Did he really mean that?

Today I spoke in chapel at VCA about Matthew 25...the famous "least of these" passage where we are reminded of our responsibility to take care of those in need.  And that passage stops there.  No, it doesn't.  Jesus actually says in that passage that the people who didn't take care of others are going to be separated into sheep and goats---sheep inherit eternal glory and goats are cast away.  Reading that passage gives me one of those "did he really mean that?" moments.  Am I really headed for trouble if I have faith but don't take care of "the least of these?"  Undoubtedly, this is a confusing passage when we consider our standard definition of salvation---faith and trust in the life, death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sin.  I'm not questioning eternal security (or even entering into that murky debate), but Christ inextricably links our salvation to what we do.  If we have experienced saving faith in Christ, our actions will show it.  If our actions don't show our faith, we might need to do a little soul-searching about our walk with God.  So, yes, Jesus really did say that if we make a lifestyle choice to not take care of the poor and needy then we will face the ultimate consequences...I am not willing to write off his words as figurative or as a message for another culture or generation.  He meant it and I have to take it seriously.


What passages seem too hard, too challenging, or too demanding to really be what God intended?  Those are the passages you should wrestle with the most...God can stretch you in those moments and shake up your life.  In a good way.  I mean it.