Have we filled our pews with goats?

In Matthew 25, Jesus clearly taught that “Christians” who don’t love others as themselves, who don’t meet the needs of the poor and needy, will not receive eternal life. The Lord directly tied our benevolence to our eternal destiny.

Our pulpits have failed horribly in preaching that truth. Most have consistently proclaimed the part of the Gospel that talks about opening our hearts to the salvation Jesus Christ offers. Many preach the the plain truth about loving God and desiring to see his righteous demand for glory fulfilled. Some even teach the hard truth about discipleship.

But how many pulpits give appropriate attention to the plain truth that “Christians” who do not feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner will be rejected on Judgment Day? How many church members are engaged in any of those ministries?

In Matthew 7, Jesus says these “Christians” will protest that they prophesied,  cast out demons and performed many miracles in Jesus’ name, but he will say, “Depart from me. I never knew you.”

No, this isn’t saying that we are saved by good works, but it is saying that we do not understand salvation if we fail to acknowledge that loving others is as crucial as loving God.  Have we, in preaching a half-Gospel, filled our pews with “goats” who will one day hear Jesus say, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”?

What responsibility will we bear as pastors and teachers for our failure to teach the whole truth?

Related: ‘Do this and you will live’