labor with my hands like the uneducated.” I imagine this is what the Pharisees thought of Jesus’ misfits; “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). I don’t think the apostles were ashamed, however, for the same was said of their Lord. “The Jews were amazed and asked, ‘How did this man get such learning without having studied?’” (John 7:15).
You know how school works, right? “For the lips of priests ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction” (Mal 2:7). One person preserves knowledge by dispensing to those who reap from what the scholar has sown. The teacher studies what others have studied from still further others, and then shares his lessons with his students expecting that they might learn from him as he did from his teachers and they from still others. The learned spend time studying books written about Jesus by authors who had studied other books written about Jesus, and then passing it on to us as we learn from their knowledge of our Lord. However, this wasn’t the way our Jesus schooled His men.
Part Two
As some of you know, I’ll be teaching cadets at the United States Military Academy hows to writes gooder come August of this year. Considering what I’ve learned from the University thus far, I’m nervous thinking that it will be my job to educate the future leaders of America in the art and science of communication. What if I don’t know my stuff? What if I teach the way less excellently?
What if the person who preaches to us about Christ isn’t really as in tuned to Jesus as they think? Jesus found common men considered “unschooled” by their religious leaders and trained them to become like the Eternal King of Heaven and Earth. His training plan did not follow the accepted format of educational experts back then or now. Today, we teach about Jesus from a lectern called “pulpit” to a classroom called “congregation” and expect that those who hear truth will inevitably reciprocate its practice. Jesus’ training was hands-on, like the unschooled laborers of today who teach their skill not from the pages of a book but by the sweat of their brow and dirt-caked hands. Jesus trained His disciples to make disciples by teaching them Person to person, not pulpit to pew. You see, if you follow Jesus’ lesson plan then you will never worry if you know your stuff or if you’ll lead others astray. Jesus’ disciple-making methods are not about telling others what you know but rather introducing them to Him who you know.
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1Cor 2:4,5).
OUT OF CONTEXT
The Friendship Verse
I once read this verse on a Christian “friendship” card; “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight” (Gen 31:49). It sounds really nice with the implication that God will keep on eye on my friend for me and on me for him when we are away from one another, but if you consider the context of the passage it’s like using the command, “Love your enemies” on a Get-Well card. Laban, Jacob’s uncle, had just been swindled out of his speckled goats and was now on the warpath to retrieve his daughters and twelve grandchildren. Only God warned the brother of Rebekah not to harm the chosen one of the Lord. Laban and Jacob made a treaty at Galeed that neither would pass the mound in order to harm the other. In essence, they were saying, “Goodbye, enemy of mine.” Not really a “friendship” verse at all, is it?
It’s not the first verse to be taken out of context, of course. There are many others to include Luke 6:38 concerning money, Ephesians 4:15 concerning the pastoral position, and John 3:16 concerning salvation. But we don’t have time for those today. Instead, consider what verse should be written on that Halmark Christian friendship card. “You are my friends if you do what I command you… I have called you friends because… I chose [and] appointed you that you should go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:14-16).
Study the Bible to show yourself approved; don’t just do Bible study to approve of yourself.
I once read this verse on a Christian “friendship” card; “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight” (Gen 31:49). It sounds really nice with the implication that God will keep on eye on my friend for me and on me for him when we are away from one another, but if you consider the context of the passage it’s like using the command, “Love your enemies” on a Get-Well card. Laban, Jacob’s uncle, had just been swindled out of his speckled goats and was now on the warpath to retrieve his daughters and twelve grandchildren. Only God warned the brother of Rebekah not to harm the chosen one of the Lord. Laban and Jacob made a treaty at Galeed that neither would pass the mound in order to harm the other. In essence, they were saying, “Goodbye, enemy of mine.” Not really a “friendship” verse at all, is it?
It’s not the first verse to be taken out of context, of course. There are many others to include Luke 6:38 concerning money, Ephesians 4:15 concerning the pastoral position, and John 3:16 concerning salvation. But we don’t have time for those today. Instead, consider what verse should be written on that Halmark Christian friendship card. “You are my friends if you do what I command you… I have called you friends because… I chose [and] appointed you that you should go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:14-16).
Study the Bible to show yourself approved; don’t just do Bible study to approve of yourself.
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