Christian teachers often find themselves between a rock and a hard place. As I prepare for the most important messages of the year, Palm Sunday and Easter, I am reminded of this fact. The dilemma is to speak boldly of the unique place the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has in the salvation of mankind without being pious or self righteous. Why is this a struggle. Because there are good people who have either adopted another faith or have forsaken faith all together. These people often are more ethical and socially conscience than many Christians. They care about the sick, the poor, the homeless and outcast. They agree with the moral life of Jesus and even try to imitate His caring nature for those who are under the oppressive rule of others. They admire the life of Christ, but they don't want to consider the significance of His death. I will be speaking to many of these types of people over the course of the next two weeks.
Some of my peers have fallen to the temptation to make the exclusivity of Jesus more palatable to those who have chosen to deny the full gospel story. The desire to increase the audience who will listen to our message has caused some to broaden the message as well. Like the well known pastor who recently released his book "Love Wins". The conclusion you arrive after hearing him describe the purpose of the book is that God loves so profoundly that everyone ends up in heaven after all. May I confess here and now: I wish that were true. I have had too many friends who went on into eternity denying Christ. The problem with my well meaning sentiment is that it has no foundation in truth. The Bible, which is my only authority in spiritual matters, allows for no other way to heaven. It expressly claims that most people will deny this truth and follow other paths. So the question ultimately is this; "Is it more important to speak to as large an audience as possible or to speak the truth as narrow as it may seem?' I have chosen the narrow message over the larger audience.
Here is a confirmation that I have chosen well. While considering the topic for this entry someone shared this story with me. A person asked one of our church members where they attended church. The member responded Dallas Bay. The person asking the question said they had tried Dallas Bay but found the pastor was too narrow. This person did not like that I claimed Jesus was the only way to heaven. It seemed that I was too intolerant of other faiths. So this person had stopped coming. The member responded that they felt the same way as me and the conversation was over. Here is the point. The member laughed this Sunday as they left. Walking out of the service was that person who said they could not attend because of my intolerance. I think people are really looking for someone to stand for something even if they don't agree. There is something attractive about conviction.
John 12:32
32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
See you Sunday. I will be presenting a message in a fashion most of you have never experienced. Pray with me that God will bless the message as well as the presentation.
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