Next you quote Luke 13:27-28, which states, “depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity … Ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” … You know Lucy, this passage might seem like God was having a verrrrry bad day as far as basic compassion & justice are concerned, and yet there is a phrase herein that explains (and excuses) His apparent wickedness – and that phrase is “ye workers of iniquity”.   You see, it isn’t rocket science that a God whose LOVE is perfect (Matthew 5:48) cannot openly reject anyone (see Psalms 145:8-9, Isaiah 25:6-8, Matthew 18:14, John 5:22 et al), and yet it is possible for God’s children to be temporarily “possessed” by the “demons” of judgmental dogma &/or rationalized selfishness (&/or justified violence, &/or excused bigotries) … And when these choices have been made, those doing so thrust themselves away from God’s Way and from God Himself as well.  Indeed, it is literally impossible to strive for your own Salvation and simultaneously walk The Way of Christ; it is literally impossible to worship a God who allows sinners to burn forever and simultaneously walk The Way of Christ; it is literally impossible to openly judge the sins of others to be “mortal” and simultaneously walk the Way of Christ.  Yes, those (like you & yours) who are doing such things can return to The Way of LOVE whenever they wish, and yet until they do so they have indeed cast themselves out of Jesus’ Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3-4 + Luke 17:20-21)!

 

“All who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
~ Jesus Christ (Luke 18:14)

Filed under: Burnishing Bigotry by Scaughdt