I got the same old friends
They got the same old sins
I tell the same old jokes
Give the same old grins
But now the jokes sound new
And the laughter does too
Everyday of my life
As fresh as morning dew
-Dusty Springfield
-Dusty Springfield
Fellowship. Food. Fun. I remember those words always being used in accordance with youth group or church events. Flyers would be handed out stressing the fellowship and fun that would surely ensue. And of course, the food part was always thrown in there, because who doesn’t love free food?!
If I’m being completely honest, I love hanging out with the friends of mine who bring along with them good, wholesome fellowship. On most days, I would rather hang out with my friends who believe that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior than the friends of mine that don’t quite see things that way. There’s nothing quite like arguing free will versus predestination or discussing the shotty theology of Rob Bell’s newest book. Just being in a community of believers is exhilarating, and if you are blessed enough to receive the gift of eternal life; won’t eternity be spent in perfect fellowship? So why not just get used to it? Why even bother hanging out with your ‘non-Christian’ friends? Let’s just evangelize to them; just tell them the Good News and move on. God even calls us to do so; “go and make disciples” and “preach the good news”.
Matthew 9:10 “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.”
What in the world do we do with this? JESUS, the man who knew no sin, who was flawlessly perfect, who was God in the flesh, was hanging out with sinners and tax collectors? Tax collectors, the present-day IRS; these guys were scum, they were notorious for overcharging people and keeping the money; Jesus was gathering with these types of people!? Imagine Jesus hanging out with the Jersey Shore cast and the Playboy bunnies. Shouldn’t Jesus (and His disciples, for that matter) be surrounding themselves with better company? After all, bad company corrupts good character, right?
And so the Pharisees, who are completely astounded that Jesus is in the presence of such low lives, ask the disciples why Jesus is subjecting Himself to this. Jesus, (being omnipresent and all) overhears the Pharisees and says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12)
If I’m being completely honest, I love hanging out with the friends of mine who bring along with them good, wholesome fellowship. On most days, I would rather hang out with my friends who believe that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior than the friends of mine that don’t quite see things that way. There’s nothing quite like arguing free will versus predestination or discussing the shotty theology of Rob Bell’s newest book. Just being in a community of believers is exhilarating, and if you are blessed enough to receive the gift of eternal life; won’t eternity be spent in perfect fellowship? So why not just get used to it? Why even bother hanging out with your ‘non-Christian’ friends? Let’s just evangelize to them; just tell them the Good News and move on. God even calls us to do so; “go and make disciples” and “preach the good news”.
Matthew 9:10 “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.”
What in the world do we do with this? JESUS, the man who knew no sin, who was flawlessly perfect, who was God in the flesh, was hanging out with sinners and tax collectors? Tax collectors, the present-day IRS; these guys were scum, they were notorious for overcharging people and keeping the money; Jesus was gathering with these types of people!? Imagine Jesus hanging out with the Jersey Shore cast and the Playboy bunnies. Shouldn’t Jesus (and His disciples, for that matter) be surrounding themselves with better company? After all, bad company corrupts good character, right?
And so the Pharisees, who are completely astounded that Jesus is in the presence of such low lives, ask the disciples why Jesus is subjecting Himself to this. Jesus, (being omnipresent and all) overhears the Pharisees and says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12)
WHOA! Jesus just showed them up! Why would a healthy person need a doctor? Why would a clean person need a bath? Why would a millionaire need payment protection insurance? These sinners needed to hear the Good News; Jesus needed to be the Good News to them. I think we are called to do the same thing. I’m not saying ditch all your Christian friends and only befriend the sinners, but make sure you invest time and energy into reaching people, and go beyond just reaching them and eat with them, talk with them, be with them. Be careful not to conform to their ways; be in their world, but not of their world. Establish yourself in the truths of the Bible and in the direction of the Holy Spirit and always rely on God to be your Rock.
-Christa Coners
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