Believers Only?

I asked a group of Christians how they would feel if they got to heaven and found Buddhists, Hindus, homosexuals and women who'd had abortions sitting around laughing with Jesus.

Silence.

I waited. I repeated the question.

"That would never happen because the Bible is clear that people like that won't be there."

"What if they were?", I pressed. "After all it's His heaven, He can let in whomever he wants. What if people whom you knew for a fact didn’t believe in Jesus made it to heaven just like you did? How would you feel?

Again, silence.

After I told them about another group to whom I had posed the same question, and that group's consensus was "Angry. Cheated.", this group began to open up a little.

What surfaced was a sentiment among "the faithful" that it would be unfair of God to allow others in who had not "played by the rules" by which they themselves had kept for years.

(reminded me of this story that Jesus told. Matthew 20:1-16)

Many people in Christianity feel they have been called to safeguard heaven from people whose actions don’t deserve it, and deep down want people to pay for their shortcomings. After all, "it’s only fair."

"Houston, we have a problem."

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(An excerpt from The Shack by William P. Young", p. 192)

Papa (God): "Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully; through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world."

Mack: "The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?"

Papa: "The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two-way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way."

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God is love. God loves everyone. God has unlimited patience with everyone, believers and unbelievers. His patience is an expression of His love.

He is loving and patient with all His children, even the one's who don't yet believe in Him.

He is hoping to win their heart. How do you know that someone who doesn't believe in God today will do so three months from now?

He is not loving and patient only to those who believe, but especially to those who don't... in hopes that they one day will.

Independent Choices

True love never forces.

Why does God allow bad things to happen? Does it seem cruel to you that God does not stop bad things from happening if he has the power to do so?

God is love. Love is kind. Love is never cruel. In the popular book The Shack, Papa (God) makes the following statement to Mac about this very subject:

"Nobody knows what horrors I have saved the world from 'cuz people can't see what never happened. All evil flows from independence, and independence is your choice. If I were to simply revoke all the choices of independence, the world as you know it would cease to exist and love would have no meaning.

This world is not a playground where I keep all my children free from evil. Evil is the chaos of this age that you brought to me, but it will not have the final say. Now it touches everyone that I love, those who follow me and those who don't.

If I take away the consequences of people's choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forced is no love at all. Every choice matters. You demand your independence, but then complain that I actually love you enough to give it to you."

God did not create evil, as some accuse Him of doing. Any evil you encounter in the world can be traced back to someone's selfish choice.

Ministry Opportunities

I've had some interesting meetings during the past couple of weeks. Some good opportunities to meet needs and help people connect with God.

A week and a half ago I attended a Gideons Banquet. They're the guys who place Bibles in hotels, hospitals, schools, jails, etc. They don't force anyone to take a Bible or read it. They simply place them in high-traffic areas and people may choose to take and read it or leave it be. A good work of which we are proud to be a part.

Looking into our being a host church for Angel Food Ministry which helps people stretch their budgets. Another good work. I'm excited about the possibility or our congregation being part of this. Lord knows folks would appreciate help to cut costs on their grocery bill. This would not replace our "Food Pantry" which gives food at no cost, but this would certainly complement the Pantry ministry.

I meet with a group of guys on Tuesday nights where we are reading and discussing the book The Shack, the bestseller written by William Paul Young. This is a controversial book in many circles, and many well-known pastors have labeled it "heresy". We are finding it to be both challenging and encouraging. Some have described it as being "life-changing". I'm reluctant to put that label on any book, but it has certainly helped us better understand and connect to God--and He is truly life-changing.

I've been enjoying exploring some fascinating discoveries about the Red Sea Crossing as recorded in the the Bible in the Book of Exodus. Amazing how often science confirms the Biblical accounts, but those discoveries don't get much publicity in news accounts or even educational settings.