"Time Share Jesus"

Have you ever received a letter announcing the good news that you have won a free weekend at a resort - all expenses paid? It sounds like good news doesn't it?  But we all know it comes with conditions. You have to visit the resort and hear their sales pitch and then if  you opt in you have to abide by the home owners association or community covenant. It is a time share after all and you can enjoy the luxury if you follow the rules.

I wonder if many feel the same way about church? It sounds like good news but in order to share in the good news there are a few house keeping matters. Is it baptism and then catechism or baptism and then confirmation? Or is it baptism and then discipleship? When should you be baptized and exactly how much water will it take? Should we sprinkle, pour or dunk? The question becomes: "How do I get in the door and partake of the free and freeing Jesus the gospels proclaim? Jesus has become the ultimate time-share marketed by the church. Jesus is the franchise of the church but to get the 'happy-meal' there are a few rules. What commandments should we keep? Are ten commandments really enough? When should we attend church and how often? Many of these issues overshadow the good news of Jesus.

I see a very different story in the scriptures. A story that is simply good news with no strings attached. A story, that if it wasn't true would be too hard to believe. I fast forward through the gospels straight to the cross and there Jesus hangs with two criminals. One of the criminals simply asks that Jesus remember him. Jesus astonishingly replies, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." No time share, no rules, just paradise for a simple request that Jesus remember him. That is good news.

I know what you are thinking - that is great for the one criminal but what about the other dying next to Jesus. For whatever reason, he looked over at Jesus and thought, "If that man is the gate to paradise I might as well go it alone."  There is no risk to simply ask Jesus to remember you.