Scriptures that Christians Forget: First of a Series
Matthew 7:23
Beginning with Jerry Falwell and the ironically named group, Moral Majority, American Christians have in recent years become much more concerned with the Kingdom of Men. Now, whether they have also become less concerned with the Kingdom of God is a matter of dispute.
But, suffice it to say that the modern American Church today looks much less spiritually minded than did my father's church - the church of my youth.
There is also some irony in the fact that the purported founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, was very disinterested in the Kingdom of Men during his short stay here on earth. He repeatedly avoided those institutions of his day most representative of the earthly kingdom - the Roman Government and Jewish Religious Leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees).
Now, followers deviating from the path laid out by their founder is nothing new. I am quite sure George Washington, the purported "Father of Our Nation" would likely be quite surprised by the political machinations accepted as normal in current times.
The mythical George Washington has little resemblance to the actual historical figure. Similarly, there is little alignment in American Christianity with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Just as we American's think of George Washington as the white-haired grandfather we dote on in history class, we also tend to think of Jesus as a benign comfort blanket to cling to in times of trouble or despair.
The grandfatherly Washington completely ignores the young, risk taking Washington, or the steely General who risked everything to lead a rag-tag band of revolutionaries.
And, American Jesus is the antithesis of Real Jesus - the Radical, Upend Your World Jesus who loved the poor, the outcasts, the marginalized sojourners of his day whom the world hated but whom he dearly loved.
Although, it must be said that the "Onward Christian Soldiers" brand of religion does capture the radical aspects of Jesus, it unfortunately ignores the loving Shepherd counterbalance that is essential to grasp the real heart of Jesus.
It seems that many religions today - not just Christianity - are obsessed with following rules and laws. The Middle East today is at war with itself as Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims fight for prominence. The deadly divisions trace back to the decedents of the Prophet Muhammad - and who is truly the rightful heir to his power and religious authority.
And lest Christians cast aspersions - or stones - it is useful to remember the long and bloody war in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants.
So it is difficult to determine why such differences are worth killing or dying - particularly when Jesus said the most important commandment was to love God first, and your neighbor as you love your own self.
Later in Matthew 22:35-40, this exchange between religious lawyers and Jesus took place:
And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Jesus said to him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Of course, not long afterwards, the religious leaders conspired with others to have Jesus killed - so it would seem that his words had as little effect then as they do today.
Because then, and now, religious folks tend to take names and keep score for all of the rules you keep, the rules you break - of the Good Things you accomplish in life (by their standards) as opposed to the Bad Things (again by their approved standards).
Now, if we refer to what Jesus said about the most important commandment or law, he seemed to say that loving God and loving your neighbor is most important of all.
When asked how physically accosting women entering abortion clinics is loving, or when asked how working to expel immigrant children from America is loving, or how seeking to exclude Gay Americans from full participation in Boy Scouts or marriage is loving - there is usually either no response, a subterfuge to quickly change the subject, or an even more Orwellian response as to how Loving God means following the Laws of America.
And so in these situations I am usually left dumbfounded - or so angry that I cannot speak. I expect that Jesus, Gandhi and Martin Luther King experienced this on a regular basis.
The difference between them and me (beyond the obvious one) is that they responded well and kindly. Usually, but not always I expect.
And so below, let's look at the proof text in our title, Mathew chapter 7.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven - only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!'"
The irony here if you've noticed, is that Jesus branded those most obsessed with law-keeping as law-breakers.
I am sure they were either enraged or dumbfounded, but I doubt many of them were changed.
Because what Jesus said then - and is saying now to anyone who has ears - is that laws are not an end in themselves. And although laws may make you feel Safe or Protected, laws cannot really do that.
And even more important is that laws cannot make you Good. Laws cannot bring about Change.
No, goodness - if not already in place - can only come through Change. Specifically, a Change of Heart.
So Matthew 7 only points us to Matthew 22. Unless we remember that the greatest commandment is to Love God, we are missing the mark. What is the best indicator we are Loving God? I think Jesus would point us to the second part of his answer - Love your Neighbor as you Love Yourself.
And, should you ignore the wisdom of Matthew 22, when you reach the end of your life and you face your God - whomever or whatever you believe - be careful lest you be the person Jesus described in Matthew 7.
In spite of all your Good Works, or Accomplishments, or Important Discoveries, in the end you are likely to be shocked to hear "Go away. I don't know you. I never knew you."
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