We are coming near the conclusion to our series on the Sermon on the Mount—the greatest sermon ever preached. Next week will conclude the series. But, of course, the conclusion of the series is not the conclusion of the impact of Jesus’ sermon on our lives. It is a continual presence in our lives. Indeed, it must be a continual presence in our lives for it reveals to us the pathway of living the Christian life. Life is made up of a series of choices. As we ponder the choices to be made in life, we do well to remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount. We can do nothing better than to remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount…and (very important) and live them out. In fact, as Jesus draws his sermon to a close—as we shall see today and next week—he calls upon his disciples to take his words and live them! He says, in effect, it would be stupid to not do so. The choice before us today is the wide gate and broad road which looks attractive and pleasurable, but leads to destruction, or the small gate and narrow road which looks challenging, but leads to life. Life is a series of choices. We have to choose. Failing to choose is, in itself, a choice. We have to choose. Jesus will put the tough challenge before us to choose the way of his teaching from this Sermon on the Mount. Dale Bruner says this about Jesus’ movement toward the conclusion of his sermon, "Jesus began his sermon with unqualified tenderness, embracing in the Blessings [Beatitudes] those who felt least embraceable. He concludes with unqualified toughness, warning us that his sermon is not an intellectual option, a set of suggestions we may take or leave, one philosophy of life among several others, but that it is the exclusive way to life," (Matthew, A Commentary by Frederick Dale Bruner, Vol. 1, The Christbook, p. 282). Wow! Are you ready for Jesus’ words of "unqualified toughness?" Listen to the word of God as it comes to us from Matthew, chapter 7, verses 13 through 20. (Read Matthew 7:13-20)

We live in what many are calling a "postmodern" society. Now, the definition of "postmodern society" is a bit difficult to pin down, but suffice to say that a postmodern society is one of moral relativism and no absolute truth. It is a society whose slogan would be, "If it feels good, do it!"—the only rules being (1) if it involves others it’s consensual, and, (2) nobody gets hurt. All morality is relative and situational and there is no absolute truth.

The epitome of a postmodern society just might be Camp Quest West—a camp which, by the way, has nothing to do with the company Qwest. Camp Quest West is a camp for "freethinking" children. Located north of Sacramento, California, Camp Quest West describes its mission as "promoting respect for others with different viewpoints, values, and beliefs." Its promotion goes on to say, "we deplore efforts…to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms and to look outside nature for salvation." Ironic side note here: It appears Camp Quest West respects different viewpoints, values, and beliefs…as long as they don’t seek to explain the world in supernatural terms or look outside nature for salvation! Nevertheless, one of the ending activities of a week at Camp Quest West, as described by the camp’s director, Chris Lindstrom, is this, "a competition for the kids to create their own religion that everyone can believe in and that will be good for all, for all time." The perfect camp for a postmodern society of moral relativism and no absolute truth.

Into this society, Jesus says, "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction…but small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life." The perfect antidote for a postmodern society. Jesus says, in effect, "you’re going to have to choose. There’s no religion ‘everyone can believe and that will be good for all, for all time.’" I think that is the desire of Jesus’ heart, that all would believe in him and that following him would be good for all and for all time. But, he knows that is not the reality in a world filled with human beings. Jesus knows, given the free will to make choices, not everyone will choose to follow him. In fact, not even a majority will choose to follow him. "Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life." Jesus knows our humanity very well, and he knows that given a choice, we will most often choose the path of least resistance.

Lets face it, we would prefer not to have arguments, not to have hurt feelings—which is a good thing…except when it comes at the expense of truth, when it costs us life and leads to destruction. A postmodern society doesn’t want to talk about small gates and narrow roads in the pathway of life. A postmodern society wants to say, "Whatever works for you is fine, as long as…" what are the two rules? (1) If others are involved it’s consensual, and, (2) nobody gets hurt. Otherwise, anything goes! Yet, Jesus says, wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to…destruction…and small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to…life. Postmodern society’s path of least resistance, it’s "whatever works for you" philosophy will always look tempting, at times will even seem honorable—no disagreements, no hurt feelings. It will certainly be the more popular choice. But Jesus says, wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to…destruction…and small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to…life.

When I think of this conflict between the philosophies of postmodernism and of Jesus, I see it played out very clearly in two areas of life—human sexuality and the nature of Jesus Christ.

When it comes to sexuality today, we know where the wide gate of the majority swings. Thanks to the triumph of the Playboy philosophy—which, by the way, was an easy victory…unfortunately. Sex gets our attention. Sex always sells. Sex is pleasurable—which is how God designed it but we have taken God’s design and twisted it and distorted it. Thanks to the triumph of the Playboy philosophy, we are a society downright obsessed with sexual matters. The fact that we are talking about it in our worship is a clear indication of the shift that has occurred in our culture on the topic of sex…and of the fact that the Church was asleep when the shift took place. It was an easy victory for the Playboy philosophy. Consequently, we are a society obsessed with the subject of sex. Just take a quick glance at magazine covers and the topics they promote. I bought a few to show as examples. Here’s Redbook, a pretty reputable magazine. Kelly Ripa on the cover. In fact, the article inside related to Kelly Ripa is this, "the sex tip (and "sex tip" is in red ink!) she just has to share" (underline theirs). Also, there’s an article on The New Infidelity and how to protect your relationship. Good luck with that one. Here’s another magazine—Women’s Health. Typical looking woman on the cover (well, not really!). One article that’s inside, Have More Fun in Bed (Start Tonight!) {parenthetical statement and exclamation point theirs}. Also, 2,145 All-New Health, Fitness, Nutrition & Sex Tips. I didn’t read it, but I’m betting none of the tips quote the Bible! Not to leave the men out, here’s Men’s Health. They have 1,583 New Health, Fitness, Sex & Nutrition Tips! Guys, by my count that puts us 562 tips behind the ladies. Plus, does it mean anything if the order of the words "Nutrition" and "Sex" are reversed for the men? Also in Men’s Health, there is an article on Sex With Someone New (Every Night!) {parenthetical statement and exclamation point theirs}. Then there’s Best Life, a magazine that says it’s all about "What Matters to Men." Apparently what matters to men is this article, Supercharge Your Sexual Connection.

Yes, it’s a short journey to discover that our society is obsessed with the subject of sex. It’s everywhere you look—magazines, movies, TV. But take a stand on sexuality according to God’s design for it and you’ll be walking a narrow road indeed.

A few months ago, I was driving in my car and turned the radio on thinking I would listen to the Rockies game. Turns out they weren’t playing that night (see, I don’t plan my life around the Rockies schedule!). Instead of a Rockies game, what I got was a talk show of which the subject for the evening, unbelievable as this may sound, was asking men to call in and give the number for how many women they’d had sex with. I think the results of some survey of Americans and their sexual habits had just been released and the host wanted to compare the survey’s numbers for men—which I think was something like 12—with the numbers of his callers. The host admitted to 27. The first caller I heard—and, as it turned out, the only caller I heard because I couldn’t stand continuing to listen to such drivel—claimed 31 women. You know what I wanted to do? I wanted to call the show and say, "How about 1?" What do you think the reaction would’ve been? Undoubtedly, I would’ve been laughed at and probably made fun of the rest of the show—"Pity that poor lug who has only had one!" But, I would’ve also wanted to say, "Let me tell you what I have that you’ll never have. Absolute trust. Total giving of one’s self to another. No memories of past liaisons to haunt me and hinder me in my relationship with my wife. Two becoming one as God designed it—and not just in body, but in mind, soul and spirit." Those braggarts will never have that! In fact, the host made some awkward joke about being glad his daughter wasn’t listening to the show that night. What a hypocrite!

Make a stand for God-designed, Biblical sexuality and few in our postmodern society will stand with you. In fact, there are some in your Christian circles who will not stand with you. I hesitate to tell you this story because it’s one of the times I’ve been angriest at our denomination. Or, I should say, some national staff in our denomination. In 2000, I attended our General Assembly as an observer in preparation toward being a commissioner in 2001. One of the discussions that year involved a new sexuality curriculum that was very controversial. The controversy existed, I might offer a humble opinion, because the curriculum was very postmodern in its philosophy. Throughout the days of the assembly, I sat in basically the same seat in the area for observers. Regularly, two rows in front of me, sat four or five people whose name badges identified them as staff members of our headquarters in Louisville. During the debate about the curriculum, one pastor commissioner went to the microphone and expressed his concern about the mixed messages we were sending to our young people. He went on to describe a moment in his church where 30-some youth in the youth group had recently taken a vow of chastity until marriage. At which point, one of the staff members sitting in front of me turned to another and said, "Oh honey, I took that pledge in high school too!" To which they all laughed. Out loud. For a long time. I wanted to strangle them! I should’ve got their names and filed a complaint with the headquarters. Instead, I sat and fumed.

Take a stand for God-designed, Biblical sexuality and few will stand with you. Even the wolves in sheep’s clothing won’t pretend to stand with you at that point. You’ll be ridiculed. You’ll be laughed at. But, Jesus says, "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to…destruction…and small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to…life. The wide pathway of postmodern society’s attitude toward sexuality is littered with the victims of broken trust and counterfeit intimacy.

The second area of clear difference between the philosophies of postmodernism and of Jesus is the very nature of Jesus himself. Postmodernism says Jesus is one pathway to God, a good man, a good teacher, a prophet even, but no more than that. One pathway to God among many other equally valid pathways. "Whatever works for you is fine." It’s life at Camp Quest West! But Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life," and that way is a narrow way. What I want to share with others is the surpassing joy, the abundant life to be found in a life with Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be mean-spirited or arrogant about it, but that is what I want to share with others. The "way" is not whatever you choose that works for you. The way is Jesus Christ. "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to…destruction…and small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to…life.

So what are we to do with the "unqualified toughness" of Jesus’ words for us today? Let me, in closing, briefly suggest two things.

First, know as much as you can about Christian faith. Get beyond the periphery of Christian faith and dig deep into what it means to truly follow Christ. Study it! Reflect upon it! I am so passionate about this I start shaking when I talk about it! Take a Sunday School class! Participate in a Bible study! Sign up for Alpha, or Disciple, or Companions in Christ! Don’t settle for the pathway of least resistance! Journey instead on the narrow way of Jesus Christ…the way to life.

Then, secondly, show the love of Christ to the world. Being in the world doesn’t mean you are of the world, walking the wide and broad way of postmodernism. Stand firm in your beliefs, but do so with the love of Christ. Show the world the joy, the abundant life of a life with Christ. And, do it with love. Love others into the kingdom, the narrow way to life.

I can tell you what to expect. You will be ridiculed. People will make fun of you—call you old fashioned or worse. Even the wolves in sheep’s clothing will laugh at you. You might even be persecuted in some way for your faith. Remember? "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of [Jesus]. Rejoice and be glad…" because you’re in the great company of the prophets who have gone before you, because "great is your reward in heaven," and it is there you will find life. Trust me, stand for Biblical truth in a postmodern society and you will be insulted. People will say bad things about you. They’ll call you narrow-minded! But, "rejoice and be glad" because it’s worth it! It’s the pathway to life! For this is absolute truth: "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to…destruction…and small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to…life.