Once when I was at a social gathering, I found myself in casual conversation with someone I didn’t really know. Somehow we got on the topic of anime and I excitedly expressed my appreciation of it. Next thing I knew, I was being intensely pummeled with questions that were getting increasingly obscure. After I had proved my anime knowledge and I was deemed a “real fan” and not “fake fan”, I had earned enough of his respect to be worthy of a casual conversation about anime. I had encountered a Gatekeeper in the wild.
A Gatekeeper is a person or thing that controls access to something. In a business setting, s/he is usually an assistant; to get to the boss, you have to go through the assistant first. The gatekeeper keeps things organized, running smoothly, and makes sure the boss isn’t troubled by things they don't need to deal with. If the assistant can handle it, they do, so the boss can focus on other things. Some things are not worthy of the boss's time. In slang terms, a Gatekeeper is usually someone in a fandom who is an expert with a big helping of ego on the side. They believe that unless someone achieves a certain level of knowledge about that fandom, they are “fake fans” and not worthy to participate in the fandom. In their arrogance, they control access to the fandom by mocking people and making them feel inferior and unwelcome in fandom spaces. The self-appointed Gatekeeper feels like they have a duty to make sure someone is “worthy” before they are allowed to participate in the fandom. You have to follow certain rules, know a decent amount about the fandom, and meet the social expectations that this Gatekeeper has decided are important. I realized the other night that members of the Church believe themselves to be the Gatekeepers of God. To be crystal clear, when I say “Church” I mean pastors, leaders, teachers, ministers, and anyone who professes to follow God. I do not mean a building. I do not mean the church down the road. I mean people. If you don’t adhere to the Church’s “standards” then you are not a “real Christian”. You will either be asked to leave your place of worship, step down from ministry, or made to feel so uncomfortable, you just leave on your own. You want to hang out with us at our place of worship to learn more about God? Let’s check your credentials first: Are you anything other than straight? Are you a person of color? Are you divorced? Are you living with your partner before marriage? Are you a single parent? Are you baptized? No, not that way; our way. Do you display the gifts of the Spirit? Do you even study your Bible? When did you get saved? Do you volunteer? Are you tithing? Do you drink? Do you smoke? Is that how you always dress? These are Gatekeeper-type questions. If you don’t answer these the way the Gatekeeper decides is right, you are clearly a “fake Christian” or “worldly”. Expect to be made to feel uncomfortable really quickly, and that’s if you are lucky. You may get refused baptism, even though you want it. They might not marry you. You might not be allowed to dedicate your children. You may be barred from serving and helping. You may not be allowed in small Bible study groups. You may not be allowed to use your God-given gifts. The Gatekeepers will limit your ability to experience God and growth in your relationship with Him within a community. The real question is this: Does God need Gatekeepers? Did he ask the Church to be His Gatekeepers and to only allow the “worthy” to come to Him? Let’s go see what Jesus said and did. Luke 18: 9-17 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Luke 9:49-50 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for the one who is not against you is [x]for you.” Luke 7:36-50Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!” And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty. When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 18:35-43 Now as Jesus was approaching Jericho, a man who was blind was sitting by the road, begging. But when he heard a crowd going by, he began inquiring what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. These are only a small number of verses on this subject. I could go on and on about how Jesus made Himself accessible to all people, even though other people tried to prevent that or questioned his choices. He constantly welcomed the sick to come to Him for healing, and women and children (deemed lesser in this time and culture) were encouraged to come to Him. He regularly sought out the hated and shunned people to spend time with them. Jesus did not allow anyone to Gatekeep Him. He did not allow His disciples or the religious leaders to decide if people were worthy of His fellowship and presence. If you have ever done the following, you are acting like a Gatekeeper for God: If you have ever sat in a private leadership meeting where you decide to ask someone in the congregation to leave the church because they are gay. If you have refused to baptize someone because you don’t think they are holy enough or because they are living in a way you don’t approve of. If you have refused to marry a couple because they had premarital sex and you just “can’t condone that lifestyle”. If you have ever gossiped about a woman and ostracized her based on her clothing or how she presents herself. If you have ever asked someone to leave your Bible study because they don’t go to your church and aren’t even tithing at your church. If you do not allow people who are divorced and remarried to mentor young couples. If you don’t allow women to use their God-given gifts to their full capacity. If you don’t allow people on the worship team who don’t fit the “image” of your church regardless of talent level. If you have only leadership sit in the front row at church and expect the leaders to be respected more than other people. If you have ever tried to get someone to conform to the culture of your specific church in the way they dress, talk, and/or conduct themselves. If—when a transgender person wants to find Jesus—your first order of business is to tell them they have to de-transition because their way of living dishonors God. I have seen every one of these things happen with my own eyes. Every one of them. In every instance it was hurtful, causing the victim to question who God really is (because His followers speak for Him…right?) and separated them from fellowship and learning how to build an authentic relationship with God. This is the polar opposite of what Jesus did while he was on earth. This is excluding behavior, not inclusive behavior. The heart of it is this: If you are doing anything to block someone’s access to God or fellowship, you are being a Gatekeeper. JESUS NEVER ASKED YOU TO DO THAT. If Jesus Himself didn’t allow anyone to Gatekeep Him what makes you think He wants you to do that now? God is not some fragile creature who needs protection from anything. He wants everyone to come to Him...even the ones you don’t think are worthy based on your arrogant and self-righteous viewpoint. Things Jesus told us:
Jesus did not tell us to Gatekeep Him.
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