Is God a "Bigot"? - Matthew 7:13-14

When I pulled the the internet up a few moments ago to write this article, I was immediately bombarded by at least 2 articles about Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty. It seems the whole nation is either defending or attacking him based on his calling homosexuality (among other things including lying, drunkenness, adultery, etc.) sin. Most of the discussion seems to be based on his right to free speech...as well as A&E's right to suspend him based on their beliefs. But we all know that the issue of free speech is not what ignited the controversy. Free speech is simply the political hot-button that has been pressed.

At the heart of the issue is something that is much more central to who we are as human beings and to our deeply held beliefs and emotions. At issue is the claim of the exclusivity of the gospel. What ignited the firestorm of emotions and reactions was the debate about whether or not any action can actually be called a sin. Of course that conversation then leads to what a sin does to your relationship to God and how it affects your afterlife.

One of the biggest arguments against the Biblical picture of God is that a loving God could not lovingly throw anyone into hell. How could He be loving and do that to one of His children? Jesus' claim above is one of the passages that people struggle with when they try to rectify it with their concept of God. The claim of Biblical Christianity is that sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2), and that the only way back to God is through Christ where we receive the forgiveness of sins (John 14:6, Acts 4:8-12, Romans 6:1-14).

That claim will never be a popular one because so many people choose to worship false Gods, choose a path of self-determination over submission to God, choose to satisfy momentary desires of the flesh instead of receiving "abundant life" (John 10:10).

The truth is that all of have sinned (Romans 3:23). There is no difference in what type of sin as far as its effect on our souls (Galatians 5:19-21). But the greater truth than our sin is that God offers redemption to us in spite of our sins!

Phil Robertson came under attack for quoting 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 which is a list of sins that prohibit someone from entering the kingdom of heaven. But arguing about this list forgets verse 11 which says, " And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

What does that mean? It means that homosexuals, liars, adulterers, drunkards, drug addicts, the prideful, the arrogant, the greedy, the abusive, those who rage, those who steal, those who disobey parents can all be "washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!"

And now what does all of that have to do with the Matthew 7:13-14 which claims that there are few who find the way to salvation as opposed to many who walk the road to destruction?

People have argued for centuries about their concept of God. About heaven. And about hell. People have railed against the idea of so many people in the world being cast into hell because of their refusal of Christ. People have labeled God as unloving and turned away from their faith as a result of this or else they have twisted the scriptures to make these statements more palatable and opened the way for any "good" person to go to heaven. All because they view a God who would make an exclusive statement like this as unloving.

But what if we are reading it incorrectly? What if Jesus' statement of the wide and narrow paths says more about man's rejection of a loving God than it does about an unloving god's rejection of man?

Consider these passages:

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."    - Jesus in Matthew 23:37

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. " - 1 Timothy 2:1-4

And finally:

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." - Jesus in John 3:16-18

 Now I ask you, does it sound like the God of the Bible...the God that sent His one and only Son...the same God that warns of hell...does it sound like He is an unloving God who wants to throw people into everlasting fire? Or does it sound more like God is doing everything He possibly can short of taking away our free will to save as many people as possible to be with Him in paradise?

The sad truth of the Christianity that we preach is not that God will ultimately reject and condemn most men...but that most men have already rejected the love of God and have so condemned themselves.

May we always spread God's message of love. May we see people the way God sees them. Not as people who we desire to see their punishment, but as souls who we long to restore to their Creator.

And may we take seriously Jesus' warning about the wide and narrow paths because none of us have to pay attention to be lost. We can all do that simply by drifting through life selfishly (i.e. sinfully). No, being saved is not a matter of works-righteousness. But it is a matter of seeking for the narrow gate that so many ignore.