Are you a bouncer or a promoter?

Let's pretend that salvation is the biggest party in the history of creation. There's going to be a ton of food, a ton of music and you are invited. I've known about the party for a while and I hadn't felt like going. I saw the attendees. They seemed kind of fake and stiff and I didn't see myself fitting in there. Plus, anytime I got close to the entrance, an individual or a small group of people would tell me I wasn't dressed right. Or I couldn't get in because I had been drinking already, even though it was just a beer with my dinner. They didn't like my tattoos or my beard. I couldn't wear a hat. They told me that in order to get into this party, I needed to fix all these things. So I bounced. See ya. I can't fix all these right now.

Then I started noticing that people I really respect are going to the party. These were some people I could see myself hanging with. Now I'm really thinking about going. But wait, I have to fix these things. Well, lets just get to the door and see if those bouncers are there. They weren't there! I got in! I was just inside the door and then, boom, another group of folks. They didn't even mention my clothes. They shined a flashlight in my eyes and asked me a bunch of questions. “Do you believe we live in a Christian country, founded on Christian values? Are you yay or nay on gay marriage? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? Do you believe in creation or evolution?” The list went on a bit, but I could see very clearly that I wasn't going to make it in this time either.

I went home and thought about it for a while. I couldn't get this jaded feeling to go away. Why are there so many stipulations to get in there? It was one of those situations where I didn't even want in anymore but I knew that I needed a party like that. When I was leaving that second time, I did notice a group of dudes that looked a lot like me. They were dressed like me and were in a circle by themselves. I wanted to ask them what their deal was. How did they get in?

For months and months I stayed home, read my Bible and prayed by myself. The Bible is a giant invitation to the party and other people are inviting me like every 2 weeks. On a random day, one of those guys that resembled me sat in my chair to get a haircut. What a coincidence! It took me a while to get to it, but I finally asked if he was at that party. He emphatically stated, “Yes, but I’m different.”.

“Okay, how?”

“I don't know everything about everything. I know one thing: God loves me and he loves you and that's all I need to know. That's all that matters. Inside that party are ex-cons, ex-prostitutes, ex-fiends. They all have immeasurable worth to God. He created us and wouldn't want to see one of us excluded from the party. When you accept that fact and you live from it everyday, you see the world through his eyes and you cannot keep anyone out in the cold anymore. If we accept the invitation and walk through those doors, we all get in. That's what I told the bouncers and they stepped aside”

I simply replied “Thank you”

Are you a bouncer or a promoter? For the Kingdom of God, there are people who attract others and people who act as a gate keeper, picking who “gets in” and who doesn't. Which one are you?