DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE WHOSOEVER

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE WHOSOEVER

"Then He (Jesus) said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voice and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!'" (Acts 22:21)

Paul was giving a defense of himself before the mob who had gathered in Jerusalem with the intention of killing him because they assumed he had violated the Temple by bringing a Gentile into the Temple. This was not true but that did not keep the mob from trying to kill him. He was rescued by the Roman soldiers, and asked if he could address the mob. He was doing well in his defense until he said the word, "Gentiles," which cause the crowd to go bezerk.

One cannot really appreciate this until you consider that the Jews despised the Gentiles. They wanted no part of anything that would allow the non-Jewish person into their religion. So when Paul said that he was sent to the Gentiles, that was the straw that broke the camel's back. They wanted him killed.

In our Western culture of tolerance, this does not seem rational. And indeed, it does seem extreme until we think of times and places in America where blacks or hippies were not welcomed in churches. Some types of people were denied entrance to places of worship. Chuck Smith started Calvary Chapel because other churches in Southern California did not welcome stinking, scrubby, filthy, long-haired hippies.

This attitude violates the very essence of the Gospel – the "Whosoever" of John 3:16. Jesus made a place in his kingdom for the prostitute, the wine-bibber, the tax collector. They were welcome in His presence. But not in some churches.

May God help us to keep an open heart to everyone – both the down-and-outers and the up-and-outers. They are all welcome to Jesus' church when they repent and believe on Him for salvation. He does not look on the outward appearance but He sees the heart. Even I am included in the "Whosoever." Oh, the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus.

Love, Dad