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Whatever a fundamentalist is these days, I'm often "accused" of being one. We know that to the world, "Fundies say the darnedest things" and I've been quoted on that so-named forum more than once. The world points to biblical Christians as narrow minded, bigoted, closed minded, or myriad of other epithets to indicate that we need to be accepting, tolerant, and broad minded, especially of 'all religions.'This gentleman, Glenn Beauchemin, made the following remark just yesterday on Facebook: "The Fundies have little room in their hearts for a good man like this [the Pope] and even less room in their minds."
We have all the room that is possible to have for a man like that, because there but for the grace of God, go us. We love our fellow man enough to witness to the power of Jesus to turn a heart of stone like the Pope's into a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26).
There aren't any "good men." There aren't even 'all religions.' There are only two. Much about the Christian life is very stark and clear. It is either-or. Heaven or hell. World vs Christian. Unforgiven sinner or forgiven sinner. In fact, being "narrow minded," at least where the Bible and the Lord's commands come in, is a good thing.
Satan will mimic, counterfeit, masquerade and plain just lie as to the way to heaven.
In a recent sermon about heaven John MacArthur delivered to an audience of youths, he drew on the Bible to show just how narrow the way is and how wide is the gulf between the two worlds. This sharp divide of either/or, in or out, is discussed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. Jesus used several metaphors to draw the distinction between the two ways. MacArthur explained:
Strive to enter the narrow gate. What is this talking about? What does it mean to strive to enter the narrow gate? ... As we come to the end of the Sermon on the Mount there is a series of contrasts.
Two gates, wide and narrowIf being narrow-minded means ONLY accepting the Lord's truth and not all the world's, I will gladly accept the description. If being too narrow means I am on the Lord's narrow road, I am grateful. If I am in the crowd of few and not many, then all is well.
Two ways, broad and narrow
Two destinies, life and destruction
Two crowds, many and few
Two trees, one good, one corrupt
Two fruits, one good and one bad
Two behaviors, saying and doing
Two builders, wise and foolish
Two foundations, rock and sand
Two houses, one stands and one falls
How many entrances do we need? One is all it takes, and for Jesus, it took a lot. He lived a scrupulously sinless life. He suffered the indignity of humiliation on the cross. He bore all the punishment and wrath for sin into His very self, and He endured the agonizing separation from His Father for the first time in all eternity. He did this to make a way for us to enter through Him.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)
The door is narrow, but it is sufficient.
