Does everyone know the Simpsons on T.V., Homer the Dad, Marge the mom, and Bart one of their children? In that television show, when Homer and Bart convert to Catholicism, Marge imagines herself in Heaven. St. Peter directs her to a quiet, reverent and austere Protestant heaven.
Then, she notices Homer and Bart in Catholic Heaven. In Catholic Heaven, people are dancing, kissing, drinking wine and beer, and even a fight breaks out. Homer and Bart are enjoying themselves.
Marge was sad. She wanted to be with her family so she goes to St. Peter and asks to speak to Jesus. St. Peter says, sorry Jesus is hosting the party in Catholic heaven.
I tell that story to contrast with this one. I went to a church one time and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven. I hope he is wrong.
The preacher said Catholics, Baptist, and all who say they are Christians would never know heaven, unless they joined his Church. It had the secret to heaven
That’s not the kingdom of heaven Jesus was preaching about. “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Despite what the Simpsons portrays, heaven is not divided up, “Don’t let there be divisions among you; be united in the same mind and for the same purpose.”
I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven.
The kingdom of heaven Jesus proclaimed was for those who heard his message and followed him.
The first to follow him was Simon Peter. You may have heard of him.
Walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea. He said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus called Simon Peter to be one of his first disciples. Jesus built his church on him. Jesus gave him the keys to heaven.
But, Simon Peter wasn't perfect. He was stubborn. He was hot tempered. He was scared. He was a sinner. He denied Jesus, three times. Despite all these faults, Jesus never said he wasn't going to heaven.
Then, there was Paul. Another person of who you may have heard. Paul grew the church. He guided the Church. He was the apostle to the gentiles. He wrote most of the books of the New Testament.
But, Paul wasn't perfect. He persecuted Christ. He tried to destroy the Church. He was pompous. He was an elitist. He was a sinner. Jesus never said he wasn't going to heaven.
But many Christians just listen to the preachers. The church is divided today because instead of following Christ, christian fall into the rivalries of man. Over the centuries there have been many men and many rivalries.
Even today, the body of Christ is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” The names have only changed.
I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven.
Friends, is Christ divided? There is only one holy catholic church. That is catholic spelled with a small “c” to include all believers.
That was the Church started by Peter, guided by Paul, and shepherded by the early church fathers. But, some where, at some time, and in some church, a preacher said to someone your not going to heaven.
Instead of preaching the gospel, a preacher preached flawed human wisdom. Someone preached that error with human eloquence to empty the cross of Christ of its meaning. Human error and arrogance empties the cross of the one who calls to us, follow me.
This week was the national walk for life in Washington DC. Today is our local one. All that truly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ will be united, walking together.
But there are churches that do not respect the unborn. For many, the life of an unborn child is nothing more than a choice.
A choice is hamburger or pizza. A choice can be abundant blessings and joy or despair and darkness. A choice is Christ or not Christ, Christ or anti-christ; and, most Churches are looking for a big bad boogie man.
The anti-Christ is the one who twists Word of God into their own words. The anti-christ is the man or the woman who chooses not to follow him.
I went to a Church and the preacher said I wasn’t going to heaven. Jesus Christ proves him wrong by calling us to follow him. He is with us. He is our salvation.
And there will be a party of abundant blessings and joy.
Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and live one another.
Amen.
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