Outsiders?

“You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened.” Luke 13:29 (The Message)

One of my favorite movie is “Babbette’s Feast” based on the short story by Isak Dinesen. Babbette flees to Denmark, avoiding political upheaval in Paris in the 19^th century. She cooks and keeps house for two elderly sisters in a tiny village set on the remote and beautiful coast. For 14 years she serves the sisters, and the only link to her past is a lottery ticket a friend in Paris renews for her each year. One year she wins the lottery and uses the money to prepare a high-quality feast for the sisters and their small congregation. The scene is filled with all the delights of a wonderful banquet, and is the outpouring of Babette’s gratitude.

She literally gives all she has as she serves the banquet for the twelve. She is a Christ-image. She comes into the village mysteriously, humbly serving the sisters and living within the community. As a servant, she finally gives all she has to provide a banquet for the household and village. The scene unfolds with the most profound longings of the heart answered and its hungers filled. Its reference to Christ as “the bread of life” is evident.

There are two approaches to God. One is to believe He expects only perfection, and only those who live up to those expectations are received by Him. This God is stingy, handing out judgment more often than grace. This is the view of the self-righteous who have mastered a version of religion that counts them “in” and a whole host of others “out” of God’s kingdom based on performance of particular rules and regulations Relationships mean little to these people, unless, of course, you are “in” the kingdom along with them.

When we view God as one who is slow to forgive and quick to anger, we honor Him by becoming like the image we believe. We hold back encouragement, believing everyone is capable of making as far in life as we have. There is no consideration of barriers others encounter or advantages we received. If people can’t measure up, they just aren’t trying hard enough. We may “talk” compassion, but we will act out of that central belief: everything in life, including a relationship with God, is earned.

The other approach also understands God’s expectation of perfection, but it also knows He is generous in His mercies. His perfection includes being perfect in compassion, in grace, and in offering a relationship between Himself and His creation. In this view, God has called everyone “in”. The only way someone can be “out” is to refuse the loving advances of Father-God and reject His constant attempts at reconciliation.

When we view God as quick to forgive and slow to anger, we also honor Him by becoming like the One we worship. We understand the Cross as God’s quintessential portrayal of His heart. He is willing to walk the entire distance that separates sinful, broken hearts from Himself. He is not the God of compromise, negotiating a deal between himself and humans. He offers a complete pardon with no expectations; only promises. He promises to indwell the hearts of those who believe, promoting His goodness from within, rather than pounding people into submission from the outside.

And so, yes, many will be surprised to find people at God’s grand feast who shouldn’t be there. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that the prostitutes, tax-collectors and sinners would find their way into God’s Kingdom far ahead of their self-righteous attempts. The “narrow” road which so few find is the road that realizes my efforts are simply too minuscule to ever matter much to the Eternal God.

Think of it. Doesn’t that explain why so many of those who are deeply devoted to Jesus are also those who have been broken by life? The poor know the world rarely rewards those with little material goods. They know the necessity of leaning upon compassion. The ones who have failed over and over again, are they not also the ones who weep at Jesus’ feet, understanding the depth of His forgiveness. Oh that we would understand how stripped we are of every ability to earn points with God in any way. He has offered grace to all through His Son who came to take away sins, and destroy the works of the devil.

I want to belly up to the table, eat joyfully at the Father’s table, and invite others to the life of acceptance by the God who loved us first.