What Matters Most

Where is Jesus hanging out today?

Jesus is an interesting word/name.  It elicits various degrees of response ranging from extreme excitement to antagonistic anger. 

For the believer, the name of Jesus symbolizes salvation, comfort, trust, and the assumption that if He came back today He would want to be with them.  For those who have not bought into the whole idea of needing a Savior, the name of Jesus often symbolizes the need for a crutch, judgmental attitudes, the feeling of never measuring up, and the assumption that if Jesus came back today He would not want to hang out with them.  Both sides hold to their assumptions and these beliefs perpetuate their image of who Jesus was and is today.

If Jesus were to come back today and hang out who would he spend his time with?  We can get a good idea by going to the journals of one of Jesus' close friends while He was on earth the first time.  Matthew, a Jewish tax collector, was despised and hated by most of his fellows Jews. By the church goers of his day he was considered an outcast.  Matthew records an amazing incident where Jesus was invited to his house.  His journal records this:

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”  When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’  For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:9-13)

From this we can deduce that Jesus enjoyed hanging out with those who society considered outcasts.  In fact, He says that is why He came the first time - to hang out with those who needed him the most.  The Bible often records just the opposite of what we see today.  Jesus spent a great deal of time hanging out with "sinners" and often got into trouble with the "religious church goers".

I have this challenge to all my readers. If you are a non-believer please know this.  If Jesus came back today to hang out, He would want to hang out with you!  He loves you and doesn't judge and actually would prefer your company.  If you are a follower of Jesus understand something.  Jesus loves you deeply but would probably not hang out with you but encourage you to hang out with Him and those who feel disenchanted and disillusioned by the church.

To put it plainly, If Jesus were here today, he would be hanging out with those who think he wouldn't and not hanging out with those who think he would!

HMM.... Your thoughts?

Chuck

Winter Retreat '08

I just got back from a winter retreat with with 19 teenagers and 6 adults. This is nothing new. I have been taking teenagers to winter camp for 20 years. Each year, I would take a group of teenagers hoping to get a non-christian or two to attend. This year was different. This year 18 of our teens were unchurch, non-Christian teenagers. We take our teens to Camp Orchard Hill in Dallas, PA because COH understands what matters most and does an excellent job at accepting our teens where they are at and for who they are.

I gotta tell you what an awesome time we had. It was refreshing and draining all at once. It was refreshing to be around non-christian teenagers. After working with teenagers for 20 years I have found non-Christian teenagers to be more honest, more open, and more real than christian teens. It was draining because I had to be on my toes at all times. Their ideas, comments, language, desires, etc were not always comfortable to see, hear or experience. Nevertheless, I would not have missed any moment of the weekend.

There was one thing that disappointed me. It was apparent that our group was seen as the "different" group by some of the church youth groups. There was very little interaction from the church youth groups. Why did it come across like we were different? Perhaps it was our "Cig Mobile" (everyone had to make a cardboard sled and compete in a race. Ours had cigarettes on it and our mottos were 'we smoke the competition' and 'come take a drag with us'). Perhaps it was the comment from a youth leader who meant well but her comment that it was a good thing what we were doing came across more like were were saving whales then building relationships. Perhaps it was the youth leader who was afraid when one of our guys sat next to one of his girls at the session so he squished in between the two of them where they wasn't even a seat for him to sit in. Maybe it happened and I didnt see it but i was not aware of one group that was on their knees praying for our group and asking God to give them ways to reach out and minister to our teens.

Wasn't it Jesus who said he came not for the healthy but for the sick? Wasn't it Jesus was criticized for hanging out with the less fortunate? Wasn't it Jesus who came that everyone might have life - the downcast and the trodden too? Wasn't it Jesus who healed the leper by not just speaking to him but touching him too? Wasn't it Jesus who ate with the down and out of his day?

Have you ever noticed that many Christians feel more comfortable around fellow believers than they do the lost? Have you ever noticed it is easier to place money in an offering plate than into the hand of someone in need? Have you ever noticed that it is easier to pray "Thy will be done" than to just do His will? Have you ever noticed it is easier to memorize James 1:27 than to just do it?

As believers who have the hope of Jesus Christ, why are we so uncomfortable in letting our hope ring loud and clear?

Click below on the word comment and leave a comment for us all to chew on!!

Chuck