The House of Love - a Parable

A Parable of the Church in a Post-Modern World
By Todd Baucum
Created on 1/11/2006

There is a house where love dwells. It is a house that many seek and long to be. In fact, there are many places in this world that claim to be the house of love. But, in truth there is only one House of Love. Blessed are they who find it and dwell there forever.

How do we find the house where true love is found? The Master of the house is the King of Love, the Lord of All and He has invited the world to come to this house, where a feast of love has been prepared and plenteous is the food. Again, many are they that claim to have found this house and have entered it by another door. “Come to our house”, they plead, “and enter our door for it is wide and beautifully built to welcome many at a time”. Love appears to hang over the portal of this house and tempting is the draw to enter and find this love that speaks so generously. Others say, “The house where love is found must have many doors that gain entrance”. This is a house that was designed to have more doors than walls, for walls are barriers that divide, and can love ever place a boundary upon itself? This house offers doors of all variety, small and great. It too, has a welcome sign for all to come and enter as they like, for all doors are equal, they matter not at all. Many, who pass by this house, say that if there is any place where love might dwell, surely this is the house of love.

Off the beaten track, there is found a simple house. When asked about that house, many laugh and taunt. “Surely, the house of love cannot be found where there is but one door, so narrow and small.” Yet, this house stands in stark contrast to the other houses. Most houses are places of broken hearts and the sound of weeping is heard when the music of the entertainers ceases. Here, there is weeping, but the weeping stops and turns to a sweet and unfamiliar song. Why is there but one door in this house? Can I but choose the way I want to enter? As the weary traveler comes to this door, he must come and open the crimson gate. All are invited to enter, but the door can only allow one at a time. Here the diversity all the inhabitants is honored by the narrow door. The Lord of the House designed the door for the true purpose of love. The walls of the house, strong and impenetrable, were built by love’s design. It offers protection and safety from the winds of hate. That is the nature of true love: to protect and guard. The narrow door was hewn out of Master’s heart. To refuse that door or to protest it is only to renounce the love that is inside. Over the portal of this entrance, there too reads a message. “This door is called Truth, and all must enter herein, with head bowed.” “Truth is the entrance to Love”, is not the message others have told. Only here is it inscribed. Yet, why is truth so forgotten and ignored? Is the Lord of the feast, not loud enough or effective in his call? Let not the appearance of this house, make one believe that is the case. This house is grand and spacious with countless guests finding that beyond the threshold of truth is where true love dwells. A feast is being prepared.


Interpretation:
For a Church to really offer real love, it must open the door of truth. Love that is cut off from truth is not love, but sentimentalism at best. The nature of God’s truth is narrow in the sense it is clearly defined and nonnegotiable. Truth being definable and knowable makes it the only option of a loving action. God has revealed Himself in His Word and in His Son, and has thereby given us clear directions home. Christ is narrow in that He is the only way, but the way is open to all. The postmodern church that sacrifices truth for the sake of love ends up offering neither.


“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Luke 13:22


"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14