13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)
If you are anything like me, you get the following picture in your head (especially with words like "leadeth" and "thereat"):
There are two roads. One is huge and red colored and dark and has multitudes of debased prostitutes, sodomites, liars, cheaters, and thieves almost dancing down it with evil grins on their faces till they suddenly fall off a cliff into a lake of fire and, at that point, their faces become horribly grotesque as they burn to a fiery crisp. Then you have a second road (usually shaped like a cross)--painfully thin--with a scant few saintly blond people all carrying their Bibles in white robes and pious expressions barely balanced--one foot in front of the other--up to a sun-like village far in the distance.
Okay, so...maybe it's just me.
Anyway, I was listening to a sermon on Hebrews the other week and the pastor was talking about the culture of Christ and the apostle's time period. He was pointing out that false teachers of the time were really pushing this idea of legalism. I began to think about the legalism of that day and then the legalism of today's religions.
And then I thought about the words "narrow way" again. Okay...now...i'm not saying I got some extra-biblical revelation...but...those words didn't seem to point to "goodies get heaven and badies get hell" anymore. Like,...I know that those who choose the "dark path" and never turn to Christ are really damning themselves to hell. I realize that. I also realize that those who choose Christ and to walk in His ways belong to Christ and will live with Him one day in heaven. I'm not contending that.
What I want to bring up for discussion is this point: Christianity is the only grace-based "religion" out there. Every other religion, faith, cult, movement...how do they solve ultimate questions? "Live to your potential." "Seek the divinity within." "Tap into the Life source." And then they give you a list of ways you can do that and feel good about yourself. Rules.
Now I know that it really seems like, of all the people on the planet, the ones not having any fun are the Christians, (Watch an episode of the Simpsons if you don't know what I'm talking about.) so...how can you say that Christianity doesn't have rules?
Okay, for one thing, most Christians try to have fun based on this crazy notion that you shouldn't hurt others or yourself when you have fun b/c we are all created in the image of God. They ask themselves the question, "Is my two seconds of fun going to cause years of consequences?...'Cause that's just not cool."
Now...if the Christian in question is being ridiculous in his list of "I shall not's" maybe that Christian is having a hard time understanding "grace". It's possible. Grace is hard to accept. Hold that thought.
I believe that these verses 13 and 14 are saying that grace is the narrow road and that works are the broad road. Why do I say this interpretation as opposed to the renaissance painting version of "whores go to hell and saints go to heaven"? B/c look at the following verse:
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
And then it goes on to talk about how to spot a false teacher...
But what were the false prophets of the day (and today) teaching? Works. What was (and is) the Spirit teaching? Grace. The context of the verses have nothing to do with whoredome versus Christendom, actually.
Broad vs. Narrow.
But why are there only a few that find it? Okay...I think this should come as a warning to Christians especially. Especially in light of books like Galatians and Romans where Paul is SCREAMING his warnings about falling back into the legalism of the day. Especially in light of the entire Sermon on the Mount and verses 1-12 where Christ is teaching us exactly how to guard ourselves from our "Christian-y sins" of not judging and obeying the golden rule. Do those sins bring to mind whoredom and sodomy? Um. No. Context.
Our logic as humans says, "You give; you get. You put into; you get out. You are nice to me; I am nice to you." Christians fall into this trap all the time. How do I know? B/c I am a Christian and i fall into it. B/c my friends are Christians and they fall into it. "Few there be that find it" Grace? What's that? Grace is the most foreign concept imaginable to reward-hungry creatures such as we! No wonder the metaphor is a narrow road! We make it practically a tight-rope!
This may be an inaccurate picture, but...humor me for a second. I picture grace like this: God creates a nice sturdy bridge of grace across a wide road of destruction. Nothing fancy. Not huge, but plenty of room for us to walk across safely. No chance that we will fall off, in fact, b/c He is going to help us across. However, we see it and what do we do? "Oh, Sir, that bridge is just far too nice and my feet are dirty and besides, I don't deserve it, and I'm sure I'm keeping You from something important--You being God and all...Thank you very much, Sir, I really appreciate it, but....um...if it's all the same to you I'd much prefer walking on the railings instead."
Hey! Great idea! We're still headed in the same direction, right? And the plus side is, the trip won't be that easy, so we can still pat ourselves on the back once we get across! Yes!
The railing actually puts us one step closer to the road of destruction beneath which is where we end up when we don't accept grace.
Okay, it's not a perfect analogy, but...I am convinced grace and works makes more sense than debauchery vs. piety. Or at least it's an acceptable interpretation.
There are two roads. One is huge and red colored and dark and has multitudes of debased prostitutes, sodomites, liars, cheaters, and thieves almost dancing down it with evil grins on their faces till they suddenly fall off a cliff into a lake of fire and, at that point, their faces become horribly grotesque as they burn to a fiery crisp. Then you have a second road (usually shaped like a cross)--painfully thin--with a scant few saintly blond people all carrying their Bibles in white robes and pious expressions barely balanced--one foot in front of the other--up to a sun-like village far in the distance.
Okay, so...maybe it's just me.
Anyway, I was listening to a sermon on Hebrews the other week and the pastor was talking about the culture of Christ and the apostle's time period. He was pointing out that false teachers of the time were really pushing this idea of legalism. I began to think about the legalism of that day and then the legalism of today's religions.
And then I thought about the words "narrow way" again. Okay...now...i'm not saying I got some extra-biblical revelation...but...those words didn't seem to point to "goodies get heaven and badies get hell" anymore. Like,...I know that those who choose the "dark path" and never turn to Christ are really damning themselves to hell. I realize that. I also realize that those who choose Christ and to walk in His ways belong to Christ and will live with Him one day in heaven. I'm not contending that.
What I want to bring up for discussion is this point: Christianity is the only grace-based "religion" out there. Every other religion, faith, cult, movement...how do they solve ultimate questions? "Live to your potential." "Seek the divinity within." "Tap into the Life source." And then they give you a list of ways you can do that and feel good about yourself. Rules.
Now I know that it really seems like, of all the people on the planet, the ones not having any fun are the Christians, (Watch an episode of the Simpsons if you don't know what I'm talking about.) so...how can you say that Christianity doesn't have rules?
Okay, for one thing, most Christians try to have fun based on this crazy notion that you shouldn't hurt others or yourself when you have fun b/c we are all created in the image of God. They ask themselves the question, "Is my two seconds of fun going to cause years of consequences?...'Cause that's just not cool."
Now...if the Christian in question is being ridiculous in his list of "I shall not's" maybe that Christian is having a hard time understanding "grace". It's possible. Grace is hard to accept. Hold that thought.
I believe that these verses 13 and 14 are saying that grace is the narrow road and that works are the broad road. Why do I say this interpretation as opposed to the renaissance painting version of "whores go to hell and saints go to heaven"? B/c look at the following verse:
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
And then it goes on to talk about how to spot a false teacher...
But what were the false prophets of the day (and today) teaching? Works. What was (and is) the Spirit teaching? Grace. The context of the verses have nothing to do with whoredome versus Christendom, actually.
Broad vs. Narrow.
But why are there only a few that find it? Okay...I think this should come as a warning to Christians especially. Especially in light of books like Galatians and Romans where Paul is SCREAMING his warnings about falling back into the legalism of the day. Especially in light of the entire Sermon on the Mount and verses 1-12 where Christ is teaching us exactly how to guard ourselves from our "Christian-y sins" of not judging and obeying the golden rule. Do those sins bring to mind whoredom and sodomy? Um. No. Context.
Our logic as humans says, "You give; you get. You put into; you get out. You are nice to me; I am nice to you." Christians fall into this trap all the time. How do I know? B/c I am a Christian and i fall into it. B/c my friends are Christians and they fall into it. "Few there be that find it" Grace? What's that? Grace is the most foreign concept imaginable to reward-hungry creatures such as we! No wonder the metaphor is a narrow road! We make it practically a tight-rope!
This may be an inaccurate picture, but...humor me for a second. I picture grace like this: God creates a nice sturdy bridge of grace across a wide road of destruction. Nothing fancy. Not huge, but plenty of room for us to walk across safely. No chance that we will fall off, in fact, b/c He is going to help us across. However, we see it and what do we do? "Oh, Sir, that bridge is just far too nice and my feet are dirty and besides, I don't deserve it, and I'm sure I'm keeping You from something important--You being God and all...Thank you very much, Sir, I really appreciate it, but....um...if it's all the same to you I'd much prefer walking on the railings instead."
Hey! Great idea! We're still headed in the same direction, right? And the plus side is, the trip won't be that easy, so we can still pat ourselves on the back once we get across! Yes!
The railing actually puts us one step closer to the road of destruction beneath which is where we end up when we don't accept grace.
Okay, it's not a perfect analogy, but...I am convinced grace and works makes more sense than debauchery vs. piety. Or at least it's an acceptable interpretation.
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