Everyone talks about the day when Jesus will return to gather his deserving flock. Most of today’s Christians have a ‘good deed’ savings account to make sure they will be included. But mariner has a suggestion: you may need to read the Gospel Matthew and most of Gospel Luke to find out who gets to go and who doesn’t. Let’s take a simple test: In the Bible (Matt. 5:3-10) are ten types of people who will be saved on Judgment Day. Let’s see if any of us are in there. Hmm . . . Well, mariner doesn’t see a lot of names. Better check out the parables in Matthew and Luke to see what we need to do to get a ride to heaven.
Another issue that gets in the way of a trip out of here on Judgment Day is recognizing what the gift is. For example, many, many folks believe the gift is a piece of paper with a picture of an American President on it and heaven is a lot like Orlando Beach.
A third issue is that Christianity is a part time job. Many Christians give up Sunday morning to go to church when they actually wanted to sleep late (note that in the savings account). A fewer number give a meaningful amount participating in charities and even fewer participate in helping develop community participation. Well, at least there’s free coffee and donuts before the service.
Strip away thousands of years of accumulated Christian literature, politics, economics and social change. What is left is what Jesus wanted: God is the power of love. God’s love steers our life day in and day out. When we live our lives by using God’s power to love, Jesus said we are sitting at the right hand of God.
Given Jesus’s words, no Judgment Day is needed. Live by God’s love and you are experiencing the Promised Land. No waiting! Take a short trip this afternoon.
Which word does not belong in this list?
Caring
Sharing
Compassionate
Convenient
Sympathy
Empathy
Ancient Mariner
It is true that we in the pews do not always represent the best of Jesus’s teaching. However, that is a very high bar. Who among us can achieve Christian perfection? I, for one, am counting on grace!
Only Marty could turn mariner’s premise of self-earned salvation into the opposite theology that only God can grant grace! Well done!
Good one, Eddie. But, as Marty has wisely posted, it is a very high bar. We do the best we can. I do, however, find it hard to stomach that – if I do get to heaven – I will see Hitler and Trump there.