PICK AND CHOOSE
It is quite easy to pick and choose our spiritual path. There are literally hundreds of paths to choose from. Paths are the little ways that go off from the main way. Though there are only a few major roads; there are many, many little paths and side roads.
For Christian thought and discipleship, it becomes very clear, very fast, which way we will pick and choose. If we really want to follow Jesus we need to stay in the Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount in particular. If we prefer to just be tagged Christian, we are apt to pick and choose various passages from all over the Bible. We can make scriptures tell us anything we want to hear while making up our own script. The teaching of Jesus on the Mount is a whole different matter. Statements like, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” We have to decide about such teachings. We must decide what we will pick and choose.
I think it is right to sit quietly and maybe for a long while with the weight of the Sermon on the Mount balanced on our heart, our mind and our body and make a decision about following such ideas and demands. Perhaps we stay in such a place until we can say with Peter:
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Jesus