In Matthew you have some references to the last day. On that day, some will stand before him and say that they prophesied in his name, cast out demons in his name, and did many deeds of power in his name. They seem to recognize him, know his name, speak collectively as an organized group who apparently know him and operate under the authority and auspices of his name, and converse with him with confidence and a sense of membership in his movement.
Then there is the other group who stands before him on the last day. He thanks them for feeding him when he was hungry, giving him something to drink when he was thirsty, welcoming him when he was a stranger, clothing him when he was naked, taking care of him when he was sick, and visiting him when he was in prison. Their response is one of surprise! They ask him when they ever gave him something to eat, gave him a drink, welcomed him, clothed him, took care of him, or visited him in prison. They are told that whenever they did any of these things to the least of his people, they did it to him.
It unsettles me to consider that those who know his name, use his name, and are members of the organization under the name, that those who promote and are involved in religious and spiritual ministries with dynamic visible results, are the ones who are unknown by him. Their defense is their very recognizable and successful religious activity. They deal in prophesy (religious language), exorcism (purifying the world and the church), and deeds of power (triumphal living as a form of witness). In stark contrast, those who are considered blessed and are even called righteous are those who don’t recognize him, have no defense at hand, and aren’t involved in any recognizable religious activities. They deal in water, food, clothes, medicine and visits.
It unsettles my thinking, my religion and my spirituality when I realize that adherence to a religion, participation in its efforts, and familiarity with God may have nothing to do with being righteous. It is just as unsettling to think that simply caring for others on the physical and even unspiritual level is righteousness. It pulls me down from spiritual preoccupations to the level of earth, body, flesh, and the physical well-being of all people everywhere. It’s almost like the first group was consciously and intentionally trying to change things. The second were, without agenda or program, simply kind and generous with the people around them.
The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Jorgen Klausen on his trip to India.
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David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
Elsewhere Jesus says that you shouldn’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. I think that there is a certain unconscious, spontaneous generosity that God is looking for. This is what scares me because I so often am aware of my “righteousness” (aka filthy rags). I think that God is looking for a transformation that becomes our state of being. We do because of who we are, not because of an external motivation.
Thank you for the sobering post.
thanks dale. i considered using the word unconscious, but you described it well.
heyy that was the verse I was looking for…
Is that the same place where it says not all who say lord lord will enter the kingdom of heaven?
semety: one of them, yes. taken from matthew 7 and matthew 25.
So you know Benny Hinn too? From my office I stare out my window at his California studio everyday…and it angers me to no end.
As if the message of Christ wasn’t hard enough to spread in these days, we’ve got monkeys like him fighting AGAINST us!!!!
That day you describe fills me with so much curiosity and fear all at the same time. A sight to behold…so much joy and sadness all around the world. All of our ‘oh-so-important’ achievements summed up by those simple words you described…
humbling.
The first shall be last..and the last shall be first…Who’s on First?
….compelling words David
“They deal in prophesy (religious language), exorcism (purifying the world and the church), and deeds of power (triumphal living as a form of witness).”
I think these correlations are a bit of a stretch.
Dale, what an amazing statement – “I think that God is looking for a transformation that becomes our state of being. We do because of who we are, not because of an external motivation.”
thank you for that.
Scotty
(and nakedpastor – thanks for your post. your blog is a constant challenge to me)
thanks scotty. it’s a constant challenge for me to
Brilliant post.
You know its not like this is news to the church so why is it that there is habitually more emphasis on the former than the latter, and on being blessed rather than blessing, on receiving rather than giving? I feel a new song coming on …”It’s all about meeeeee Jesus, all about me” with apologies to Matt Redman
Who wants to be numbered with least when you get so much recognition for being the greatest?
A lot of what passes for organized religion really is a crappy attempt at following Jesus, isn’t it?
Great post – likely my single favorite piece in the whole bible (Matt 25 – sheep and goats story). It brings the religious back to reality – what matters and what doesn’t in this life we choose to live. It seems the most important things are right before us and wanting us just to show some ‘real love’…I am always reminded of Lennon in passages like that.
Great stuff, David! This is a scary and thought provoking passage, huh? I think it speaks to the uselessness of works righteousness. The religious people that Jesus will cast out trust in their own goodness for salvation. “Lord, Lord, didn’t WE do this and that?”
The righteous ones are those who know they are scum and trust in Christ alone. Not “I did this or that” but “Jesus has done all I need”.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:17)
And, yes, those who are truly righteous (by faith in Jesus) will bear fruit. They will care for the poor, needy, widowed, orphaned. They will be light into darkness. They will be working for social justice, loving all kinds of people, and moving the kingdom forward..not by sword but by love.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
(James 1:27)
Grace and Peace,
Jeff S
thanks jeff. glad it meant something to you.
Great post David but follow it up with one in wich you explain why you still invest so much of your time and energy into religion. I am very curious about that and need to answer that question for myself. Maybe your insights will help me formulate my own.
David,
Great post… This passage has become very important to me over the past few years, and helped turn my thinking upside down – once I read it with my eyes open and my brain somewhat engaged.
What Jesus said in this passage is so radically different than what I grew up “knowing” about following Jesus (as taught to me in Sunday school and church).
Thank you!