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Thursday, April 3, 2014
Many are Called. Few are Chosen
This past week, I was asked to share my thoughts on Matthew 22:14.
"For many are called, but few are chosen". Matthew 22:14
On the surface, it sounds as if God runs an elitist social club. Or better yet, He's looked at, as the head coach for an Olympic hockey team, choosing only the best of the best, snubbing everyone who just doesn't make the cut.
As I look at this verse, I am going to view it in light of three things. I am going to begin by looking at two words: Call, and Choose. I am also going to look at the statement in the context in which it is presented. So, there will be three C's to this. Call, Choose and Context.
Call
Marriage is the theme of this passage found in Matthew 22:1-14, so it is wise to look at the language of the verse in that light. In the English Standard Version, the word "call" is actually used in verse 3 of the text. So what does it mean to 'call' anyway? It's kind of an old word in many respects.
There was a day when young men used to 'come calling'. They don't do that much anymore. If you want to get an idea of what it means to call on someone, watching old black and white movies or westerns would be a good place to start.
When a young man had a fancy for a young lady, it was common for him to go to her house. Imagine it if you can. The calling, was a way to formally express your interest, both to the young lady, as well as her parents. It was also a time for a young couple to safely "check each other out", so to speak.
Calling is a seeking out, and this seeking out, is precisely what we see in this passage. We see a King, sending his servants to "call those who were invited" Matt 22:3. That is the word in it's proper context. Many are called, or sought out. How did the King respond when the people he called, refused to come? He responded by calling more. He told his servants to "go to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you can find." Matthew 22:9
That is the picture of God, inviting as many people as can be found. That's what God does, and His people do their best to do just that. They do what they can to invite as many as can be found. As for me, I do everything I can to invite as many as I can, to know Jesus. I write books. I write blogs. I invite people to church. I preach. I am not alone. There are many like me, doing what they can, to call as many as they can.
Choose
How else can it work? Unfortunately (it is unfortunate in my mind), few are chosen, and the reason so few are chosen, is because so few respond to the call. Again, by calling, I mean that few respond to the invitation - the seeking. Their reasons vary, but essentially, they have other things in mind to do with their lives than to respond to the invitation. They just don't want to go to the wedding feast.
Christians do what they can to invite all they can. Tell me you haven't heard this complaint, "People shouldn't try to force their religion on other people?" As for force, there is some truth in it. Faith in Christ isn't a thing to be forced. Most of the time however, people actually resent even being invited. The complaint itself, is normally verbalized by someone who does not want to follow Jesus.
Few are chosen, because few choose. How does our world respond to hearing what God has to say about issues? Suppose we are talking about a kind of sexual activity that God is not fine with. When Christians tell the world, "God is not fine with you using your body like that", what is the response? Have you EVER heard the world respond, "Gee. Thank you very much. We didn't know what God thought about that!"? There is a very clear resistance to God Himself.
Even in a country that is supposedly predominantly Christian, it is so painfully obvious that God is the last person we are interested in following. We don't mind being ethical or humanitarian, but we aren't all that fond of responding to the call. We just don't want to go to the wedding feast.
Context
I have touched on the context already, but feel it is necessary to expand. The context, is set with the backdrop of a king, inviting his people to a wedding feast. The people he invited initially never responded. So he sent his servants again, letting them know that he has a great feast prepared for them, and he really wants them there. At this, many of the invitees just went their own way. Others actually seized the messengers,treated them shamefully, even killing some. Seeing his servants mistreated and killed, he rightfully punishes them, and sends other servants to invite all who can be found.
This is the backdrop to the very story of the world. Many of God's servants are mistreated. Many are even killed.
Many were called. Many were sought out. Many were invited. Few responded.
When we read, "Many are called, few are chosen", on the surface, it sounds as if God runs an elitist social club. Or better yet, He's looked at as the head coach for an Olympic hockey team, choosing only the best of the best, snubbing everyone who just doesn't make the cut. The reality of the situation lies in stark contrast to this, God being a King, who almost seems to be begging His subjects to enjoy His delicacies.
Part of the reason we see God as an elite hockey coach, is because we have lost the sense of language itself. Our loss of language is perhaps the greatest obstacle facing our world, because without it's understanding, we are unable to process truth. Gay, used to mean happy. Calling used to be synonymous with seeking. Tolerance has now become confused with approval. Our language is so messed, to the point where we are no longer able to have reasonable dialogue.
To call, is to seek out. God is not an Olympic hockey coach, looking for the best of the best. He has set an amazing feast and is sending his servants out to call all who can be found. He chooses those who choose to respond. Few respond. They have other things going on.
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