[Sons to Glory!]

Looks like maybe I'm just having a conversation here with myself! Am I the only one laboring on Labor Day weekend!? (yes, I have my honey-do list . . .)

While reading "The Judgment Seat of Christ" (Samuel Hoyt) book, I read where he doesn't see the unfaithful servant in Matthew 25 being a true born-again one. He gives as his only reference to support this contention this webpage called "Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth - will this be the fate of true Christians?" by George Zeller. See Weeping & Gnashing article here

In this reference, the 7 instances of weeping & gnashing of teeth in the NT are explored. It is stated that it is commonly held that three of these instances pertain to the wicked and four pertain to Christians. A concluding quote from the above link postulates otherwise:

Wherever you find the expression "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in the New Testament, know of a certainty that it is a description of the judgment and doom of lost, unsaved men who will not inherit and not even enter the kingdom. It is never used to describe the fate of saved people.

I sent brother Hoyt an email regarding this matter, and here it is:

Hi Brother,

I'm enjoying your book, "The Judgment Seat of Christ." I have a question regarding an apparent disparity regarding the unfaithful servant in Matthew 25.

On page 78 (paperback) it states that this unfaithful servant is "an unsaved man facing eternal damnation." I read the footnote referencing the supporting online article by George Zeller, which I also read.

The issue I have with this is that a simple observation of what Jesus told us at the beginning of the parable, doesn't seem to concur that the unfaithful servant is not one of His own: “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them." (Matt 25:14) They were his servants. He entrusted wealth to them. If the two faithful ones belonged to the master, we have to say the unfaithful one did too.

Thanks for writing this book in such a systematic, thoughtful and Christ-centered way!

The Lord be with your spirit!

The basic conclusion Hoyt comes to in his book (as I can ascertain thus far) is that Christians at the Bema will be rewarded for their works or will suffer the loss of those rewards -- and while there may be distress and anguish felt by the child of God on account of their works falling short and therefore not being well-pleasing to the Lord, there will be nothing negative long-term (except the ongoing loss of the reward), and no specific punishment (per se) for their shortcomings. I'm a little over halfway through the book, so perhaps Hoyt develops some additional thoughts regarding his overall thesis . . .