Paul's Passing Thoughts

We have been hit with a lot of news lately about tragedy visiting the rich and famous. Some are rich and famous for un-profound reasons while others enjoy riches and fame because of their profound impact on society and history.

In both cases, all of those involved speak of their endeavor to be right with God. Indeed, no matter what you have obtained in life, death levels the playing field, completely, and questions what the future holds. Everyone knows God holds the keys to life after death. The Bible states that God has implanted that truth in every individual and a denial of such is “suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.”

When you have it all, or the more you have, death has more to take away. Success only amplifies the eternity question. Some of the famous who have everything except a get-out-of-death–free card share their plan for meeting God, while others keep it private.

Evangelicals and church folk in general will be concerned with the doctrinal aspects of one’s plan for dealing with the death issue.  Church orthodoxy loves its pithy truisms like, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” while being directly responsible for creating insurmountable barriers to finding the truth about salvation. All churches are the same; they would all love to have a monopoly on their version of the gospel and the power it would give them. There is no power like having power over someone’s eternal destiny.

Jesus acknowledged religion’s efforts in hiding the truth about salvation for its own gain. Church is particularly guilty of that. In response, He promised that those who seek will find. Curiously, this points to an individual seeking. Jesus wasn’t in the least bit impracticable; so, why wouldn’t He cut to the chase and tell seekers to find a local Baptist church? Especially since Baptists believe that John the baptist was the first Baptist pastor. I’m not kidding. How stupid is that? Even as a former rabid Baptist pastor, I laughed out loud when I heard it in a sermon. With that said, though I was doing a lot of LOL before LOL was cool, an honest seeking can be taking place in any given church or no church at all.

Motives do matter; for example, the thief on the cross wasn’t theologically savvy in the least and didn’t quote any Rabbis. By no means am I endorsing soteriological ignorance, but I do think we should consider the verse that states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

I believe good doctrine enables people to find salvation easier, and leads to a more abundant entrance into God’s kingdom not infected with doubt. Nevertheless, God is  attentive to those fighting to overcome the obstacles of institutional religion.

But, when one is at death’s door, little is more important than the quality of the entrance.

paul