Pharisees vs Prostitutes

There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard."  "I will not," he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, "I will, sir," but he did not go. “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21: 28b-32)
Sometimes I will visit a church where I'm told, "We don't want Alpha." "We're happy the way we are."

Such a church may often be comprised of people 50 plus. They are happy coming together every Sunday, worshipping just the way their parents did, and they themselves have done ever since they were children. They don't want to change. They are happy with ancient Bible translations, traditional hymns only (not that there is anything wrong with them), traditional music only with traditional instrumentation only.  (Which leads me to reflect that what we today refer to as traditional hymns were, at one time, contemporary music.)

These churches often don't seem too enthusiastic to reach out to their communities in any active way. They are happy ministering to their own. They may say they would like to grow, but one gets the impression that any new person coming through their doors must squeeze themselves into the church's mold. Therefore, in many cases I fear, these newcomers may come once and never show themselves again.

I believe that Alpha can be very much a part of the answer to the question, "How can we reach those who need to hear the Gospel in a way that will hold their attention while they hear it?" Times have changed in the last generation or two. And to take a point from Romans 10:14, how can we tell them if we can't hold their attention. Evangelization is a process. Not everyone responds the first time they hear the Good News, even though it is the best news of all. Alpha, with a 7-week or a 10-week timespan, is an ideal vehicle for evangelism.

In the parable above, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. I have the definite sense that, at least in this passage, Jesus did not say that they would not enter the kingdom, but that others, more honest ones perhaps; more sincerely contrite; those who truly recognized their need, would enter before them.

I wonder if these of whom I spoke a couple of paragraphs above might  be in the same boat. They may get to Heaven, but I think they might get a pretty good talking to when they get there.

Just thinkin'

Blessings,

John

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