Day Five: The Tender Shepherd Who Keeps The Wolves Away

"Pagan philosophers Plato and Aristotle arrived through human reasoning at the existence of God, speaking of him in vague, impersonal terms as the Uncaused Cause and the Immovable Mover. The prophets of Israel had revealed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a more intimate and passionate manner. But only Jesus revealed that God is a Father of incomparable tenderness . . ." - Brennan Manning

"Since the day that Jesus first appeared on the scene, we have developed vast theological systems, organized worldwide churches, filled libraries with brilliant christological scholarship, engaged in earthshaking controversies, and embarked on crusades, reforms, and renewals. Yet there are still previous few of us with sufficient folly to make the mad exchange of everything for Christ; only a remnant with the confidence to risk everything on the gospel of grace; only a minority who stagger about with delirious joy of the man who found the buried treasure." - Brennan Manning

Listen to "Unified" by the Jason Lee McKinney Band to supplement today's reading.

The world has over four thousand religions ranging from Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism to Jedism (worshiping the force). Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world. Both are Abrahamic religions along with Judaism. Abrahamic religions have historically had and presently maintain the most prominent influence upon humanity. All three religions are orthodoxically exclusivist and view pluralism in essence as evil or heretical. In plain terms Judaism, Islam and Christianity believe they are correct, and to varying but necessary degrees the others are wrong. One way Christianity is distinct from the other two major religions is the way Christianity views how a person can receive salvation. In Islam, soteriologically speaking, salvation is a matter of ascetic ascent and never certain. In other words, a person must live a good moral life according to religious beliefs, but a person can never be sure of their salvation. Judaism is a nationalistic religion in that salvation is found in both the practice of living in adherence to the law but also identifying as a member of God's chosen people (whether by ethnicity, national citizenship or being a Judaist.) In Islam and Judaism, salvation at least partially depends on the work and diligence of the follower.

In Christianity, salvation cannot be earned but is a gift from God, the contrast in beliefs about salvation between these religions are incompatible as a gift is either free or it is not. It is not a gift if a friend wants to take me to dinner as a birthday present but wants me to pay for the dessert. Salvation is either earned or it is a gift, Jesus says that he did not come to burden life but to give life. Jesus says that he will defend those who follow him even unto death. In contrast to the savior Judaism expected and way of salvation it taught, Jesus said he has "other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen." Jesus eliminates a nationalistic view of salvation (take note, America). Jesus didn't even say he wanted to bring others in but that he must bring these other sheep in. Jesus gave up his life so that salvation can be a gift freely given to all who call upon his name for salvation. In Jesus we find a tender shepherd who cares for his sheep. The buried treasure of salvation in Christianity is grace. Christianity is exclusive, but exclusively a religion where the found consistently said not to be afraid to be people who were used to being afraid.

Friends, Christianity is a religion exclusively where a middle eastern first-century man claimed to be God yet did not seek power or gain but rather gave up his life. willingly so that those who accept him might be reconciled to the Father. In Christianity there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation; it is a free gift of the tender shepherd who cares for his sheep.

Father, thank you for the Son, thank you for sending your Son, and thank you for pouring your wrath out on him and not on me. Lord Jesus, thank you for being a savior who not only participated in our suffering but took it on when you did not have to and did not deserve to suffer for me. Jesus, thank you for the free gift of salvation. Lord, thank you that I could never earn it for I might be tempted to think I am worthy to be saved. Always keep fresh in my mind that I am worthy to be saved but only because of your death and resurrection on the cross. I am worthy of salvation not because of anything I have or ever could do, but I am worthy because you say I am worthy. In the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

This devotion is an excerpt from Dr. Jason Lee McKinney's devotional book, Devotions for Deconstructors, Disciples, and Doubters, and based on his book, Deconstructing a Disciple's Doubt.

The accompanying music comes from Jason Lee McKinney Band's album One Last Thing.