Recent popular evangelical gospel language proceeds from a Charlie Kirk quote, “Let’s make Heaven crowded,” then repeated by his widow in a speech after his assassination. Right now TPUSA has a year long, Making Heaven Crowded Tour, led by Erika Kirk. Don’t get me wrong, I want people in Heaven and not Hell in the end. So does God. The notion of crowding Heaven gets us into specifics though. If we could make Heaven crowded, how would we do that? Can we even do it? Is it a scriptural aspiration? What verse or passage would you use for our making Heaven crowded?
Scripture doesn’t anywhere say we can crowd heaven. Some might argue that this misses the point, which isn’t intended to be strictly biblical as being mainly aspirational. Kirk meant, “Let’s try to crowd heaven.” When I look at the big tent of TPUSA Faith and the way they go about their business, his and his wife’s sentiment looks too much of their being the ones making it happen. This then affects whether they in fact are doing more to mess up a potential crowding of Heaven than sending folks, especially long term, in the wrong direction.
The Narrow Way vs. The Wide Way
Jesus explicitly described the path to eternal life not as a crowded highway, but as a difficult and sparsely traveled route. He contrasted the “many” who head toward destruction with the “few” who find life. This language of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself should guide that of those saying they follow Him.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
The Reality of the “Few”
Throughout His ministry, Jesus emphasized that while the invitation is universal, the actual number of those who enter is described in terms of a “little flock” rather than a massive crowd.
- On the difficulty of entry: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)
- On the chosen: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
- On His followers: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
A Great Multitude
On the other hand, the Bible does describe a vast number of people in heaven in the end times. While Jesus focused on the difficulty of the journey and the selectivity of the path during His earthly ministry, the Book of Revelation shows the ultimate result of God’s grace across all nations.
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” (Revelation 7:9)
Summary of the Gospel Perspective
The “true gospel” according to scripture presents a paradox:
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The Effort: We are commanded to “compel them to come in” (Luke 14:23), showing a desire to see the house filled.
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The Reality: Jesus warns that the way is narrow and “few” find it because of the cost of discipleship and the hardness of the human heart.
While the intent to “crowd heaven” aligns with the Great Commission to preach to every creature, the phrase itself clashes with Jesus’ specific warnings that the way to life is narrow and found by few. As far as our part in making heaven crowded, the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7:
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Paul said Apollos and he were essentially irrelevant to the increase. They were nothing as it related to the increase. All they could do is plant and water.
I contend that this impetus for us to crowd heaven brings and will effect a bad outcome, since it is not a scriptural outlook. Jesus taught and emphasized both the entrance requirements to heaven and the expected outcome. The expected outcome then required someone to count the cost. To understand the expectations Jesus set for those who wish to follow Him, we must look at His “hard sayings.” Jesus describes salvation not as a casual association, but as a total surrender.
1. Self-Denial and the Cross
Jesus made it clear that following Him requires a deliberate choice to put one’s own desires aside.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
2. Priority of Devotion
The requirements often involve a radical reordering of earthly relationships and priorities.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)
3. Counting the Cost
Jesus warned against starting the journey of faith without understanding the magnitude of the commitment required.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28)
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
4. The Necessity of the New Birth
When asked directly how one sees the kingdom of God, Jesus pointed to a spiritual transformation rather than outward effort.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
5. Continuance in the Word
Jesus declared the expected outcomes, which defined endurance and remaining faithful to His teachings over time.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” (John 8:31)
Again, don’t get me wrong. This was not an entrance requirement, but it was an obligation Jesus expressed as an expected outcome. He proclaimed this in advance, so the one hearing knew what he was getting into. Receiving Jesus Christ is receiving Him for Who He is. A true evangelist doesn’t keep that to himself. Jesus told people that information up front. He would be their King and this is what that meant. Leaving out the hard part is akin to deceiving the hearers. True salvation is not a mere verbal profession.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
People easily make professions or just an intellectual assent to facts without in fact believing in Jesus Christ. They profess faith or pray a prayer. In many instances, they receive “Jesus,” but not the actual Jesus of the Bible.
More to Come