Living Life On Mission Намуна

Don’t avoid sinners

Living a life on mission, is living in a way that considers others, taking time to understand. People’s objections to faith can often be because of bad experiences with religious people.

They feel judged. Jesus said: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mat 7:1–2). Sadly, religious culture can be judgemental, and when you are in it, it isn’t always easy to see it. Also, not easy sometimes, is to stop the judgement and that’s because right and wrong are embedded in our thinking.

Judah Smith, in his book, ‘Jesus Is _____’ writes about this thinking:
“Here’s how I assure myself I’m doing good. I make up rules to fit my standard of living, then I judge you by them. If you follow my rules, you’re a good person. If you don’t, you’re a bad person. If you have stricter rules than me, you’re a prude who needs to lighten up.”

Judah admits that his way of thinking has been wrong. Have you ever done the same?

You create your own delusion by creating your own rules to make yourself feel better because you haven’t been as bad as others – right? God tells us we have all have sinned; we have all fallen short of the mark.

If you can understand this, you realise there is no need to avoid sinners. In fact, there is a need to go out of our way to engage with sinners. Everyone, including you, has sinned and is in need of Jesus’ grace. The point of difference is you’re now connected to the grace source.

Part of honestly sharing your faith is acknowledging with others your own inadequacy without God and the great news that Jesus wants to welcome them into His family anyway.

If you must keep rules and judge others to feel good or worthy about yourself, you’re preaching the wrong Gospel.