Nougat 26

Siblings

I’m in a quandary. Generally, we’re taught to avoid sitting with sinners in order to preserve our spiritual purity. The arguments make sense: if we’re going up the hill, but we’re hanging with ones sliding down the hill; between gravity and all, it’s only natural that we’ll be soon headed downhill too.

That is all right and true. It even aligns with the premise of Psalm 1:1, which cautions against fraternising – when we sit, walk, and stand with sinners, scoffers, and the ungodly. Yet, I wonder whether our quest for spiritual purity won’t prevent the Gospel from reaching ‘those folks’ if we don’t interact with them.

Perhaps we could consider witnessing when we’re mature enough to withstand some temptations. For how does the Gospel reach the ‘lost’ if we’re remaining in our comfortable cloisters? Mark you, for the most part, it seems we expect them to come to us.

Perhaps it’s about justification … wanting to spend time with unbelievers, be myself with them, and help them meet the Jesus I know through my lifestyle. I feel that the justification, as it were, is warranted. For separatist behaviour tends to foster resentment, and resentment, apathy towards those things Godly.

What makes the quandary even more challenging is the premise behind Today’s Holy Nougat.

Luke 15:2 AMP

[2] Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Do We do as Jesus did?

The elite Jews were uncomfortable with Jesus’ fraternising with sinners and Gentiles. In those days, that would have been us. Yet Jesus reorganised His route to ensure he met with ‘those people’. So do we do a Jesus did? Will we ‘welcome sinners and eat with them’? Is it spiritually lawful or expedient to fraternise with ‘those people’? And if we do hang out with them, how far is too far? What if they’re also hoping to ‘evangelise’ us? Wouldn’t we have set up ourselves for disaster?

I guess it begins with our motives and our calling. Or perhaps our separatism can influence others to follow Jesus. Maybe it’s the distinction between Law and Grace, though I’m sure separatist actions were evident and prevalent in the time of the apostles.

The jury is out. More soon.

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May all we seek be found in Christ