No Shirt, No Shoes, No Salvation

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 the US many restaurants have a sign on the front door: “No shirt, no shoes, no service.” Matthew’s parable posts a similar sign on the pearly gates: “No shirt, no shoes, no salvation.” It certainly doesn’t sound heavenly to me. This parable an example of all that is wrong with religion. Because I can’t 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’m becoming more like McCain—grumpier and crankier about the institution I’ve devoted my life too. I see in this parable the seeds of my church’s demise." Full text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=448&id=884.