As I read the Gospels, I've noticed that there were a couple things that made the scribes and pharisees angry with Jesus. The first, and most obvious, was His claims of deity. But another is the fact that He opened heaven/eternal life up to more than just the religious. He opened it up to whoever would come, even those that the Jews would have nothing to do with.
The issue of Christ's deity is not a big deal within the Church today. Even religions/churches most christians would reject recognize Christ's deity. But the issue of who gets in and who doesn't.... talk about stirring up a hornet's nest!
A recent discussion on one forum highlighted this. Someone wrote about a party in heaven, and that everyone was invited. But a pharisee showed up, clipboard in hand, to make sure that everyone who showed up was indeed invited. The keys to the kingdom were in her hands, as far as she was concerned, and she would make sure the riff-raff stayed out. How dare someone say everyone was welcome!
I posted an analogy of Jesus sneaking people past the pharisees and in the back door. Isn't this what Christianity is? We couldn't keep the Law (and get on the invitation list), so Jesus found a way to get us into the party anyway. Yet this analogy drew fire - even from a poster I respect.
Why is it so many people are more concerned with keeping the riff-raff out than with helping them get into the party?
The good news is that not only is there a party planned for us, it has already begun. But the bad news is that your invitation got lost somewhere and you'll never get past security (religion) at the front door. Don't feel too bad; I lost my invitation as well.
But Jesus is more than happy to sneak you into the party. Just follow Him in through the back door. It's a great party; it's a shame so many are missing it because they insist on checking names at the door.
(please comment at http://jimmie.compassionatechristianity.org)
