K040. Many are called, but few are chosen (1)

I begin to feel the heartache and understand it more today when I find more and more Christian friends 'departing from us', not just physically, but doctrinally differing with us in many important fundamental doctrines and truth. Now I can understand why Jesus said, Many are called; but few are chosen:
"Realizing that standing up for sound doctrine is not easy, it is even less so…

  (1. Many sinners were called in the highways)
Luk 5:32 KJV  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luk 14:22-35 KJV  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  (23)  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  (24)  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper ..
  (2. But few disciples were chosen; there were criteria)
.. (25)  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  (26)  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  (27)  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  (28)  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? .. (33)  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.  (34)  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? ..
Interestingly do we notice the 'switch' in Jesus' words when the great multitude started to follow Him and when He turned and said to them? Actually it was the 'turn' to choose His disciples and find out who were the willing ones or the true ones.

However, ironically I find that many Christian friends just want to read only the first part of the gospel in the Bible passage above (Luk 14:22-24): that is how many rooms are available to them, to the believers, to the sinners, to those who still sin, in the byways and highways .. etc ; but they would reject all the words of Jesus Christ spoken to them after they followed Him. They would reject what Jesus said after (v24). Of course, Jesus did not tell us to really hate our parents and literally die on the cross. If He used the metaphors of the vine and branches or the parables to describe Himself to us, He could use strong contrast and emphasis to explain how we should follow Him too. Please let me know if there are preachers who still preach that we must really hate our parents. (Yet, I regret to say that some well-known hyper grace or radical grace preachers have ignorantly thought that many churches are like the 'amputation theatres' because they still preach from the Lord's sermon on the mount eg. Mat 5:27-30. Therefore, they conclude that the words of the Lord are obsolete and that most of His sermon cannot be taught practically under the new covenant. How foolish?)

Yes, Jesus extends His invitation widely and freely to everyone and call everyone to repentance; but not many are chosen and become His disciples. There will be wars of truth when many of those (the 'believers') who are called will insist that they know Jesus better than those (the disciples) who are chosen. Hence, we understand now why the true disciples may have no choice, but to 'hate' their wives, their fathers, their mothers, their brothers, .. and friends when they find it difficult to embrace their philosophies and beliefs:
Mat 22:9-14 KJV  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  (10)  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  (11)  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.

I now understand why it is not easy to be a disciple when many of our friends, wives, fellow believers, and brothers would just want to walk the wide and easy way, and they would just want to believe only. It is because if we are a true disciple who take up the cross, we will be hated by many who would just want to be believers, and many could have turned to false doctrine and become the false prophets:
Mat 7:13-23 KJV  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? .. (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Many believers become the enemies of the cross too, not because they hate the cross, burn the cross, or disfigur the cross; but because they hate carrying the cross and do not believe it anymore:
Php 3:18 KJV  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
If you read the above, you will know that Paul constantly faced the enemies of the cross too. Why? Just ask, Was Paul just a believer who want the easy way out, or a disciple who carried the cross?

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