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Sit down with me as we think through some tough topics in a reflective way and examine some of the difficult issues that can trouble followers of Christ. My hope is that you’ll always come away with more to think about… RBC Ministries
Inclusion and Exclusion
Posted by Mart De Haan
October 10th, 2008
Filed in Ideas to think about
13 Comments »
Years ago I saw a colorful poster that said:
“Jesus of Nazareth requests the pleasure of your company at a dinner to be given in his honor.”
The fact that the poster hung in a public place seemed so appropriate. The Jesus of the New Testament offered his friendship to everyone (John 3:16).
But it’s also true that Jesus did not count everyone in. He told a story about a wedding celebration that made it clear that, at some point, those who do not respond to his invitation will be locked out of the party (Matt 25:1-13).
Seems to me that there are two dangers that we need to be aware of: One mistake is to treat others as if Jesus did not suffer and die as much for them as he did for us. Another error is to assume that those who don’t accept the invitation will be at the dinner that will last forever.
Can’t think of better reasons to laugh– and cry…
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My feelings exactly, thanks for sharing them.
I talk to all those who think they know HIM and those who don’t, I try with passion to get share what He has done for me. I hope I am doing right.
The thing is, we are not in a position to determine who is in and who is out. It is not our dinner.
So my dilemma is, do I make assumptions about this issue and try to invite everyone, or do I “Make it my ambition to lead a quite life and mind my own business …?
But then my business is to “Go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you.”
I confess this issue has always been a stumper for me. My guess is we should err on the side of boldness rather than caution. The consequences are too dire to do otherwise.
It always seems odd to me how the relationship between God and man, can be seen between man and man.
Here in my own home, my son has been crippled and lives a very lonely life. My son was a very popular fellow liked by all who knew him. Yet since his accident, though I have repeatedly ask his old friends to come and see him, they don’t. It’s been over nine years now, two precious people have stepped up and share a little of their time now.A couple hours a month. He looks forward to their phone calls or a vist with all his heart. Because his heart is broken most all of the time.
It angers me that so many people who know him have been ask to come, they all say they will but don’t. And in my heart I say that someday they will wish they had when they could have.
Just like the topic here, so many beloved friends of the Lord are asked to the wedding feast, but when the time comes to lock the door they won’t be ready.All of lifes busy little duties kept them from getting ready and answering the invitation. Sad but just, just but still sad.
Well, some pretty provocative strokes are brushed here but Phillip sums it up well.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13) teaches preparation for the return of Christ and the consequences that will befall those who do not prepare for His coming.
The mere presence of the poster in a public place inviting one and all to the feast underlines the basic tenets of Christianity – spreading the word of Christ throughout humanity. While it may be preferable to, or we can lull ourselves into the sense that it would be better to lead a private life and not concern ourselves with the spiritual needs of others for fear of being chastised or labelled; by doing so, we betray our own Christianity.
That being said though, I don’t think that this a mantle that we, as Christians are being asked to bear in solitutude or individually. Let me throw something out for thought.
“Go into all the world and make disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you.”
Was this not Jesus speaking to the Disciples?
I don’t know if I’m explaining myself well but it seems to me that there are orders of magnitude and roles and responsibilities in all aspects of life. If you are a Dr or a plumber, are you expected to preach the word of the Lord? No. Let me finish…..
Follow the word of the Lord. Live in the word of the Lord an lead by example that you may be an example to others and in this unity, find strength. Perhaps this too is a form of preaching but I consider it responsibility.
Those who are ordained with this specific task, the disciples, our ministers, our pastors, our clergymen – it is on their shoulders that the burden of leading us lies. Leading us in the way of Christ. Giving us forums for discussion,like this one, where we get to take a moment out of our busy lives as Dr’s or plumbers or factory workers and consider the thoughts and words of the Lord. And this is where THEIR responsibility lies. No?
What good is an army of generals?
I think I my have gone off topic a bit here but one thought led to another and somehow they were all interconected.
Robert, What you’ve said makes very good sense. Yes we are all disciples once we have accepted Christ into us. And we all become the public poster Mart mentioned. We are to invite all to the wedding feast. In whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Weither it be at work at play or even in jail.
As todays “Daily Bread” mentions , he came to call sinners not the rightious to repentance. If we consider ourselves rightious only because Christ is in us then it becomes all of our responsibilites to invite sinners to repentance and invite them to the feast.
Because of what Christ did, are we not all “priests” for the Lord? It is our responsibility ALONG with pastors to spread the gospel. I beleive that when Christ said “Go ye into all the world and preach..” He was speaking to what was to become His church. As members of that body it is therefore our duty. By word, by deed, by our lives. Are we not all commanded as followers of our Lord to become His disciples and not just another one “who heard of Him”?
SFDBWV, My friend I will pray for son. You see I too know what that’s like. Since getting sick and out of work I know exactly what you are talking about. It shouldn’t happen but it does, and; quite often. Just do not let it get under your skin and pray for those people as Christ would want you too. And I know that is not easy. If you were my neighbor, I would visit your son.
You’ve made an excellent point SFDBWV and your last sentence gives me good pause for pondering today.
It probably stems from the fact that I’ve always thought a good Christian is measured more by deeds than by words. Yes?
Having Christ in you is not the same thing as Living in Christ.
I guess I see the former as words and the latter as deeds. Living in Christ causes our deeds to act as the motivating lamplight that invites sinners to repentance.
I’ve got more thinking to do on this one as many thoughts are swimming around in my head surrounding this central philosophy. Thank you for giving me pause to consider.
I am heartfully sorry for your ordeal and that of your son. I, too, will remember you both in my prayers as I will for Bruce in what he’s going through.
You know, I went upstairs just now and started doing the dishes and thinking.
There’s something i did not mention and it hurts to write it hear bt maybe it needs to be written to ease my pain. Both my parents were called home to Christ this past summer.
My father was an agnostic. Always had been and he never had time in his life for Christ. Watching him in the last days of his life, I could not help but think that the thoughts of a man at the end of his life are very different from those of a healthy man and so…I took it upon myself to give him the last gift i could give. I could not give him my baptism although i would have gladly done so in a heartbeat. I would have traded my sould to save his and I even offered it to God on a number of occasions.
I called my priest in one day and he gave my unconscious father a blessing (last rites was out of the question b/c h was never baptised) and when father said “I claim your soul in name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, I knew I had given him the only gift I had left to give in my life.
THIS was a sinner dn this was my father and he could not repent for himself. If I stand up for one good man through my actions, will it help? Will it count? And if so, then I would offer this prayer for all others.
I keep telling myself I’ll getover this but just when I think I am, I see Mom and Dad’s picture again and I miss them I pray that Christ looks after them.
If he did not answer the invitation in time, then I offer my place and I will tak his on the outside. This I offer to Christ in exchange.
Robert, your thoughts remind me so much of the heart of Christ, and also of his servant Paul who expresses the similar affections in Romans 9:1-3. At this point, having done our part, all we can do is trust the One who alone understands our prayers and the hearts of our loved ones. With such concerns many of us have repeated the words of Abraham who said, “Will not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25).
This is a hard one and the feelings I also have for the unsaved in my family. It would be so comforting for those we love just to utter those words, “I Believe that Jesus died for my sins” but sometimes they never come and that causes such heart ache especially from our family. I believe that sometimes there are going to be people in heaven we never expected to see and some that we expect to see and they are not there. When we experience the freedom from sins and the forgiveness of them it would give us cause to shout about it so everybody hears but we are so timid because our eyes are on ourselves and not God. God please grant us the boldness to tell everyone about your love and forgiveness also how you laid down your deity to provide the perfect sacrifice so that we may have rest from striving to please everyone but you.
SFDBWV it sounds like it is time to go out and meet some new people and I pray that you and your son will be blessed by the love that is in many people out there sometimes we have to take the first steps to find them. Our little circle can swallow us sometimes just like Jesus felt in His own home town and He had to shake the dust off His feet and move on. Not saying you have to move but I hope you understand that maybe a new circle of friends, real ones.
I work with disabled men and they are not treated like regular people in my church because people do not understand they are just regular people too. It is out of fear and ignorance. Trust me other people just do not know what they are missing and it is their loss.
Do not know if this applies to “Inclusion and seclusion” as I am unable, to follow the thoughts expressed here…but my Saturday thinking cap is generating these thoughts in response to the above topic…
The wedding feast parable in Matt 25 is for the disciples. The wise and foolish virgins represent saved individuals. Therefore, this should be a wake up call for followers of Christ to examine our own ‘deeds’ (gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw). Obviously, the wise virgins are fully “prepared” to meet the Lord when He will suddenly come seeking for “fruits of the Spirit” regardless of the season.
Now, Matt 22 is for the saved vs. the lost where the Lord says, “many are called but few are chosen” and this is both scary and sad for those who reject the invitation. Hence, we should be all the more diligent to be instant in all seasons (not wait for the right mood and the perfect ambience or setting) and preach the Good news. It is true, that our deeds should exemplify the words of the saving love of Christ. The Lord knows all who are His and will not lose any that belonged to Him!
“…For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the ‘good deeds’ of God’s holy people…Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”…These are true words that come from God.” (Rev 19:7-9)
SFDBWV, praying for God’s peace to comfort you and your son…
Robert, trust God and keep marching on…praying for you…
I had an intrguing thought. That is who was I ready to see at the banquet? Who was I willing to invite and accompany? It’s interesting that the virgins would not, could not share the oil for their lamps. I think this means we can not give our personal salvation for any one else. Each one must confess with his mouth and believe on their own. But, that certainly doesn’t suggest that we can not share our faith by any means. But the question to myself is am I willing and ready to do that? With my ex-husband, my estranged sister, a prodigal son, the list goes on. Certainly Jesus puts out the call to all who will believe and accept, but how willing am I to reach out, accompany them and sit down at the same table? I know I can only do it through Him, and even though I believe, I still must be willing, and obedient to do it. That’s why we are called not only to be hearers of the word, but doers as well. I pray the Lord helps me in that. Heartfelt prayer for SFDBWV and her son,and for Robert…Thank you Daisymarygoldr for your prayer for me and my young son w/divorce etc doing a little bit better
Seems many of us face the same battles no matter where were from or our backgrounds. I believe our enemy would like to keep us busy with the everyday ones, family work etc. to sidetrack from our comission. I found a great resource at rbc years ago called “How to share your faith without an argument”. I still refere to it. I wonder if we will be faithful in the highways and byways, if our Abba won’t be faithful in our homes and families.