A Friend to Sinners

I've been reading several books lately related to the emerging/emergent church movement. I don't really care about the emerging v. emergent part (I get the impression this is somewhat controversial), but I have been greatly convicted about how outsiders (aka non-Christians) view Christians and the church. I don't know that I can have much impact on a generation's view of the church as a whole, but what kind of Christian are my neighbors, non-Christian friends, the grocery store clerks, etc. seeing me be?

Luke 15:1-3 reads, "By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends."

If Jesus was a friend to sinners, than I can only conclude that he wants me to be one, too. From what I know of Jesus, he never bludgeoned a lost, hurting person with a moral code. He loved them, met their need, and then told them to go and sin no more. Jesus is holy and that is never, ever compromised. He seemed to reserve the harsh criticism and judgment for the religious leaders who were more concerned about being "right" than about caring for people and having a right heart before God.

I know that several of my neighbors aren't Christians, but I find myself pretty much encapsulated in a Christian bubble. We hang out with our Christian friends somewhat exclusively, I work for a Christian organization, and we're sending our daughter to a Christian school. How can I be a friend to sinners if I never enter my personal, local mission field?

Anyways, I certainly don't have all my thoughts on this clear in my head as is evidenced by this rambling. I trust the sources I've been reading, but I also need to go back and study the example Jesus set. I confess that I've been guilty of hiding behind my church doors, figuratively speaking, and not reaching out to establish relationships with people that act, think, and believe differently than I do. How to remedy that is still to be determined.

I'm sure I'll blog about this more as I think it through. If you're interested in the books I've been reading, they are:

• Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
• unChristian by David Kinnaman
• They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball

Just Tell Me What To Do

I don't know whether I'm just tired or I've lost that "be the leader" mentality. I hate to make decisions anymore, especially if a group of people are involved. It has fallen on us to make plans for our daughter's soccer team party and something so simple has become so difficult. Perhaps I'm too worried about what they'll think of me and of the choice I make. But should I even care? Nobody else stepped up to do it. I'm always afraid of choosing something that someone else doesn't like, but by continually deferring to the imagined desires of someone else, nothing gets decided. I just want someone to tell me what to do, where to be, and when to be there. I used to think that being in charge was enviable, but right now I'd love to just be a sheep and follow a qualified shepherd.