Pastor's Corner: The Good News

Writing a column for a newspaper should probably start with an audience survey in order to determine a subject and delivery of the least offense to the broadest spectrum of people. This, being a Christian articulation however, guarantees, if read at all, the perspective put forth will go down like honey for some and be totally unpalatable to others. Jesus was for everybody, but He was definitely not for every body.

The saving message of the Good News was met with as many reactions as there are soils for seed. (See Luke 8:5-15) Jesus’ steady pilgrimage to Jerusalem to be put to death for the sins of the world infuriated the experts in the Mosaic law and the theological establishment of the day. However, the tax collectors, prostitutes and other riff raff, with little religious depth except for a clear understanding and acknowledgement of the enormity of their own sin, embraced Jesus. Current culture has reversed the narrow way of Matthew 7:14 where “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Today the narrow gate is misconstrued as a wide path; everyone enters with a high five or fist bump for St. Peter on the way into Heaven. Wearing a cross as jewelry seems to legitimize any kind of aberrant behavior performed by the wearer, thereby making it acceptable for all.

This being the month wherein resides the official day of Thanksgiving, we are reminded of Jesus’ many allusions to a feast set and ready for many who will come from all corners of the earth and be served by the Master himself! We have been given an invitation to this banquet. We can excuse ourselves from the invitation or, with the guiding of the Holy Spirit, we can receive it gladly.

Jesus says, in Matthew 7:20, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

And what is His will? Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And we are reminded in 1 Timothy 1:15a, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Jesus’ teaching is offensive, exclusive, narrow minded, not politically correct and is a matter of death or life eternal. This season as we think on the many blessings we have to be thankful for, accept the invitation to this eternal banquet. Jesus is calling everybody to come to the feast the Master has prepared.

– Pat Estes is a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa. While the church continues its search for a permanent pastor and welcomes the arrival of a new interim pastor, Estes has volunteered to contribute this week’s Pastor’s Corner article.