Taking more fear out of scary Bible verses...

Many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 20:16

Another scary Bible verse. What to do with that one.

Here's what I believe.

To start us off, let's look at another Bible verse in John 3. John the baptist is talking about Jesus, and says, "...I am not the christ, but I have been sent before Him. HE WHO HAS THE BRIDE IS THE BRIDEGROOM; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full."

John is referring to himself as the friend of the bridegroom, and to Jesus as the bridegroom. This can tell us a lot about what Jesus is about.

Why in the world would John refer to Jesus as a bridegroom? Why wasn't he satisfied with just saying, "He is the Lord. I'm not, and He is." Why does John call Him the bridegroom, and then himself the friend of the bridegroom, and then with a big smile on his face, say, "And now this makes my joy full!"?

It's because of this. John knew something about Jesus that you and I are beginning to learn. That is the fact that God's love, Jesus' love, is so strong and powerful for us, the "Bride of Christ", that it is illustrated for us by the love that a husband feels for his bride on their wedding day.

Now, for any of you that have ever fallen in love with a woman, you know what feeling, what emotion, what passion I'm talking about. There is just nothing like it in the world. This is why John was so stinkin' happy about it, because He knew this. He knew that the living essence of love, love itself, the one who created that passionate feeling in the breasts of men throughout the ages for their brides, was walking down the river bank towards him. And He knew that this Love was also going to walk towards the entire world. That's why He was so happy about it. (ie., The friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly etc...)

God Himself, Jesus Christ Himself, through whom the world was created, (Collossians 1:16), thought up that feeling that we get when we fall in love. That feeling that absolutely lights up our lives, and makes all our problems seem inconsequential and small. That wonderful thing that half the world's songs are written about. He made it. Because it's what He wants and likes.

Jesus does love the world like this. It's not just a catchy slogan. When, or if, you tell sombody that Jesus loves them, you are telling them the greatest thing that they can ever come to believe and know. And He loves the entire world this way. This is what that verse means when it says that many are called. Many. As in, the entire world, is who Jesus, and God, and the Holy Spirit love. Everybody. For God SO LOVED THE WORLD.

MANY are called. If you are reading this, you are called!! Jesus tells us another parable about the King who threw the wedding feast and invited a ton of people. But half of them didn't come. The king was bummed, so He told His servants to go out and invite anyone off the streets they could find. MANY are called. You are called. "Come in! Come in!" He is shouting, over and over and over, down throughout time and all the ages. To anyone and everyone who will!! "Come in and be loved!!!"

Ok. So we've got that part established. Many are called. But what about the few are chosen part? And what about the part in that last parable I mentioned where the king asks the wedding guest how He got in without the proper attire and throws him out?

Few are chosen because few accept the call.

Look around at the world. Do we see many people accepting God's offer to love them, His offer of marraige? To make them His bride, his object of passion and desire? Do we see a lot of the world saying, " Ok, God... Jesus... you may love me."?

That is all Christianity is. An acceptance of God's offer of pure, real, committed, love. Everything else within it is just stuff we learn aloing the way to enhance that relationship. With him, and then with each other. That's it!!

And so why did the king throw the guy out who wasn't dressed right? In other words, why is there a need to get clean, to stop sinning, to repent? Why is this such a crucial part of our lives when we come to Him?

I myself am looking to get married. And if I am honest, I see that I am looking for a woman who is going to be faithful, who is going to be truthful, who is not going to lie to me, or try to manipulate me, or deceive me, or ignore me, or talk bad about me behind my back... who will do what's best for our children and our household, etc. Because I want us to enjoy our love, our marraige relationship as deeply and as passionately and as closely and intimately as we can.

So do I think God is any different?

It's not because he's heavy handed, or mean, or vengeful... it's because He's love.

And deep, real, everlasting, rich, meaningful, fun, intimate, joyous, passionate love is what He is after.


Let's accept the call!