Friend Of Sinners

Matthew 11:16-19

The Son of Man . . . feasts and drinks, and you say, “He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!” (Matthew 11:19)

PULPITS HAVE OFTEN BEEN used as platforms for condemning sin and, by implication, condemning the sinners involved. As a result, Christianity is sometimes known for its hard line against the excesses of indulgence. While the desire to uphold standards of righteousness is admirable, violating Jesus’ clear warnings against being judgmental is not. Our diatribes against sin are often illogical. We express shock when people who aren’t Christians don’t act like Christians—a thoroughly unsurprising condition—and then separate ourselves from “corrupting influences,” insisting that we must not be blemished by them. After all, we want to present the right image.

Meanwhile, Jesus—our perfect example—had such reckless disregard for his own reputation that he let his love, rather than a carefully crafted image, prove his character. He seemed unconcerned that the judgmental critics around him could legitimately call him a friend of sinners and point to evidence of his many associations with them. He feasted and drank with people on the margins of religious acceptability because those were the people who wanted and needed what he offered. He justified his friendships by comparing himself to a doctor who treats the sick. He entered into the mix of fallen humanity in order to show people the Father’s love.

Far too many people who follow Jesus don’t follow him on this point. That’s tragic for a number of reasons. For one thing, if we don’t know how to be friends of sinners, we won’t have any friends, since sin has infected everyone, including ourselves. But we also won’t have any influence or be influenced by people who could teach us a lot about the human experience. We are called to separate ourselves from certain behaviors and attitudes—not to separate ourselves from people who have them. Wisdom tells us to surround ourselves with the wise; compassion tells us to have a heart for everyone. We cannot be like Jesus without loving the way he loves.

{Jesus, let me love the way you love. Help me develop genuine friendships with people from all kinds of backgrounds and all walks of life. May I learn from others, and may they learn from me—especially about the power of your love. Amen.