Real Hope: Social ResponsibilitySample

The Company Of Sinners

It’s interesting that Jesus told this parable as a direct response to the religious Pharisees challenging Him about ‘welcoming and eating with sinners’. Their holier-than-thou, self-righteous attitude could not allow them to believe that Jesus would associate with such people. Often Jesus was criticised for keeping the ‘company of sinners’. 

What should we glean from this? Firstly, it shows us the love that Jesus, the good shepherd, has for ALL mankind, the redeemed and the yet-to-be-redeemed (Mark 2:17). We are all sinners. He deeply loves and cares personally for us as individuals, no matter where we are. Secondly, as His representatives on earth, we also should love and value ALL mankind in the same way. 

As we consider our social responsibility as Christians to the community around us, remember that sinners were drawn to Jesus and He accepted and embraced them right where they were. It would be tragic for non-believers to be drawn to Jesus’ light in us only to be greeted by a modern-day Pharisee. 

Living in the world but not being of the world will always be a perilous tightrope walk. But we must ensure we do not become insular and disconnected with the world around us. It is OK to hate sin but we must love the sinner.

written by ROBBIE PARKIN