Gospel Gleaning: The Seven ‘Excepts.’

Much is been said of the viral expansion of Christianity in the global south. We’ve all heard of the ‘lively’ and vibrant worship sessions, and the passion that draws people to churches on Sunday morning in their thousands. The way I put it is that people back home in Africa generally seem more prone to the promptings of their faith than we find here.

Why is this so? While you and I may not have all the answers here, it is my thinking that this has a lot to do with history and social evolution. Without delving into history books, we can declare with no fear of equivocation that such was the case here. We call them the ‘good old days’ when North American was on fire for Christ and mission. That was how churches like ours were founded. It was how imposing cathedral buildings were built, and communities of faith grew.

There comes a time in the life of a people or individuals when the fire of the gospel- the fire of spirituality and evangelism, is ignited. We get to that tipping point in our journey and experiences when we don’t need a prophet to know that the die is cast. At such times we realize the need for re-evaluation of our journey, and the need to ensure that we are indeed journeying along side God. I hear it expressed in different ways today that we’ve gotten to that tipping point again in North America. Do you think so?

But I was talking about Africa. Yes, I was. I realize that part of the difference there, is the fact that people in the south seem to connect and relate with God at a different and deeper level. If you are in doubt about someone’s religion, the question to ask is not to know what denomination they belong. The common question is “are you born again?” Of course they will belong to churches if they are born again. What is considered important is to know if they have any personal experience of Christ to share. Therefore, the condition that Jesus set before Necodemus in John 3 becomes a measuring rod.

I am reminded of this by the Gospel reading for this Sunday. Being born again is considered a ‘syndrome’ by some. It shouldn’t be. It is one of the ‘SEVEN EXCEPTS’ that Jesus has given as pre-conditions for any one who is seriously committed to making it into the Kingdom of God. We have one in John 6 this Sunday. They are nothing to be afraid of. Each of them offers a measuring rod to our level of our individual experience of Christ.

Here they are:

1. Except you repent… (Luke 13:1-5).
2. Except you become converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
3. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:8; 1 John 5:1-14,18).
4. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).
5. Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53).
6. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
7. Except you abide in me ... (John 15:4-6).