Desiring the Undesirable

Read Luke 5:27-32   

The Pharisees and their teacher buddies give some feedback.  “What do you think you’re doing, eating, and drinking with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

Jesus states the obvious.  "It is not the healthy who need a doctor; it’s the sick.  I haven’t come to call righteous people.  I’ve come to call sinners to repentance."  Obvious to everyone except the insular religious subculture. 

If Jesus was criticized for having sinful friends, you will be too.  And if you’re not there’s something wrong with you.    

It will be our privilege to be criticized by Christians who don’t understand.  It will be our glory to be welcomed into God’s presence by the people we have served. 

Many Christians come from church backgrounds that say they must separate from undesirable people. 

The last church I pastored had the remarkable quality of serving former prostitutes, drug addicts, alcoholics, ex-convicts, sometimes not too far removed from old lifestyles, as well as police officers, prison guards, and civilian law enforcement support workers.  I was struck by how much they had in common.  

Such is the kingdom of God. 

The Pharisees had two misconceptions:

ü  That holiness means separating yourself from undesirable people. 

ü  That associating with undesirable people makes us somehow undesirable to God. 

It is possible for both individuals and churches to become devoted mainly to personal spiritual culture and forget outreach, especially if the process of reaching out involves touching those who may contaminate us.  Thus, many Protestant churches have in effect become closed systems for the nurture and servicing of the inheritors of a [religious tradition]…

 – Richard Lovelace

You want to inherit a tradition?  Wouldn't you rather have the Kingdom of God?  

This passage contains one of a very few explicit mission statements that Jesus makes.

Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 5:31-32

Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead so that everyone who repents and believes might be healed. 

For Jesus, and for his followers, separation from sinners in the name of holiness is a false dichotomy. 

True holiness reaches out with compassion and sincere love.  It embraces people some might find undesirable. 

Jesus desires the undesirable.  That’s why he reached out to you. 

Jesus openly associates with community outsiders.  It will be our privilege so to follow him, despite the criticism of some Christians. 

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

If you are so criticized, you’re in good company. 

If you want to see God use you to reach people, reach down.  You’ll find people ripe for the gospel. 

ü  Following Christ means being willing to leave anything and everything for something better.

ü  Now more than ever, those who have left everything to follow Jesus are called to follow Jesus into the world, making the gospel real, as Jesus did.

ü  It will be our privilege to be criticized by Christians who don’t understand.  It will be our glory to be welcomed into God’s presence by the people we have served, people of amazing diversity from every possible background. 

That’s why Jesus came, was betrayed, crucified by the religious, and rose again. 

But his door's open wide. 

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice:
   "Salvation belongs to our God,
   who sits on the throne,
   and to the Lamb."

Rev 7:9-10

Will you…

ü  Take advantage of any opportunity to interact with people different from you or that you don’t know. 

ü  Form relationships.  Invite people over, do things together.  Listen to people.  Love people. 

And if you have ever felt like an outsider, there’s someone who came to welcome you home.