hunches, intuitions or best guesses that emerge to guide and inform my freedoms. Scripture assumes that Jesus knows what’s best for us.
T is is the “narrow gate” that Jesus is talking about in this passage. Finding real life means relinquishing our cherished freedoms and walking down a particular path that has been walked by saints for centuries. T is conversation has vast implications for life in the
church. For example, I can skip worship three Sundays out of four, missing communion on a regular basis, and not be aff ected spiritually. Why? Because I know what’s best for my life. I can read the Bible sporadically and rarely attend
Sunday school or any other educational event. Why? Because I know what’s best for my life. I’m able to calculate my personal level of stewardship
and determine on my own what I can aff ord to give away or keep. Why? Because I know what’s best for my life.
T is can easily become a subtle creed, even for a
Christian. “Strangely,” writes Roman Catholic author Richard
Rohr, “your life is not about ‘you.’ It is part of a much larger stream called God.” I’m convinced that this is far and away the most challenging truth for Christians living in this country to learn. We simply will not make headway in the Christian life un- til we adopt such a liberating, “narrow” way. T e truth?
Your own life is not about “you.” Shocking, isn’t it?
Author bio: Honeycutt is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Walhalla, S.C. His latest book is Jesus and the
Family: Crisis and Conversion in the American Household (Cascade, 2013).
Roll up your sleeves for your church, your neighborhood, and your community!
On April 26, join men from around the country doing things to make a difference in the lives of others. To find out more and sign up, go to
www.lhm.org/men today!
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