Thursday, October 22, 2015

Sure. I am narrow minded..

Political correctness (def) - the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult a group of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.  There is a lot being said about political correctness lately and it seems that we as a people have marginalized just about every pure thing in life.  Some truths cannot be marginalized though and the gospel is one of those truths.  If you go to someone who is a waffler and tell them Jesus is the only way to eternal life, they will say, "oh there are many ways."  That reasoning works only if you don't believe the Bible, but then you have another issue to deal with..... God!!  In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."  So, you might say to me, "Are  you saying there is no other way to eternal life, but through Jesus Christ?"  I will say, "No, I didn't say that.  God's Word says that!"  Now that throws a kink into the apathetic argument of someone who thinks there are many ways to heaven, and it also probably insults them that someone would be so narrow-minded, but that reasoning doesn't line up with the words Jesus used to those who were considering following Him.  In Matthew 7:13  Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."  That doesn't sound very politically correct does it?  Nope!  But it is God-correct and that is the linch pin that holds the whole thing together.  That truth is vital for all who are searching for The Way.  In the Beatitudes Jesus warned about things that would happen to those who were narrow-minded.  In Matthew 5:11  Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say evil against you because of me."  Why did Jesus say this right of the gate?  Because He knew the narrow-minded truth would be rejected and that those who were telling that truth would have to deal with political correctness or maybe spiritual correctness.   But in verse 12 Jesus tells us to "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  
If we choose the stance to go through the wide gate, you can see how things can get out of hand and the truth will easily be marginalized by the many different human opinions about which way is right.  That stance is the scourge that is affecting our world and our churches today.  Churches are dying because of open mindedness.  Only those who follow the narrow way will receive the promises of God.  Jesus is that narrow way.  So you might ask me, "Are you narrow-minded?  To which I will say, "If you are asking if Jesus is the only way?  I say, YES!  Yes, I am narrow-minded because truth is truth when it comes from God.  Man's opinions and watered down wisdom is the broad way and there are many who are following that reasoning, but the end is destruction.  Destruction.....  Proverbs 16:25 is starting to ring in our ears isn't it?  "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  Common sense alone says, "don't follow that way."  But God's Word commands and says, "There is no other way but Jesus!"  

The Pilgrimage continues....


David Warren

No comments: