I remember back in High School learning that the Constitution is a "living" legal document, and that our system of law is also. It was explained that as the culture changes through out the decades so does the law to accommodate the culture of the time. My generation experienced this beginning in the 1960's. The 'birth' of the counter culture blossoming after the assassination of President John Kennedy; the 'hippies', the 'free-love' and revival of the God is Dead syndrome. Things never really became better but morphed into a beast of intolerance against values that have been set for over 3514 years. Today what is said to be the norm has been reclassified from what was not the norm. This in only a time span of roughly four decades, forty short years, not even a generation. At what speed will "civilization" evolve into a society where complete lawlessness is the accepted law. If in forty years we have moved from conservative values to where we are today, will we reach the state of full depravity in say, twenty years?
There appeared an article in the Savannah newspaper on a subject which seemed to be based on the parable of the wheat and the tares told by Jesus Christ to his disciples. This past week on Sunday the 20th of July the Rev. Katharine Jefforts Schori the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church officiated at Christ Church here in Savannah. Though there was little written the article implied that the message of the bishop's sermon was accepting all people in the church regardless of their position in life, and alluded to the sexual "orientation" of the individual. She thanked the congregation of Christ Church for "... demonstration what it is to be disciples and missionaries ..." that for the most part churches today let in only those who agree with them. She said "that the gospel today, [I can only guess that meant the message or sermon she presented], was about the weeds in the wheat fields and I tried to remind people that we don't know what the weeds are...". Now that is an interesting choice of the word 'what' instead of the term "who". This would be conjecture but is she implying by saying "what" that we don't known their sexual preferences, since that is the "issue" in the world today, inclusive within the "church." The acceptance of practicing homosexuality, transgender sex changes and male and female homosexual marriages performed by ordained ministers and practicing homosexual ministers. Continuing, the bishop said that "we should treat all those plants in the field as wheat.." [I can only understand this as meaning that it does not matter whether they are true Christians or not all people regardless are going to heaven with the Lord]. That Jesus sat at dinner with all "sorts of others" that they are all welcomed at HIS table because Jesus sees wheat not weeds.
All this sounds good. The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ has been preached to the outer most parts of the world. (Mark 13:10; Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20; Luke 24:46). The twelve disciples, plus the 120 that were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and the over 500 disciples that had witnessed Jesus prior to His Ascension, and the about 3000 plus that were added to the church the on the day of Pentecost went forth and preached the good news and made disciples who in turn made disciples, and so it continued to this present day. The gospel has been preached to all the nations, that is all groups of people.(Acts 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:6).
And what is this 'Good News'? That God, while still being God left place in heaven and making "Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And as a human he obediently humbled himself even by dying a criminal's death on a cross." (Philippians 2:7-8). "He himself took, bore our sins in His body so that we may be dead to sin." (1 Peter 2:24). Because all of humanity has strayed away as sheep and followed our own ways, [did our own thing], The Lord laid on Him [Jesus], all our guilt and sin... He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners" (Isaiah 53:6, 12). And this is what to me is most awesome that- "before the creation of the world He predestined us all to be holy and blameless in His sight... through Christ Jesus in accordance with His pleasure and will. In love He predestined us, (believers), for adoption to sonship through Christ Jesus. We have been redeemed through His blood the forgiveness of sins in accordance with all the riches of God's glory that His has lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:4-10).
This is the gospel, in a nut shell, so to say. But now the question arises , are all people then regardless of their "preferences" redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Scripture does say that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). But is just "calling" on His name sufficient? Will that make the "weeds" same as the wheat? Well yes but joined with that is repentance. All are called to repentance, all hear and know the gospel. The gospel does not discriminate and yes true born again believers are not to condemn. God is impartial and so we also are to be impartial, (James 2). But bishop Schori's message is somewhat misleading. All are to be accepted as to hear the gospel and God calls all to believe in HIM so as to not perish but to have eternal life, (John3:16). But, all those who do not believe in HIM have been judged already (John 3:18). To believe in Him is to believe and obey all that His has commanded, (Matthew 28). Is there some contradiction here? No not at all. All people hear the gospel. We know that here at least in the western hemisphere have heard and are familiar with the gospel. People will hear the gospel, God draws them to the good news and yet some will believe the truth of the gospel and others will reject the truth.
Let's go back to the "weeds" mentioned by Rev. Schori. Let's look at the parable as written in Scripture, in Matthew 13:24-30: "Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them......Allow both to grow together until the harvest;
and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn." Jesus explains the meaning of this parable to His disciples further in versus: :
There are over 60 additional and more verses on repentance which I will not name at this time. Repentance is vital. Repentance is not a feeling sorry for a wrong done, or remorse. Repentance is making a complete turn about, both in one's life and in one's heart. We see from the list above the times that God calls one to repentance. Many are in error for being ignorant of the Scripture. Many error because they wish to hear a gospel that "fits" their agenda. There are multitudes of ministers preaching a distorted gospel to suit their agenda. Many follow, listen, and end up being deceived by the preaching of these malformed gospels which "tickle" their ears. - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Jesus did say not to remove the Tares (weeds) from the Wheat, (He did not say the "weeds" and tares are one), but at some point, and there is not repentance, "... just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:36-43)
Bishop Schori is wrong to allude that the "weeds" can be amongst the Wheat and still be in the kingdom without changing.
What about you, if you were to die tonight are you assured that you will be instantly in the presence of Jesus Christ, or will you be cast into darkness to await the White Throne Judgment to be cast where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? You will know in your heart that God is drawing you, He is long suffering - patient, but there will come a time when it will be to late. There will not be any appeal. The time for salvation is now!
All this sounds good. The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ has been preached to the outer most parts of the world. (Mark 13:10; Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20; Luke 24:46). The twelve disciples, plus the 120 that were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and the over 500 disciples that had witnessed Jesus prior to His Ascension, and the about 3000 plus that were added to the church the on the day of Pentecost went forth and preached the good news and made disciples who in turn made disciples, and so it continued to this present day. The gospel has been preached to all the nations, that is all groups of people.(Acts 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:6).
And what is this 'Good News'? That God, while still being God left place in heaven and making "Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And as a human he obediently humbled himself even by dying a criminal's death on a cross." (Philippians 2:7-8). "He himself took, bore our sins in His body so that we may be dead to sin." (1 Peter 2:24). Because all of humanity has strayed away as sheep and followed our own ways, [did our own thing], The Lord laid on Him [Jesus], all our guilt and sin... He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners" (Isaiah 53:6, 12). And this is what to me is most awesome that- "before the creation of the world He predestined us all to be holy and blameless in His sight... through Christ Jesus in accordance with His pleasure and will. In love He predestined us, (believers), for adoption to sonship through Christ Jesus. We have been redeemed through His blood the forgiveness of sins in accordance with all the riches of God's glory that His has lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:4-10).
This is the gospel, in a nut shell, so to say. But now the question arises , are all people then regardless of their "preferences" redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Scripture does say that all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). But is just "calling" on His name sufficient? Will that make the "weeds" same as the wheat? Well yes but joined with that is repentance. All are called to repentance, all hear and know the gospel. The gospel does not discriminate and yes true born again believers are not to condemn. God is impartial and so we also are to be impartial, (James 2). But bishop Schori's message is somewhat misleading. All are to be accepted as to hear the gospel and God calls all to believe in HIM so as to not perish but to have eternal life, (John3:16). But, all those who do not believe in HIM have been judged already (John 3:18). To believe in Him is to believe and obey all that His has commanded, (Matthew 28). Is there some contradiction here? No not at all. All people hear the gospel. We know that here at least in the western hemisphere have heard and are familiar with the gospel. People will hear the gospel, God draws them to the good news and yet some will believe the truth of the gospel and others will reject the truth.
Let's go back to the "weeds" mentioned by Rev. Schori. Let's look at the parable as written in Scripture, in Matthew 13:24-30: "Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them......Allow both to grow together until the harvest;
and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn." Jesus explains the meaning of this parable to His disciples further in versus: :
"Then He left the crowds and went into the
house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of
the tares of the field.” And
He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of
Man, and
the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of
the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and
the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age;
and the reapers are angels. So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall
it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they
will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit
lawlessness, and will throw them
into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Then
the
righteous will shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." (verses 36 - 43)
No we don't reject someone because they live in a manner that is contrary to Scripture, but we also must show that we do not condone it. Jesus ate and talked with all the people, the thieves, the adulterers, with all of them, but that was to tell them the way to salvation. HE set the standard, He set the bar, He was the only one that kept the standard; the only one that measured up knowing well that for us it was an impossible task. All we then have to do is believe and repent. Repentance of actions and the heart. To the woman caught in adultery he said, "Nor do I condemn you, go and sin no more" (John 8:1-11). Jesus accepted her but told her also to repent, sin no more. Anyone can talk, one has to walk the walk. "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (James 2:19).
How important is repentance?
2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.
Luke 13:3 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
James 4:8-10 - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Ezekiel 18:21-23 - But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Mark 1:15 - And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.
Matthew 3:2 - And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Joel 2:13 - And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Jeremiah 18:8 - If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Luke 13:5 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Matthew 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jeremiah 26:3 - If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Luke 13:3 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
James 4:8-10 - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Ezekiel 18:21-23 - But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Mark 1:15 - And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.
Matthew 3:2 - And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Joel 2:13 - And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Jeremiah 18:8 - If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Luke 13:5 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Matthew 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jeremiah 26:3 - If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
There are over 60 additional and more verses on repentance which I will not name at this time. Repentance is vital. Repentance is not a feeling sorry for a wrong done, or remorse. Repentance is making a complete turn about, both in one's life and in one's heart. We see from the list above the times that God calls one to repentance. Many are in error for being ignorant of the Scripture. Many error because they wish to hear a gospel that "fits" their agenda. There are multitudes of ministers preaching a distorted gospel to suit their agenda. Many follow, listen, and end up being deceived by the preaching of these malformed gospels which "tickle" their ears. - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Jesus did say not to remove the Tares (weeds) from the Wheat, (He did not say the "weeds" and tares are one), but at some point, and there is not repentance, "... just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:36-43)
Bishop Schori is wrong to allude that the "weeds" can be amongst the Wheat and still be in the kingdom without changing.
What about you, if you were to die tonight are you assured that you will be instantly in the presence of Jesus Christ, or will you be cast into darkness to await the White Throne Judgment to be cast where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? You will know in your heart that God is drawing you, He is long suffering - patient, but there will come a time when it will be to late. There will not be any appeal. The time for salvation is now!
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