A Practical Concern for the Outsider

Many Christians have a four problems.

1. They are too often unsure what the Christian message is and therefore cannot explain it clearly.

2. They treat the church as a group of friends who meet each others social needs.

3. They have few, if any friends, outside the church with whom they can share the gospel or that they can invite to hear it explained.

4. They are afraid of the consequences of speaking about Jesus

Mark’s gospel has a startling ending, (assuming, on very good evidence, that Mark 16:9-20 is a later addition). A young man, dressed in white was sitting in the empty tomb and he said to three alarmed women:

“Don’t be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.. but go, tell the disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. Trembling and bewildered the women fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid,” Mark 16:6-8

Peter, whose record of the life of Jesus was written down by Mark, is very strong on the need for all Christians to be open about their commitment to the Lord Jesus:

“But you are a chosen people . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Peter, like Paul, recognised that all Christians should be in the business of winning others for Christ. He said to wives who were married to non-Christians,

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them , do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives." 1 Peter 3:1

How important this advice is. A nagging Christian wife can be a real pain. When we are very close to people, it is our whole life that witnesses to Christ, not words only.

Peter knew all too well that when Christians are open about their commitment to Christ it can result in unfair antagonism:

“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed.” 1 Peter 4:14

“However if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear his name.” 1 Peter 4:16

Jesus had a real passion to reveal himself to all types of people around him. Has it struck you how often Jesus is ridiculed because of the friends he kept? The religious did not want to tarnish themselves or their reputation by mixing with the ungodly, the untouchables or sinners. Jesus had the opposite approach. He was continually accused of mixing with those outside the ‘religious circle’ but he kept on doing this because he had a purpose in doing so. He longed to win over many for God.

“But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’

Jesus answered them,

‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’” Luke 5:30-32

This is why Jesus made it a priority to mix with irreligious types, it was to win them for God.

It is striking how frequently people noted who he tried to make friends with. What a lesson this is for Christians today!

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’. On hearing this, Jesus said, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13

This was a recurrent message of Jesus, he really cared for the lost and longed to save them. This is why he worked hard to make real friends with the irreligious. The following passages make this clear.

“Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering round to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

Jesus responded by telling them the parable of the shepherd and his concern for the lost sheep.

“Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Luke 15:4

Jesus had a real compassion for the lost. Before feeding the five thousand we read,

“When Jesus landed and saw a huge crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 5:34

Before feeding the four thousand he explained to his disciples,

“I have compassion for these people . . .” Mark 8:2

I had a patient who was the church warden of a local village church. After the medical issues had been dealt with, I asked her how the church was going:

“It’s getting difficult. We are getting older and smaller.”

“Oh dear,” I replied. “But tell me, do church members talk about the Lord Jesus with others in the village?”

“Oh good gracious me, no,’ she replied, “We don’t even talk about him amongst ourselves.”

What a desperate situation. All I could think of replying was:

“I fear then, unless something changes, your church must die, as will all churches that have lost the importance of sharing the gospel message.”

BVP

July 2023