SICK FOLK

What does the community of God look like? What is it SUPPOSED to look like?

We know the stories. Jesus ate with sinners. Who did he have issues with? So very often, it was religious leaders. But we still don’t get it.

Jesus ate with SINNERS. He had issues with many RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

Why do we insist that sinners look like religious leaders? Religious leaders look put together. They attend services regularly. They pray. They know the Scriptures. THESE THINGS ARE GOOD, but they are no good if their hearts are far from God.

There are grave misunderstandings about which sins are “allowed” in church. We have had an out-sized focus on particular sins over others, such as sexual sins or addictions. We have demanded that “those” people clean up their act before they are allowed to call themselves Christ- followers. But how many of us walk around with pride? What about gluttony? We don’t insist that church goers check those sins at the door on Sundays.

We are ALL sick. Every last one of us. Let us ALL come to Mercy Hospital, where grace abounds. Thank God!

“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”