Ever since I was born, I was in church. I would be there every time the doors were opened, front and center, ready to answer any question or win any Bible drills. I was THAT kid. I have a lot of love for the local church and believe it's the key to seeing revival happen in America again. As a matter of fact, I work at a church. I just have a few problems with the American church today. It's not the building I'm speaking about. It's the people who inhabit these buildings we call churches. Before we begin I have a couple quick questions: do you know any prostitutes? How about any gang members? Got any murderers, pimps, or pedophiles in your contacts? No? Me neither and I think that's part of the problem.
Let me explain, I'm not saying that your best friend has to be in jail. I'm not saying to go out and find the scariest person you can and invite them to your family reunion. That's not the point. What I am saying is that Jesus is a friend of sinners and if we dare say that we're like Jesus in any sort of way, shouldn't we be a friend to sinners as well? Shouldn't the people of God who know what grace and mercy are be the first to extend the hand of help? Maybe I'm just a little crazy or have too high of expectations of Christ followers, or maybe we've gotten too comfortable in our plush chairs in our nice air conditioned buildings that's not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter.
In Luke 19:1-10 we see the narrative of Jesus and His encounter with Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Not only was he a tax collector, he was the chief. He had been at his craft for a while. Jesus stops at the base of this sycamore tree that Zacchaeus has climbed and says to Zacchaeus: "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." In this day and age, eating with someone meant that you identified with them. Zacchaeus was the lowest of the low. He stole money from those whom he collected taxes from. He was despised by what we can assume is the entire city and Jesus knew this, and yet the King of Heaven broke bread with this notorious sinner. Jesus identified with the man everyone else despised. He identified with the sinner. Jesus befriends sinners so Jesus befriends me and you.
That being said, if we really desire to be like Jesus as we claim to, shouldn't we be pursuing people as Jesus pursued us? Isn't that what following Christ is all about? It's not glamorous. It's not fun. It might not even be safe but Jesus never promised safety. Soul winning is tough and dangerous but so worth it. To see the person who needs Jesus just as much as you and I do (let's not forget that) come to the realization of their need for a Savior is an addictive experience.
If we're being honest, we're the Zacchaeuses of this story. We all need grace just as much as the next person. If we look at people through the lens of the Gospel, we see that we're no better than those in ISIS. Maybe our modern American way of thinking says different but if we're honest with ourselves, they need Jesus just as badly as we do. Jesus came for the Trumps, the Clintons, the Congresses, the Senates, the ISISes, etc. of the world. Jesus isn't exclusively for the white American suburban family with their nice Chrysler Town & Country. Jesus is for everyone and who are we to decide otherwise? The problem is that we don't put ourselves in the same category as the pedophiles, murderers, and rapists of the world as if they sin and we just "mess up". We're all in the same category, dead without Jesus. We're all sinners in need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus. We all need Jesus just as much as the next guy. May we pursue people just as much as Jesus pursued and pursues us daily. May we keep in mind the fact that Jesus pursued us while we were yet sinners. May we be about people. Much love and God bless.
