When Churches Play God

Wheat and Tares: Matthew 13:24-30

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

High Point Church in Arlington, Texas canceled a memorial service for Cecil Howard Sinclair because he was gay. You might say that they are not desiring to mix a tare among wheat. The writer of Matthew 13 warns of the harm that is done when householders attempt to seperate wheat from tares. Matthew writes, "Let both grow together until the harvest." When is the harvest? I believe that Matthew has in mind what Christians call "the end time." Matthew saves the task of seperating for the Lord of the harvest. Churches and preachers are not stand-ins for the Lord of the harvest. In determining who gets to be in and who is to be kept out, churches are doing great harm to the whole field. I think that the Lord of the harvest is God. God will "...say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Now I bet that most people sitting in church think that they are wheat and some other people (in this case, gays) are "tares." At harvest time look for some major surprises!