Those who attempt to enter this fold by any other way are thieves and robbers.
Many impostors have come before me, but the sheep did not recognize or follow them.
I am the door.
Enter by this door and you will be safe, free to go in and out, and find food."
--Jesus
There is a recent radio commercial based on the "Let's Make a Deal" door choosing game. However, in this version the contestant only has one door to choose from! When she points out that there is always more than one door to choose from, the announcer flatly states there is only one door and exuberantly proclaims "You've won a year's supply of dog food!" To which the contestant sullenly replies, "But I don't even own a dog!"
Admittedly, especially here in America, we are used to, and even expect, a menu of choices when deciding what we want.
But when it comes to deciding on the best possible outcome for life, maybe many
doors to choose from isn't such a great thing. Maybe limiting our options to simply trusting, obeying and loving Jesus is the greatest gift God gives us in focusing our wayward eyes and hearts back to Him.
Admittedly, especially here in America, we are used to, and even expect, a menu of choices when deciding what we want.
But when it comes to deciding on the best possible outcome for life, maybe many
Many impostors have come after Jesus and are constantly perpetrating a false Christ on the unsuspecting!
"How have we learned Christ?", asks George MacDonald.
"It ought to be a startling thought, that we may have learned Him wrong!
That must be far worse than not to have learned Him at all: His place is occupied by a false Christ, hard to exorcise!
The point we must contend with is whether we have learned Christ as He taught Himself, or as men have taught Him who thought they understood, but did not understand Him....
"It ought to be a startling thought, that we may have learned Him wrong!
That must be far worse than not to have learned Him at all: His place is occupied by a false Christ, hard to exorcise!
The point we must contend with is whether we have learned Christ as He taught Himself, or as men have taught Him who thought they understood, but did not understand Him....
True Christ or False Christ, the real issue is this: is only our brain full of things concerning Him, or does He Himself dwell in our hearts, a learnt, and ever being learnt lesson, the power of our life?"
--George MacDonald, The Truth in Jesus, Unspoken Sermons II (emphasis and edits added)
Why is it so seductive to hold onto doctrines, systematic theology, statements of beliefs, or plans of salvation as the measure of faith in Christ and the hope of eternal life, rather than holding onto the Author of Life Himself?
The baptism of Jesus is a great example of that seduction: Matthew sets up the scene by including an impassioned sermon by John the Baptist on how the Messiah, whose shoes John "believes" he isn't even worthy to carry, will come in flaming glory, winnowing the unworthy and burning the unrepentant!
Then Jesus shows up, rather quietly, and requests a baptism by John. "Wait, What?! This isn't how its supposed to work, I'm the lowly one, You're the exalted one. We need to send the right message here Messiah!"
The first words Matthew records Jesus making on this planet (Luke records a moment in His youth that is yet similar in it's focus) is this: "The fitting path to righteousness is obedience to God's way, whether we understand it or it doesn't conform with our pre-determined concepts."
Netflix introduced a new tv series titled "Messiah" produced by Roma (Touched By An Angel) and Mark (Survivor) Barnett. I highly recommend it even though there is frequent uses of the "F-word" and a sex scene. But unlike most "Christian" films that tend to be sanitized, this depicts the gritty struggles of a corrupt world filled with sinful people invaded by a mystery man making challenging invitations to faith in God. The main characters include a country pastor whose family and ministry is falling apart, an American CIA agent and an Israeli intelligent officer bent on uncovering the truth of the "Messiah's" hidden political agenda (but end up having their own problematic pasts uncovered in the process); a variety of religious and political figures attempting to understand this mysterious phenomenon through the lens of their own preconceptions.
As an exercise in wrestling with issues of faith it is an interesting challenge to try to figure out how you and I might respond to a similar person making claims of speaking for God, demonstrating miraculous control over nature and shaking up the sensibilities of people the world over. The producers use a variety of scenes to keep you guessing whether they are trying to depict a false Christ or the real deal. Riots break out, religious fervor is enflamed, people leave homes and family to follow this man. A desperate mother, unbeknownst to her husband, takes her cancer stricken daughter to the "Messiah" seeking healing. The daughter seemingly doesn't get healed and the husband files for divorce!
The point, I suppose, is to realize how difficult it was even for people of Jesus time on earth to come to grips with His amazing claims and measure them against their own "beliefs"! But the real struggle for every human being is choosing whether to do what God says and trust Him for the outcome or choose our own way.
Who of us thinks that we'll get a pop quiz at the Pearly Gates confirming our suitability for Heaven? And if you're relying on a "statement of faith" (would it be an an 'open book' test?) which organization or religious affiliation to you go with? Or which version of your organization's SOF do you depend on for the "right" answers (they often get edited and updated)?
But what if the Mormon's got some theology right? How about the Jehovah Witnesses? Is there any element of truth in Islam, or any other major religion? What if someone from the Westboro Baptist church found out that a gay person actually did make it into heaven...would they decline the invitation?
A guy can spend a lot of his life wrestling with words! It seems to me a better use of one's life to focus on doing what Jesus' said and learning to listen as He corrects misunderstandings and teaches what He means by those words.
It is what is "fitting" to fulfill His righteousness and know with certainty He is the Door!
The baptism of Jesus is a great example of that seduction: Matthew sets up the scene by including an impassioned sermon by John the Baptist on how the Messiah, whose shoes John "believes" he isn't even worthy to carry, will come in flaming glory, winnowing the unworthy and burning the unrepentant!
Then Jesus shows up, rather quietly, and requests a baptism by John. "Wait, What?! This isn't how its supposed to work, I'm the lowly one, You're the exalted one. We need to send the right message here Messiah!"
The first words Matthew records Jesus making on this planet (Luke records a moment in His youth that is yet similar in it's focus) is this: "The fitting path to righteousness is obedience to God's way, whether we understand it or it doesn't conform with our pre-determined concepts."
Netflix introduced a new tv series titled "Messiah" produced by Roma (Touched By An Angel) and Mark (Survivor) Barnett. I highly recommend it even though there is frequent uses of the "F-word" and a sex scene. But unlike most "Christian" films that tend to be sanitized, this depicts the gritty struggles of a corrupt world filled with sinful people invaded by a mystery man making challenging invitations to faith in God. The main characters include a country pastor whose family and ministry is falling apart, an American CIA agent and an Israeli intelligent officer bent on uncovering the truth of the "Messiah's" hidden political agenda (but end up having their own problematic pasts uncovered in the process); a variety of religious and political figures attempting to understand this mysterious phenomenon through the lens of their own preconceptions.
As an exercise in wrestling with issues of faith it is an interesting challenge to try to figure out how you and I might respond to a similar person making claims of speaking for God, demonstrating miraculous control over nature and shaking up the sensibilities of people the world over. The producers use a variety of scenes to keep you guessing whether they are trying to depict a false Christ or the real deal. Riots break out, religious fervor is enflamed, people leave homes and family to follow this man. A desperate mother, unbeknownst to her husband, takes her cancer stricken daughter to the "Messiah" seeking healing. The daughter seemingly doesn't get healed and the husband files for divorce!
The point, I suppose, is to realize how difficult it was even for people of Jesus time on earth to come to grips with His amazing claims and measure them against their own "beliefs"! But the real struggle for every human being is choosing whether to do what God says and trust Him for the outcome or choose our own way.
Who of us thinks that we'll get a pop quiz at the Pearly Gates confirming our suitability for Heaven? And if you're relying on a "statement of faith" (would it be an an 'open book' test?) which organization or religious affiliation to you go with? Or which version of your organization's SOF do you depend on for the "right" answers (they often get edited and updated)?
But what if the Mormon's got some theology right? How about the Jehovah Witnesses? Is there any element of truth in Islam, or any other major religion? What if someone from the Westboro Baptist church found out that a gay person actually did make it into heaven...would they decline the invitation?
A guy can spend a lot of his life wrestling with words! It seems to me a better use of one's life to focus on doing what Jesus' said and learning to listen as He corrects misunderstandings and teaches what He means by those words.
It is what is "fitting" to fulfill His righteousness and know with certainty He is the Door!
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Comments are welcome. You can post them here or send me an email: clyon2msu@gmail.com. Thanks for reading, hope you are encouraged, blessed, challenged and grow stronger in your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Charlie