Jesus, non-believers and sinners!

Hiyer,

Loving reading through the gospels at the moment.  AND I've really been challenged and led to look more at the relationship Jesus has with non-believers and sinners.  In short, I led a community group (Bible study) meeting on Jesus' ministry to non-believers/sinners tonight and wanted to share my findings.

So, here is a whistle-stop tour of some ideas, thoughts and Bible verses to enlighten us on how Jesus treated non-believers and sinners.  It's very brief and open to discussion, (I'm no expert), but have a look...  I've paraphrased and shortened the main verses, but feel free to delve deeper into them as there were so many awesome things I discovered.  Additionally, it was interesting to see that there was not much info on this theme on the Internet...!

QUESTION - What do we do with non-believers?  How do we relate to them?  How do we treat them?  What are our responses and reactions and expectations?

MARK 1v16-20 - Jesus calls four of his disciples.
These guys weren't necessarily believers when Jesus called them.  We often presume they were, with no real evidence.  Were they really believers?  Did they have faith at the start?  The NIV Life Application footnotes point out that a couple of these men were called more than once before they followed and that also they were on a journey of growth in their faith.  They weren't originally strong, devout believers.  Yet Jesus walks with them, teaches them, listens to them, goes on their journey with them.  How can we do this with our non-believing friends?  Neither were these disciples Christian as this concept came much later on!


MATTHEW 9v9-13 - Jesus eats with sinners
Jesus had time for people, He didn't segregate Himself from non-believers and sinners, He joined them, spent time in their company and accepted them for who they were.  How can we associate with non-believers and sinners?  Do we stick to our comfortable Christian circles?  Do we expect non-believers to come to us, into our church buildings and to our way of life, or are we prepared to go to them and to meet with them where they are at?  Note Jesus never invited anyone to the temple - He went to them, yet still did not compromise Himself on the way.  He states that he wants mercy, not a sacrifice.  Yes there are times when we need to sacrifice things for our faith, but rather than live by do's and donts and giving up this and that because Christian culture says so, we ought to have mercy on non-believers, be sensitive and loving and not judgemental if they do not choose to do these things.  Sacrifices should come from the heart, not out of a culture which is forced upon us or such-like.

MATTHEW 12v18-21 - 'A bruised reed He will not break, a smouldering wick He will not put out'.
Jesus was gentle, not forceful.  He did not impose His views and put people off.  He was gentle, loving and caring; sensitive to others.

MATTHEW 18v12-14 - The story of the Lost Sheep
Jesus illustrates that He would leave the 99 sheep in the fold to go and look for one who was lost.  Would we go to this length to help a non-believer who isn't in the 'fold' or part of our church groups?

LUKE 7v36-48 - A sinner woman annoints Jesus with a year's wages worth of oil and washes His feet with her tears.
Jesus accepts her offering, He accepts her, He has no boundaries, no limits, no condtions; He takes her as she is.  We should adopt the same attitude with non-believers and 'sinners'.  It is an opportunity for grace and love, not judgement and outcasting.

LUKE 23v39-43 - The sinner on the cross recognises Jesus for who He is at the last minute and asks to be in heaven.  He believes at the last minute and is forgiven.
Jesus does not hold his sin against him.  He is graceful, merciful, accepting and loving.  We too need to be like this.

JOHN 8v1-11 - A woman, caught in adultery, is about to be stoned to death.  Jesus says that he who has no sin is to throw the first stone.  No one does; the woman goes free and is told to leave her life of sin.
Jesus is forgiving, loving, non-judgemental, fair, just and true.  He doesn't criticise, point the finger, accuse, belittle, stand superior.   A hard act for us to follow.


And finally, some great verses to sum this up...

JOHN 12v47-48
'If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.'

Awesome - it is not our job to judge.  Jesus did not come to judge but to save.  We too therefore should not judge, but advance the Kingdom of God! Love it!

JOHN 17v25-26
'Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.'

LOVE - the answer is to love and to make Christ known.  Such an excellent way to live!

And finally, Philippians 2v5 tells us to adopt the same attitude as Christ.  What an awesome example to follow in relating to our non-believing friends.  No judgement, only grace.  No superiority but meeting them on their level - equality almost.  No preaching or 'Bible-bashing' just love.  Lets walk life and journey with our non-believing friends.  Let's stop trying to convert them and leave this up to God.  Let's play our part, but above all let's love and follow Christ's example.

QUESTION 2 - have your answers to question 1 changed?  Is there something you are not doing and might try?  Has your approach to your relationship with non-believers changed after seeing some of what Jesus did?

We didn't have much time for discussion tonight, so feel free to add.  This is a work in progress and probably not 100% perfect or 'right' so do leave feedback.  


Love to you all xxx