Jon McClarnon

It doesn’t get much more simple than this past weekend’s Encounter at the Lake. Jesus asks a guy, who is an outcast in society, hated by most people – to follow him. Compelled by his love perhaps OR simply seeing a better possible life ahead…he follows…and throws a party in honor of Jesus. It turns out to be the perfect scenario for more hurting and broken people to rub shoulders with Jesus. And, in these moments, there are always people who think Jesus should behave differently.

If you missed it, check out the message HERE.

Jesus said for himself: “it’s not the healthy who need a Dr., but the sick; I’ve not come to call righteous people, but sinners.”

Author Phillip Yancey writes this: “The poor, the sick, the tax collectors, sinners and prostitutes crowd around Jesus, stirred by his message of healing and forgiveness. The rich and powerful stand on the sidelines, testing him, spying, trying to entrap him. I know these facts about Jesus’ time, and yet, from the comfort of a middle class church in a wealthy country like the US, I easily lose sight of the radical core of Jesus’ message.”

So how is it that churches, people, and myself miss this about Jesus?
1. Confusion – maybe we’re just simply confused about Jesus. Maybe we bought the idea that Jesus likes good people and doesn’t have time for bad people.

2. Comfortable – alot of people who come to follow Jesus at some point in their life fall into a comfortable place. It’s a dangerous place though – to be comfortable knowing you’re “with” Jesus and being uncomfortable around people who don’t know Jesus.

3. Consumed – this is the answer to embracing life as Jesus did. To love seeing “the sick” get help. The answer…being Consumed with Christ. Seeing needs, accepting people, loving them…as Jesus did.

So…”WHAT IF”…?
-You started a list of 3 people who need Jesus…posted it on your fridge…bathroom mirror…in your Bible – simply started to pray for them every day? That they would be receptive to Jesus…and you’d have opportunities to show his love.
-What if…you took cards from the Info Table…wrote notes to 4 people…invited them to come with you to True North? The reason there are 4 – the numbers tell us if you invite 4, 1 will come.
-What if…a group of us got together some Friday/Saturday night…we spent ½ hour walking through a shopping center – all we did was pass out Invite Cards?
-What if…someone got really crazy…and threw a party at your place…you invited your whole cul-de-sac OR block? Like Levi, it was a combination of friends from TNC and your neighbors? It simply set the stage for those who are in need of a touch of grace to rub shoulders with those who trying to follow Jesus.

As a church, I’m calling us to pray to this end; that God would use us to be more influential in our community as a place of grace.
To be the kind of people, who are NOT perfect by any means…but trying to better follow Jesus and care for the sick and hurting…just simply because that’s what Jesus does.

How are you going to respond?