Let me In!

You've passed away, leaving behind your friends and family, finally rid of the pain and suffering of existence as a living, breathing human being. Your soul stands before the Gates to Heaven. Will it be open to you? And is having them open for you enough to truly call yourself a good Christian?

Today's sermon goes along with the one regarding morality and religion, and also goes along with a couple other things I've written in recent weeks (Dear Pastors/Preachers and Dear Pastor Clarified). This entire topic is very important to me. It regards the question "What is a good Christian?".

Many people I know believe that so long as they believe in God, and his son, will go to heaven. No other action required.

Many others believe that you must do this, but you must attend church every Sunday (or, at least on a fairly regular basis). No other action required.

This is like when I tell my fourteen year old to do the laundry. Most of the time, what I get from this request is either: a) the clothes get put into the washing machine, the washing machine runs, but this is as far as it goes, or b) the clothes also manage to get dried by then remain in the dryer or in the clothes basket unfolded. If you are given a task, it is required you complete this task from start to finish. We all know that. However, many of us will hide behind "you didn't specify what you wanted." I did not tell her specifically to wash the clothes, dry them, fold them, then put them away in the correct dresser drawers.

So does God only give us the minimum of instructions? Is there anything beyond those minimum instructions required for us to get into Heaven? 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

 These two verses seem to imply that all I have to do is believe. Yes! I am in! I can sit around and do nothing more. 

James 2:24- You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

John 14:15 - “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 

Oh... hmm... this isn't good. I think I will choose to ignore verses like these. I don't like them. I am a good Christian. I believe in God the father, son and holy spirit. I go to church every Sunday, I've been baptized and confirmed into the faith, and I sometimes repent my sins. I am in!

Seriously people - even if all that is required to get in is to believe... this isn't right. Morally we have an obligation to carry it to a higher level. No one will ever be perfect while here on earth. We all sin. We're all going to screw this up. But that doesn't mean we just sit back and allow ourselves to sin, then go to Church on Sunday so it's all forgiven. 

Think of Heaven as an elite university we all want to get into. Our transcripts are in - we've all believed in God, attended church, been baptized and confirmed. So now the dean (God) must look at our extra-curricular activities. When you were walking home and saw an elderly lady struggling to pick something up which she dropped... did you help the lady? When your friend needed to get home because of an emergency and you had the extra cash to pay for gas, did you help? After enjoying a large meal, and leaving the restaurant, you noticed a homeless man sitting in the corner hungry. Did you offer a meal or some money to help this man? Someone called you in tears. Her best friend just died. You were on your way to a concert you spent $100 on. Did you stay home to take care of your friend? Or did you go enjoy your concert? 

 What will your application for entrance to Heaven look like? Remember, it isn't just about the grades you get, it's about all the little things you do as well. 

 

Morality vs. Religion

I hadn't intended on beginning this blog with this sermon, but as i was seeking an image for something else, I stumbled upon this picture. One good example of this is those who are against gay/lesbian rights, or those against abortion. The Bible tells them these things are wrong. These things are evil. Because it says so in the Bible, and because this is what a person's religion tells them is the case, they believe it is accepted to mistreat people who are gay or lesbian, or those who choose to have an abortion.

Calling someone names, beating them up, bombing an abortion clinic - these are all actions which morally are wrong. However, the people who do these activities hide behind the Bible and their religion. But these actions which they try to do under the protection of the Bible, are actually going against this same book. Beyond the obvious of murder being a sin, we are also often warned that we should treat others as we would want to be treated.

Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

Luke 6:31 - Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

Mark 12:31 - The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 If we are acting reprehensibly towards someone whose beliefs do not follow our own, we are breaking this law. It is a simple law. Treat others they way you would want to be treated. Of course, this slides a bit from the morality topic, but it is a good place to start. 

Do not cheat your neighbor, lie, steal, kill, harm, or speak bad of your neighbor, etc. These are the commandments. These commandments are morally sound. And yet people tend to ignore these things and utilize the Bible and God's Word in ways that benefit their personal agendas. This is not moral. It is not following the 10 commandments, and is definitely not following "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

However, there are times when morals go against religion. Which is the "right" thing to do? Take for example this true story...

A young girl, around 14 years of age, had been abused for the last 6 or 7 years by her parents. She has watched her siblings get beaten. She and the others often have bruises, bumps and cuts, untreated broken bones, and the like. The girl is frightened. She knows the family needs help before things get worse, and yet whenever one of the other children turned their parents in, things would get really bad. 

So, she went to the one person we are supposed to trust - her pastor. She told him what was happening. She even showed him the bruises, and asked for his help. 

"Remember the fourth commandment," he told her. "Honor thy father and thy mother." 

He did nothing more to help her or her family. 

He followed the path of religion... or, at least, a small minute portion of it - one small verse. But, morally, did he behave as would have been "right"? 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with religion - so long as people do not use religion as an excuse to not help someone, or to further the hurt to someone, or to in any way cause hurt or harm to another.