Two Ways.
Two Trees.
Two Foundations.
The Bible likes to use contrasting illustrations to make a point. Jesus was the master of this type of teaching.
And this is how he ended the Sermon on the Mount. Two Gates. Two Ways. Two Trees. Two Foundations.“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
A Tree and Its Fruit
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
“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. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Build Your House on the Rock
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Two Gates. Two ways. Two Trees. Two Foundations.
Jesus used four different illustrations to make one point.
He only had to use one.
But he used four.
Because he knew that if we missed this...We missed the Kingdom.
SO often we speak of the gate, we speak of the rock... Because we want to speak of Jesus. This is not only good, it is necessary.
But why do we stop there?
After the gate there, is a path to follow.
After the tree is planted, there is fruit to bare.
After the foundation, there is a building to build.
Christianity is not a conversion experience, we are not seeking to just get people to the small gate of Christ.
There is path on the other side of that gate, and it is narrow, and it spans an entire lifetime, not a moment.
This is why we need the church.
Because, the church is what the Kingdom looks like. It is the back-breaking, culture-penetrating, darkness-shattering plan of God to change the world. That’s the task of the church.
Christ didn't come to save individuals, he came to save his Church. He came for his body, his bride. He is a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. His church.
Christianity is not about coming to Christ one time.
Christianity is not about being plunged into water.
Christianity is not just about serving people.
Christianity is not just about reading Scripture.
Christianity is a people.
Christianity is about coming to Christ over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Christianity is about remembering our baptism every moment of every waking day, our inauguration into a new life, into a new community.
Christianity is about serving other people, but also allowing other people to serve us as we all look at Christ's example. We serve each other in our strengths and their weaknesses, we live in harmony.
Christianity is about living with Christ by reading his letter to us, interpreting scripture, spending time by speaking to him about the things we do not understand. We enter into a relationship with him where we walk with him day in and day out.
Christianity is a way of life...
and friends...
this path is so narrow.
This tree is planted where...
you have to work for fruit.
This foundation is sturdy, its solid...
but the building is long and laborious.
We need each other to accomplish this task, other people hold us as we walk on this narrow path, other people help us water and care for the tree, it is other people who help us build.
Because we can't do it all.
Sometimes we need carpenters to do the wood work.
Sometimes we need masons to do the brick work.
And sometimes they need us to be the architect with the building plans...
Or... Maybe they need us to be the guy mixing the concrete, or sweeping the floor.
No job is menial in the Kingdom, because they are all necessary.
We need the church.
Christianity is not a conversion experience, we are not seeking to just get people to the small gate of Christ.
There is path on the other side of that gate, and it is narrow, and it spans an entire lifetime, not a moment.
The church is beautiful and needed, and I hope you find this to be true and valuable, but let us not forget... the church is messy, miserable, fragmented, hurtful, self-centered, broken, and downright wrong sometimes.
But so are we.
And I have yet to see Jesus run away from such brokenness... rather he ran to it. Let us do the same.
**I will be posting within the next few weeks other posts on the necessity of the church.**
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Nathan Bryant
Is a student of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. Majoring in Biblical Leadership, New Testament Studies, and Missiology, he has a combined passion for unity and discipleship in the global church. Nate is a crazed sports fan, he enjoys college football and playing fantasy football. He also enjoys watching baseball with friends. He works as an Admissions Counselor and Resident Assistant at Ozark. Nate is unashamedly a Starbucks addict. Yay Coffee!
Christ's Kingdom is bigger than our causes.
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