It's getting hot in here - HELL
There's nothing more stirring than a 'fire and brimstone' sermon to scare the congregation back onto the straight and narrow path. I've seen preachers work up a sweat as their voices are raised to fever pitch as they command the congregation to 'repent or perish.'
Others take a calmer (but just as intense) approach as they plead with their congregation to turn from their wicked ways, and to get back on the narrow path to salvation, because 'broad is the road that leads to destruction.' Such sincere pleading - sometimes with genuine tears streaming down the preacher's cheeks - are convincing, because surely someone so genuinely concerned for us, can't be wrong.
And when we see how much someone cares about us and our ultimate salvation, it pierces our shell of disbelief, and strikes a chord of uncertainty, and we begin to worry if we're on the right path.
They love to back up their powerful sermons by quoting one of the most famous passages from the bible, found in Mathew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Seriously, there's nothing better than a bit fear and terror. The bible even tells us so, at least according to Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For some reason, disbelievers don't take too well to hearing they need to fear, while others ask 'why bother trying?' if the gate is so narrow and only a few are going to make it. That seems like a pretty good point, but then it seems to contradict what Jesus says in John 6:37-40
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
So which one is it? Is there a narrow gate that only a few will pass through? Or is anyone who accepts Christ going to be saved? Is this passage even talking about salvation? Could there be more to the story, something that we're missing? Well, I'm going to break tradition and disagree with generations of pastors and show you something new about hell and the narrow gate.
My dad generally believes the narrow gate is about salvation, although he admits he's not 100% sure, but then he's in his 80's now and has always been taught this interpretation of the passage, and he can preach a great sermon on it.
He asked me 'What's easier - trying to earn your salvation, or being given a gift?' before adding that the gate is narrow, but it's big for you and I, but many won't want it. He says it's big enough for everyone, but not our baggage.
He tells the story of a man raised to be racist, whose friends are racist, and during his whole life never changed his views. Then one day he discovers he has cancer, and on his deathbed, figuring he has nothing to lose, cries out to God.
Is the man saved? Is there room in heaven for racists?
Considering heaven is described as a place where every race, colour, tongue and creed will dine together, heaven would be hell for this racist. The racist man might prefer hell, unless of course he's willing to let go of his baggage - in this case his racism.
You see Jesus isn't simply the way into heaven, he's showing us a better way to live here and now in this world, so that when we get to heaven, we don't get such a shock, and we don't have too much baggage to burn off.
As for burning off of baggage, it might surprise you to know that the bible talks far more about flames and burning in heaven, than it ever does about hell, like in Corinthians 3:10-15
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved - even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Note the last sentence 'even though only as one escaping through the flames.' I wonder what baggage I'll have to burn off. I suspect I won't be alone in having some bits and pieces wrong, but hopefully not too much that needs to be tested by fire.
Whether dad's interpretation of this passage is correct or not doesn't matter, because the lessons can be learnt from this view on it are still useful.
But I recently heard a new interpretation of this passage, from a very qualified pastor with degrees in theology, as well as having his Rabi training. He said this passage isn't about salvation, but about how you live your life now and how you treat others. The whole chapter is about how you treat others and offers advice on how to live. He said you can live your own way, without God and even in defiance of God, and bring destruction and death into your life right now - although still be saved. Or you can choose to live God's way, according to his rules, and have life in this life. God's way is not just about life after death, but how to have life before you die.
Yet because of a few lines about gates, everyone takes this one passage to mean the vast majority of people are going to hell - which would make God a failure, but God is not a failure. It's like reading only part of a story and judging the whole book on a few pages.
I like the second interpretation better, but I've learned something from both views. I believe God is trying to get me more aligned with his way so when I get to the narrow gate I don't get such a shock and there won't be too much baggage to get rid of, and I also believe that I can have a better life in this life, perhaps even bring a little bit of heaven to earth, by living God's way here and now.
Others take a calmer (but just as intense) approach as they plead with their congregation to turn from their wicked ways, and to get back on the narrow path to salvation, because 'broad is the road that leads to destruction.' Such sincere pleading - sometimes with genuine tears streaming down the preacher's cheeks - are convincing, because surely someone so genuinely concerned for us, can't be wrong.
And when we see how much someone cares about us and our ultimate salvation, it pierces our shell of disbelief, and strikes a chord of uncertainty, and we begin to worry if we're on the right path.
They love to back up their powerful sermons by quoting one of the most famous passages from the bible, found in Mathew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Seriously, there's nothing better than a bit fear and terror. The bible even tells us so, at least according to Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For some reason, disbelievers don't take too well to hearing they need to fear, while others ask 'why bother trying?' if the gate is so narrow and only a few are going to make it. That seems like a pretty good point, but then it seems to contradict what Jesus says in John 6:37-40
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
So which one is it? Is there a narrow gate that only a few will pass through? Or is anyone who accepts Christ going to be saved? Is this passage even talking about salvation? Could there be more to the story, something that we're missing? Well, I'm going to break tradition and disagree with generations of pastors and show you something new about hell and the narrow gate.
My dad generally believes the narrow gate is about salvation, although he admits he's not 100% sure, but then he's in his 80's now and has always been taught this interpretation of the passage, and he can preach a great sermon on it.
He asked me 'What's easier - trying to earn your salvation, or being given a gift?' before adding that the gate is narrow, but it's big for you and I, but many won't want it. He says it's big enough for everyone, but not our baggage.
He tells the story of a man raised to be racist, whose friends are racist, and during his whole life never changed his views. Then one day he discovers he has cancer, and on his deathbed, figuring he has nothing to lose, cries out to God.
Is the man saved? Is there room in heaven for racists?
Considering heaven is described as a place where every race, colour, tongue and creed will dine together, heaven would be hell for this racist. The racist man might prefer hell, unless of course he's willing to let go of his baggage - in this case his racism.
You see Jesus isn't simply the way into heaven, he's showing us a better way to live here and now in this world, so that when we get to heaven, we don't get such a shock, and we don't have too much baggage to burn off.
As for burning off of baggage, it might surprise you to know that the bible talks far more about flames and burning in heaven, than it ever does about hell, like in Corinthians 3:10-15
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved - even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Note the last sentence 'even though only as one escaping through the flames.' I wonder what baggage I'll have to burn off. I suspect I won't be alone in having some bits and pieces wrong, but hopefully not too much that needs to be tested by fire.
Whether dad's interpretation of this passage is correct or not doesn't matter, because the lessons can be learnt from this view on it are still useful.
But I recently heard a new interpretation of this passage, from a very qualified pastor with degrees in theology, as well as having his Rabi training. He said this passage isn't about salvation, but about how you live your life now and how you treat others. The whole chapter is about how you treat others and offers advice on how to live. He said you can live your own way, without God and even in defiance of God, and bring destruction and death into your life right now - although still be saved. Or you can choose to live God's way, according to his rules, and have life in this life. God's way is not just about life after death, but how to have life before you die.
Yet because of a few lines about gates, everyone takes this one passage to mean the vast majority of people are going to hell - which would make God a failure, but God is not a failure. It's like reading only part of a story and judging the whole book on a few pages.
I like the second interpretation better, but I've learned something from both views. I believe God is trying to get me more aligned with his way so when I get to the narrow gate I don't get such a shock and there won't be too much baggage to get rid of, and I also believe that I can have a better life in this life, perhaps even bring a little bit of heaven to earth, by living God's way here and now.
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