Refocus

It is human nature to want to classify others conveniently into little boxes that are manageable and subject to the interests of the one doing the classifying. There is a bumper sticker that I’ve seen before (and should probably get for my car) that says something to the effect of “Jesus is not a Republican or a Democrat.” It is a statement that says so much and, I believe, a statement that is far more on target than some folks would like us to believe. But, this idea transcends politics and bleeds through denominational Christianity as well. One of the biggest points of Christ’s ministry on earth was that social class, political affiliation, gender, and race are all pointless classifications when it comes to the saving and unearned grace of God. I firmly believe that, because “getting in” will have very little to do with what particular man-made religious rituals one participates in, there will be a wide variety of people in heaven. Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Seventh-Day Adventists, among other denominations, along with plenty of people who never aligned themselves with a particular man-made classification of Christianity, will all mingle together in the world to come. Nobody has merit without Christ, but, all have the opportunity to ride his coattails into eternity. What matters to Christ is the heart of man and nobody has a clearer view of who has and who has not accepted the grace of Christ than Christ Himself.