(originally posted October, 2019)
Matthew 9:10-17 New International Version (NIV)
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Last year, George Bush and Ellen Degeneres watched the Cowboy’s game together in a suite at AT&T stadium. If you haven’t heard the fireworks, do a quick search and see what comes up. Ellen was attacked by the LGBTQ community for even associating with someone who actively fought against gay-marriage rights. Her Christ-like response was that we should be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32). “When I say, ‘Be kind to one another’, I don’t mean only the people who think the same way that you do,” Ellen clarified. “I mean be kind to everyone. Doesn’t matter” (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/oct/08/ellen-degeneres-george-w-bush-lgbt). While many praised her response, it elicited more anger from those who believed that Bush’s sins against the LGBTQ community and role in the Iraq war could not be forgiven.
It’s easy to criticize others, but don’t we see this play out in our churches? “How could you eat with him after what he did?” “How can you talk to her after what she said? How can you fellowship with those people?” “How could people act like that at church?” “How can you be friends with someone who voted that way?” “They are supposed to be Christians!”
Yes, they are supposed to be Christians. Jesus ate with the sinners because the healthy didn’t need a doctor. That must mean there are a lot of sick people in churches who need care – not perfect people who have it all figured out so they can judge others. Let’s remember to be kind to one another – not because Ellen said it, but because Jesus lived it. Jesus cares more for the mercy we show to others in his name than any sacrifice we can give. Let’s rejoice because he calls sinners like us to join in at his banqueting table. Let’s encourage one another to practice forgiveness so that more of the sick can find healing in this community we call church. Hope to see you at our Family Council Meeting live or online November 18 at 6:15 pm. There won’t be food because of COVID-19, but next time we eat together, maybe we can call it “Dinner with Sinners.”
-Ray Sanchez