You Cannot Sneak into Heaven

As Christians we admit there is just one way into heaven. We can only ‘get into’ heaven through Jesus Christ. That is one reason I often speak about the importance of the truth of Who Christ is. There is another truth to accept. Since Jesus is the only way in, no other way will work.

That might sound simple, but so often we find ourselves trying to escape the teachings of Christ and His Church to ‘get into’ heaven in our own way, following our own rules so to speak. I have heard those who defend Protestantism, “There is more than one way to Christ.” No there isn’t.

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. “I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”

John 10.1-16

This Gospel lesson is read for the feast of ‘most’ hierarchs of the Church, including Saint Spyridon whose memory the Church commemorates today. It is the Church’s way of reminding us that the bishops of the Church have been following Christ as our shepherds since day one.

I had a conversation with someone recently about bible studies being held in homes, led by parishioners, and what I ‘thought’ about the idea. It is a question I wrestle with often having served in the ‘Bible Belt’ of South Carolina for more than eight years.

Many faithful believers read today’s passage in the Gospel and think, “We don’t need bishops or the Church. We only need Christ. We just want to learn the Bible.” It is always good to study Scripture, but it should never be outside the protection of the Church.

Faith in Christ is much more than reading the Bible. In fact, the entire New Testament was written to correctly guide people into proper teachings. Saint Paul’s letters were written to correct improper teachings and practices. We all need the Church to correct us.

Left to ourselves, we will always fall short. We will always read a passage and ‘jump to the conclusion’ that best serves our desires. In the Church there is no such thing as, “I think it means this…” The Scriptures mean what the Church says they mean. No way around it.

Back to bible studies in private homes. IF the study is led by someone properly educated and sanctioned by the Church, it can be positive. If the study is a ‘free for all’ with no loyalty to the Church’s standard of truth, it can and often will lead people away from the Church, and Christ.

The Church is the Body of Christ. To be lead away from the Church is to be lead away from Christ. Christ already warned this would happen. There have been, and will continue to be, thieves and robbers, wolves who desire to kill and scatter the sheep. Don’t follow them.

Christ established His Church, and consecrated it as His Own Body, to shepherd His sheep into heaven. The voice of Christ, the voice of our Shepherd, is the voice of the Church. Follow the Church’s voice and we follow Christ into heaven. Any other way is false and leads to death.

Stop trying to find your own way ‘in’ to heaven. The Church is the Way because the Church is the Body of Christ. Learn the hear the voice of Christ in His Church. As His sheep we follow His voice, nobody else’s. If you have attended one of these studies, step back and return to Church.