The Pharisees didn't have anything to do with the sinners. They were very good at condemning their sin and would accept them if they would simply comply and do what the Pharisees wanted. They expected that Jesus would follow their lead if He was a great religious teacher. He certainly couldn't be the Messiah if He didn't comply with the Pharisees' rules.
Jesus, however, had a different idea. He loves sinners. He decided He would hang out with them. He expressed His love for them. Out of the sinners came Matthew who would write a Gospel. Another sinner named Zacchaeus would repent of the money he had cheated from people. He would return it fourfold. Mary Magdalene would become one of Jesus closest followers. He loved on these people and they came to know Him.
Jesus abandoned the Pharisees' method of coercing people to comply with their behavior. He gave us the example of loving people into the kingdom. His love made them repent of their sins.
I wonder why we just don't get it. Why don't we understand that genuine love will win people into the kingdom? Our judgment should be reserved for those who are believers. We should approach believers when they sin. We should gently urge them into a renewed relationship with Christ. However, we should be showing love rather than coercion to those who do not know Christ.
I wonder: Instead of Christians boycotting stores who do not comply, what would happen if we decided to love and pray for them instead? What would happen if we wrote them letters of love and said we were going to shop at their stores? What if they understood that our God is One of love rather and forced compliance?
Do you think that we would see more people come to Christ?
2 comments:
We are sinners, all of us. It is amazing that even today many christians judge others based on purely on perception.
I ride a Harley and thus a lot of my friends ride motorcycles as well. Yes we wear all the leather and garb that goes along with riding. Many people look down at us or are completely intimidated by us. Yes, "We hear the whispers from the next booth at the restaurant or from the pew behind us". Is very sad actually.
They don't realize that my friends are lawyers, bankers, business owners, police officers, etc. They don't realize the huge sums of money that bikers contribute to causes such as March of Dimes. They don't realize that I often talk to God and pray while riding. They don't realize the spiritual beauty of riding over Afton Mountain during a sunrise with fog settled in the valley.
Riding has made me very aware as to not judge others. We are sinners, all of us. Jesus would fit right in sitting at our table...
Amen, Royce, Amen!
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