A broad church

How quickly the matter of concessions to Scotland appears to have slipped off the political radar. Nevertheless, I do not believe that the Scots will allow the promises made to them to be sidelined for very long. However, the question of Ireland’s independence had to be deferred when the Great War commenced, so who can say?

I was delighted when it was confirmed that Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom and that, metaphorically, no new Hadrian’s Wall will be built to separate us! This reminds me of how, nearly 2000 years ago, the issue of separateness was raised when the first Christians had to consider just who was included in their number. How relevant was nationality? Was the church for Jews only, or for Gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) also?

The first Christians were Jews; men and women who had grown up believing that it was they who were God’s chosen ones. By and large up to that point in history this was so. However, their idea of separateness caused them to view the people of the nations around them as being little more than dogs. So it was something of a shock when God made it abundantly clear to them that Jesus had not come to call Jews only but those from other tribes and nations as well. In fact, what had previously been hidden in the deep purposes of God was to be openly proclaimed to anyone who would listen: that Jesus Christ had come to break down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, offering them both the same message of reconciliation with the one true God.

In just a few words this is how God’s purpose in sending Jesus works. Jesus came to win the forgiveness of God on behalf of needy men and women. At first, it looked like this reconciliation was just for Jewish people, but no, it was for all sorts of people. From this point onwards, there would be two types of people, not as previously when it was a case of Jew and Gentile, but now it would simply be that you were either a believer in Jesus Christ or an unbeliever. Jesus breaks down two dividing walls: that which exists between people and God and that which exists between different types of people.

By accepting this message and the power it provides, we will have made a start on the road of living the two great commandments: to love God with all our being and to love one another as we love ourselves.

A welcome at the door

Last week my wife and I stepped out of the front door slamming it behind us, only to realise immediately that neither of us had our house keys! You know that sinking feeling that comes with such realisation – well we had it! I could not help thinking of the more serious matter of Jesus speaking about people being shut out of God’s heavenly home.

In his teaching, Jesus uses the analogy of ‘doors’ in varying ways. He speaks of a particular door which will be before us at the end of the age or, if you prefer, the end of our lives. The picture is of a door into God’s eternal heaven. Some will pass through it with the sound of much rejoicing. Others will find the door firmly shut. No amount of knocking or pleading on their part will open it. Their sinking feeling of realisation as to what has happened is described by Jesus as weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And now for the Good News. God promises to extend a warm welcome at the door to all who will honour his son Jesus whom he has declared to be the Lord of Heaven. We best honour Jesus by heeding his words.

Jesus calls men and women to turn and become a follower of himself, leaving behind whatever would hinder them. When we become his followers, and this is no light thing, Jesus says we have entered through the narrow door. To all intents and purposes, that future encounter with the heavenly door, referred to above, has been brought forward so that we can enter through it now – today. Jesus calls us to himself in this way because he knows that it is he himself who is actually the door through which people enter into God’s own home (i.e. Kingdom).

So humble and gracious is Jesus that he still comes to individuals and knocks on the door of their own hearts and lives seeking an entrance so that he might live through his Spirit with them, and they with him. Will we open the door or keep it shut? If shut, what might we reasonably expect Jesus to do when we, in our turn, stand at his own heavenly door?