Matthew 20:1-11, “For the
kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
laborers… he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day… went out
about the third hour and saw others (and hired them)… went out about the sixth
and the ninth hour, and did the same thing… about the eleventh hour he went out
and found others… When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his
foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last
group to the first….’ When those hired first came, they thought that they would
receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. When they received it,
they grumbled at the landowner…”
This passage is commonly called the Parable of the Workers
in the Vineyard, and was told by Christ to describe the kingdom of God. The
landowner is Christ, the workers are Christians. The day is a lifetime for each
of the workers. Many I believe teach that the delay in going to work is
pre-salvation, and that the time of going to work in the vineyard represents
salvation. But I know different. The fact that they all are “workers” of the
vineyard is indicative of being a Christian. The delay is the journey of life
that we all are on taking us to that moment when we are truly productive to the
kingdom of God. I might even suggest that the time actually in the vineyard is
the time of actual kingdom awareness. And regardless of whether that
productivity/awareness is life long, or momentary at the end, the results are
the same.
But why am I talking about this parable?
I talk about it because the body of Christ is contaminated
with grumblers and complainers. People, pastors, parishioner all
grumbling and complaining and judging someone else’s journey. Recently there
was an article in Charismanews that found it’s way to my computer via multiple
sources. It was critical of Megan Fox saying “she prays in tongues. Should we
judge that utterance?” It goes on to say, “This is actually a perfect
illustration of American charismatic Christianity, where you can say you love
Jesus… and still frequent strip clubs… Today in some charismatic circles, you
can be a Christian gangster – or, at least, a toungue-talking, seductive
starlet, or a Christian lingerie model, or a strip-club attending,
Jesus-speaking rapper, just to mention a few…”
To those that subscribe to this judgment I would say, why
do you hate someone else’s journey? How do you not know that Megan Fox is not
one to be hired in the eleventh hour? Have you not studied the parable of the
Tares and Wheat, and not understand that neither you nor I can correctly
distinguish a person’s salvation. Are you not more worried that having cast out
devils and healed in the name of Jesus that you might fulfill Matt 7:23 where
Christ says, “I never knew you; Depart from me…”
When will the workers stop grumbling about God’s dealings
with other, and start reflecting deep into their own heart to find the mind and
heart of Christ. And His plan for good for those who love Him, regardless of
where their journey takes them?
One person commented on the article that Mega Fox speaks
in “demonic tongues.” Someone needs to read Mark 3 and see Christ response to the
Scribes saying He healed by the power of demonic forces.
If not Mark 3, then perhaps Mark 9 where the disciples
tried to hinder someone for casting out demons who was not part of ‘their
group.’
Is Megan Fox now the beneficiary of Luke 6:22 where Jesus
says, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you,
and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man?” Better yet, are
those critical the un-blessed of this scripture, who cast such dispersions?
We do not know another man or woman’s journey with, to, or
through Christ. We must not judge it. We must not be jealous because our
journey is longer, or harder, or without magnitudes of blessing. We must all
simply look within and find Christ purpose for our life, a purpose that does
not include casting dispersion on others' profession of Christ. It is God's job
to convict, not ours. He is working out your salvation, and He will work out
mine and theirs without our condemnation.
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