Jul/Aug 2004
Commentary
The Easy Way Out
by Greg Albrecht| Before we are allowed to enter the way of Life, we must leave behind all of the religious baggage and traditions that are so precious to us. |
Enter through the narrow gate.
For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,
and many enter
through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Many read these words and assume they know exactly who is on the road
to destruction Jesus was talking about. Surely he was talking about the “eat,
drink and be merry” crowd—those who are lazy, immoral and
permissive. The broad road must be the irreligious “anything goes” traffic
jam of sensation-seeking people who are on the fast track to hell.
There is no doubt that the 16-lane expressway to destruction Jesus was
talking about includes a large number of pleasure seekers.
But not everyone on the broad road is morally indulgent and lenient.
The broad road includes religious travelers who are taking the religious
easy way out.
Think of the bumper-to-bumper traffic on any major interstate highway
in a metropolitan area on a Friday afternoon. The broad way is filled
with road rage as both groups yell and shake their fists at each other.
The irreligious, some of whom don’t even pretend to be moral, accuse
the religious people with whom they share the road to be bigots, hate
mongers, narrow minded and homophobic.
Meanwhile, religious legalists hoist their placards, display their bumper
stickers and announce boycotts of their fellows, whom they view as immoral
road warriors going to hell in a hand basket.
Ironically, most of the religious types who are on the road to destruction
think that they are on the narrow road. They have been deceived by religious
legalism into thinking that they are moving down the road under a full
head of their own righteous steam, produced by the deeds they perform
and the things they do. But, convinced that their achievements and accomplishments
will persuade God to save them, they are in reality slaves just like
their fellow travelers (see Romans, chapters one through three).
So what is the small gate and narrow road then? The small gate is as
narrow as a needle’s eye (Matthew 19:24). In order to enter the
toll gates of the narrow road, Christians must accept Jesus Christ as
the only way of salvation. Before we are allowed to enter the way of
Life, we must leave behind all of the religious baggage and traditions
that are so precious to us. We must surrender all to him and accept him
as the “way, the truth and
the life” (John 14:6). Jesus demands that we leave both sin and
religion behind. The Publican and the Pharisee must both repent, leaving
their opinions, philosophies and professions behind.
The small gate and the narrow road is Jesus. Nothing more, nothing less.
Faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone. We do not drive up to the small
gate with our spiritual SUV loaded with all of our good deeds and personal
righteousness and suggest that we will combine what we have to offer
with Jesus’ help, and together we will form a partnership to journey
down the road to Life.
As we arrive at the toll booth we are not invited to offer to split the
price of the toll with Jesus. He does not solicit, want or need any contribution
from us. We are admitted to the way of Life by grace alone.
According to this passage, there are:
•
two ways—easy and hard
•
two gates—wide and narrow
•
two groups of people—large and small
•
two destinations—destruction and life
Are you following the religious herd? Does it make you feel spiritually
superior when you yell at sinners? Has someone convinced you that what
you do and how you do it is going to persuade God into allowing you into
his kingdom of heaven? It’s easy to be deceived by religious legalism.
But legalism is the road to destruction.
— Greg Albrecht