“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
~ Matthew 7:12-14
As the blogging comminity reflects on the 5th anniversary of the frightful attack of 09/11, I can’t but wonder how lives have changed for many Americans. Has it really changed for them? Has it changed my life?
I have to say yes and no…Growing up in Germany in the 60’s and 70’s, terror attacks were nothing new. It makes you realize that your life can end any minute, because someone thinks that you don’t deserve to live; you have no right to think and stand up for your beliefs. Was the attack on 9/11/2001 any different? No. Because a group of people believe that America stands for Christianity, and the ‘enemy’ has to be destroyed.
But looking at a survey conducted in 2001 (sorry couldn’t find anything newer — quickly), Christianity only grew by 5% within a 10-year-period. Do you want to guess which religion/belief system grew the most over the same time period? No, it is not Islam either. It is called “Deity/Deist” (not sure if that would qualify for Christianity, but I leave that up to my readers to decide)…The other religion that grew the most in the US was/is Sikhism. To me, it is very interesting that many religions grow in the US in leaps and bounds, but Christianity.
I think we are all scared to share our faith with others, because it is ‘politically incorrect’ to be ‘narrow minded’. But it is not us who say that there is only one Way to heaven…Read the above Scripture again…These words are Jesus’ words….
Do many Americans still travel the ‘broad road’ after 9/11 because it is more comfortable to be politically correct than to share the ‘narrow gate’? As for me, I have become bolder and yes, I ‘argue’ with people (if they want to know), that Jesus is the only Way to heaven. Call me narrow minded, call me anything you want, but for the first time I my entire adult life, I stand up for what I believe in…
Do you have more questions about the narrow gate? Are you ready to see what salvation is all about? Move you cursor to my Sidebar and click the big, red “Ready” button…And if you have more questions after that, please leave a comment and I will get back to you…
Amen Iris!
I’ve noticed even among Christians many have cut the word “hell” out of their vocabulary when the reality of hell should actually push us out of our comfort zones. I’m not saying we should be walking around telling people they are going to hell, but I’m not a fan of the “accept Jesus so your life will be better” routine. It’s just not honest.
The stats you have shown are sad. I wonder what that says about us.
Good for you for standing up for the truth and not what is “politically correct.” Jesus didn’t die to become part of a “muliple choice” way to heaven. It’s time for people to stop saying what is deemed to be “correct” and start speaking the truth of our faith. Jesus is THE way, not one of the ways. Awesome post.
You know when we get to heaven we are going to answer some tough questions, do we really want God to ask why we didnt spread his word of salvation.
Because we didnt want to offend sounds very lame
I love that REady? button!!
I think it has made me less intimidated by the present and has put my mind more on the eternal…..definitely. Do I share my faith more? I think I am, but in today’s world, the trick is finding a relevent way to share it. People have no common ground with believing in God or in the Bible these days. It is a daily reliance and listening to the Holy Spirit to help us to know when and how to share.
We have a great responsibility in these days! Thanks for the reminder!
You know, I do my best but sometimes I come up against people who get downright mean. I’ve never been called narrow-minded, but I have had people try to convert me or tell me I’m crazy or tell me not to push my opinions on them. I would really love to get into an apologetics program in order to fight the good fight with intelligence and reason. Instead of ending up standing there, stuttering, my mouth gaping open.
Somehow I’ve seen over the past year or so, that as I LOVE people, show genuine concern for them, actively listen, given them my time and attention, they begin to see what compels me, and that is God’s love for me, which motivates me to action outside of “self”. Sharing my faith has become the simple act of loving God so much it’s evident in my regard for others. Of course, I mess that up (a lot), but it has been an amazing thing to see how people have responded to this very different way of “sharing my faith” (not so much in words, but in action). Thanks for your encouragement for us to “live out loud” :).
That’s wonderful! I love reading about people’s experiences of witnessing to others. I heartily concur with Robins’s (PENSIEVE) approach. It’s not about arguing people into the kingdom, but about loving them. As they say, “people don’t care about how much you know, but they do want to know how much you care.” Apologetics and theology are for believers–“faith seeking understanding.” I believe we need to demonstrate the love of God, AND we need to open our mouths. “Faith comes by hearing…” Thanks for taking the risk to speak up!
Here’s a great Youtube video on the Narrow Gate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQzIFIcUTxM
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!