What's the point?

But one hears the objection, "What is the point of being a Christian if, in the end, everyone is saved? People who ask that should listen to themselves. What's the point of being first rather than last in serving the Lord whom you love?What's the point of being found rather than lost? What's the point of knowing the truth rather than living in ignorance? What's the point of being welcomed home by the waiting father instead of languishing by the pig sties? What's the point? The question answers itself."


"Would you like to join us for Thanksgiving dinner?"

"No. I mean, what's the point?  I'm just going to be hungry again in a few hours."

I've encountered people who think like this, though, and previously written about one discussion I overheard that represented that perspective almost exactly. It's sad that so many of us consider Christ as some sort of inclusive club to which we belong and others don't, to which membership is a matter of our effort and merit.

If we lack the burning desire that those who don't belong to him as of yet - our brothers in their distant lands - will come home to their rightful place in him, I have to question whether we've really ever come back to him ourselves.  I think that too many of us think we are saved by, or at least because of, our own goodness. For how could an undeserving sinner who is redeemed in spite of himself claim to know the joy of belonging to Christ without longing for all others to belong to him, too?