Podcasts religion iGod St Matthew-in-the-City No Shirt, No Shoes, No Salvation

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Salvation

Published: Oct. 13, 2008, 4:36 a.m.

Clay Nelson in his Pentecost 22 sermon is grumpy and cranky, just like McCain, about the church's dependence on Matthew's "parable" of the wedding banquet. He has never heard a good sermon on it and doubts this will turn the tide. \n\n"n the US many restaurants have a sign on the front door: \u201cNo shirt, no shoes, no service.\u201d Matthew\u2019s parable posts a similar sign on the pearly gates: \u201cNo shirt, no shoes, no salvation.\u201d It certainly doesn\u2019t sound heavenly to me.\n\nThis parable an example of all that is wrong with religion. Because I can\u2019t remember ever hearing a good sermon on it I went online to see if I had just been unlucky. After reading half a dozen more, I had to stop. I was having trouble controlling my gag-reflex. I wish I could assure you that this sermon will turn the tide, but I fear as I grow older I\u2019m becoming more like McCain\u2014grumpier and crankier about the institution I\u2019ve devoted my life too. I see in this parable the seeds of my church\u2019s demise."\n\nFull text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=448&id=884.