Wednesday, January 11, 2017

That's The Job

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”  Mark 2:13-17

I was somewhat a nerd when I was in high school.  A lot of it was because I tended to be a bit more open and excitable about things that made me come across as socially awkward.  I was too hyper to be cool and too sensitive to others.  I went to multiple schools, but the only one that I fit in was a small school in Boston.  Why?  Because it did not matter what color I wore and how I acted like.  They just embraced me because I was . . . Just Kent.  Many of us know groups we did not get along with.  Maybe they wore tattoos or had earrings in places you’d never consider.  Some talked a different way or said things you did not agree with.  Or dare I say they were overly religious and thought they were better than others.  We would not do that, would we?  Christians are often accused of being holier than others even when we are not, but do we have an obligation to help them see the truth?  My response is much like that to my boss whenever I have to have a tough conversation with one of my staff or take on a task that I really do not like.  “That’s the job,” I say to myself.

Helping others understand the message of Jesus Christ is as important as just knowing Him.  The calling of Levi (later called Matthew) discussed in Mark 2 exemplifies what our approach to others should be.  Levi, the tax collector (in high school terminology, that's the kid who doesn't really fit in anywhere), is called by Jesus, and Levi invites Him to dinner.  The Pharisees (a.k.a. the 'In' crowd) talk about Jesus (the cool kid) questioning why on earth would He talk to Levi and other sinners.  Pretty snooty, right?  Jesus' righteous response was to point out that He was there not only to call "those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."  In one sentence, Jesus put everyone on the same level playing field.   The climate that we live in today is one of divisiveness with strong opposing views.  Do we look at this as the chance to challenge others beliefs?  Perhaps.  However if we want to reach one we do not understand, we have to get to know them, and to know them means to embrace them where they are as they are.  This is what Jesus taught in today's verses, and is a blueprint for us to reach those who initially do not seem within reach or equally as important unlike us.


We all fit under God’s plan.  This means we need to understand everyone is God's child, and if your circle of people talk, think, and look just like you, you are not serving God's will.  He wants us comfortable being uncomfortable.  Let us embrace that by seeking understanding of those who do not believe as we do instead of judging because they do not fit our 'narrative.'  How can you reengage with someone you dismissed because they are different from you?  Who can you reach out to outside of your comfort zone?  My prayer is that we challenge ourselves to embrace others where they are as Jesus embraced us where we were.  Why?  Because, “That's the job!"  Amen.

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