This parable is certainly not about the afterlife, but rather the fate of Israel.
Matthew 13’s Kingdom parables tell the gospel in a nutshell. This may challenge an old teaching of the “Pearl of Great Price”, or it may just be an encouragement.
We love church, and believe there is a place in the New Earth for “church”. We do not believe, however, that the Scriptures in any way mandate church membership or even attendance.
Nothing against pastors (honest!)… but if you consider yourself a member of a flock under a church “pastor”, then you really have appointed someone between yourself and God. This is not in line with the New Covenant.
I am more than happy to have somebody send feedback on this one to shoot it down in flames. I don’t question tradition for the sake of it – in fact I would love to believe in every tradition that makes the Christian Church traditions as beautiful as they are. The problem of Good Friday followed by Easter Sunday seems – to me – to be far too significant to ignore, however, and to maintain the story as per tradition leaves – in my opinion – far too large a target for skeptics to fire their claims about the Bible being full of holes and inconsistencies. Conflicting gospels and erroneous words from Jesus Himself are – in my understanding – rightly thrown at us Bible believers by anyone who looks at the words and doesn’t just follow tradition.
Not Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection. Rather, Wednesday crucifixion and Saturday resurrection.
Please read this with an open heart and mind. If I am wrong, gently back it up. If I am right, ask what else do you follow from tradition rather than Scripture.
New Earth Christian Studies 