Luke and the Lost

The meeting took an interesting turn in conversation. All of a sudden others at the table were trying to justify the sins of humanity as okay because Jesus loves us. I listened. My stomach churning. When the statement “All church people” are hypocrites was said by one person who does not attend church, I could no longer be silent.

Yes, we are all sinners but to say all who love Jesus and who attend church are hypocrites is reverse discrimination, isn’t it? Yes, Jesus loves the sinner, but he said to the woman caught in sin, neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more, Yes, He loved her so much He wanted a better life and more Life for her!

Then the conversation went to “where are the lines of what is right and what is wrong”. It was said that is up to the individual. Gay marriage was then put on the table as okay as long as they love Jesus. Wow, I felt like I was now walking into another trap. Because I do love Jesus, love others and attend church, I have been deemed a hater of sinners, a hypocrite and judgmental of all…by one person, without ever saying anything about gay marriage, the homosexual lifestyle, or any other topics that are political and/or of a religious nature. THIS is reverse discrimination…to say that ALL Christians are haters of sinners. But then I smiled…they know, without saying a word, that I am a Christian, forgiven of sin, striving to sin no more!

What Jesus has said is right and wrong is still Truth. We are not changing His Words to fit our selfishness. No, I’m not perfect, but forgiven and I hope to not keep making the same mistakes. I strive to “go and sin no more” in those area of my life. We cannot justify sin just because “Jesus loves me and no one can be perfect and we just have to accept that”. Wow, another trap. You get the picture. Standing for the truth in God’s Word is getting more and more difficult in this world of “I must have it my way” thinking and behaving.

Jesus was led into traps by the Pharisees often. Here is how He handled it. This is timely for me. It is a reflective passage that I will meditate on all day long while I sort out what is all about me and what is all about Him, Truth, in the Person of Jesus Christ whom I love, obey and serve.

Luke 11, The Message
Frauds!
37-41 When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at the table. The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn’t wash up before the meal. But the Master said to him, “I know you Pharisees burnish the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid Pharisees! Didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.

42 “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.

43-44 “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.”

45 One of the religion scholars spoke up: “Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you’re insulting us?”

46 He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.

47-51 “You’re hopeless! You build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed. The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets. That accounts for God’s Wisdom saying, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, but they’ll kill them and run them off.’ What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it’s on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay.

52 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won’t go in yourself, and won’t let anyone else in either.”

53-54 As soon as Jesus left the table, the religion scholars and Pharisees went into a rage. They went over and over everything he said, plotting how they could trap him in something from his own mouth.

Dear Heavenly Father, Traps are everywhere and becoming more and more blatant. Every action or non-action is judged by everyone who seeks justification for their own sin. Help us to be alert and careful. Help us to be aware of how we love the sinner and hate the sin. We cry out for Your wisdom, insight and understanding for our accusers. Let God’s Word guard our hearts. May Your Truth cleanse and transform us from the inside out. In Jesus Name, Amen