"Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2, NIV)
Sounds awful doesn't it. Jesus being criticized for reaching those who really needed Him. Jesus having the audacity to hang out with tax collectors and sinners (oh the horror). These are the people that the pharisees and "church" people didn't want around. They didn't want to talk to them, they didn't want to know them, they didn't want to see them, and they sure didn't want them in their "church" (temple).
Thank goodness this only happened Jesus times, we have grown as Christians beyond that. I wish. No this kind of attitude is still running rapid in today's Christianity. Just as it was hindering Jesus ministry, it is seriously hindering the church of today.
How in the world to we get the attitude that there some that are "worthy" to be in a church group and some that are not. How in the world do we get the attitude that there are some that are "worthy" to be around Jesus and some are not. How in the world did we ever get the attitude that some are "worthy" to be around US and some are not.
Now of course Jesus followed this attitude by teaching about the "Lost sheep" (leaving 99 to get the one), "the lost coin" (diligently looking for money that has been lost), and of course the "prodigal son" (the son that takes his inheritance, squanders it then comes back home). IN all stories the end was rejoicing because the sheep was found, the coin was found, and the son comes back. Wow, Jesus is such a great teacher. Unfortunately the Pharisees or the "church people" just didn't get it. There where so full of "self-righteousness", or we will call it the "I'm better than you" attitude.
This same "better than you" attitude is running rapid in our churches today.
The "sinners", the troubled ones, the addicted ones, the promiscuous ones, the hurting ones, the confused ones, the different ones, the ones from broken homes, the ones from abused homes, the ones from single parent homes, the ones who don't dress like you think they should, the ones who don't talk like you think they should, the ones who don't act like you thing they should, the ones from different nationality, the ones from the projects as well as the ones from great backgrounds, the ones with both parents in the home, the ones who grew up in church, the ones who don't have issues. They all need to be in church, they all need Jesus, we all need Jesus.
Jesus welcomed them all, He turned away no one..... think about it.
Said with love because I care, Chris
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