Matthew 9:10-13 "And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners." But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.""
As I read this passage the other day I considered how easily believers adopt and maintain prideful separation from sinners. In what is most often an effort to remain untainted by the world, we keep them at a distance and avoid mingling. How much better it would be - and how much more Christlike! - to spend time with them, to visit their homes and invite them into ours. We are not more spiritual when we keep them at a distance; we are more spiritual when we open our hearts and lives to them and love and invest in them as they are. Easier said than done.
In Acts 10 and 11, Gentiles receive the promised Holy Spirit and the repentance that leads to faith. This is fulfillment of Old Testament promises, and yet it was a huge surprise to many Jews, similar to the shock of the Pharisees at seeing Jesus hang out with sinners. Jesus is counter-cultural, non-mainstream. He hangs out with people the world loves to avoid and welcomes those it scorns. Sometimes I fall into the trap of selective evangelism, sharing the gospel of salvation only with those I think are open or those I somehow think more worthy of the time and effort it takes to preach the word. But the gospel is not just for those people. The gospel is good news for everyone, even those with whom I have never considered sharing.Labels: Bible/theology, journal/quiet time