Some of us are really the utter scum of society, the rejects you might say, and in some religions like Hinduism, we might be labeled "untouchables." Mother Teresa of Calcutta was so brave in her charitable work with the untouchables that she became a "saint." The Bible says in Isaiah 51:1 to look to the rock from which you were hewn, the quarry from which you were dug. This is so we don't get arrogant or look down on our brother: Deut. 23:7 says, "Do not abhor an Edomite [the despised hybrids, who were descendants of Esau], for he is thy brother." No one for whom Christ died is worthless. Remember your roots--don't ever forget where you came from! In other words, don't ever forget what you were saved from!
Jesus was the supreme exemplar in talking to the woman of Samaria at the well, and laying aside all prejudice. Many of us have a stigma to bear that makes us unacceptable to "polite society." For instance, mental disability carries this sort of bad connotation that people don't want to accept as "normal (who says what's normal?)." Xenophobia is the fear of strangers: Jesus certainly didn't have it. Don't be intimidated by man: Proverbs 29:25 says, "The fear of man will prove to be a snare."
Are you afraid to associate with the riffraff or scum of society? Do you think it will rub off on you and you will be affected? Jesus wasn't afraid to associate with anyone it would seem: "This man receives [by no means did He participate or condone their sin] sinners, and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). The so-called friend of tax collectors and sinners. They say we are known by the company we keep and the Bible does say in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that "bad company corrupts good character." And Proverbs 12:26 says a wise person "should choose his friends carefully."
How can we reach out to the unsaved if we are afraid of them? We don't have to befriend them (Christ was the friend of sinners and that is what we were; those whom He called "friends" were those who obeyed Him], but they are not cursed either and we cannot be tainted by them. Jesus wasn't afraid to get down and dirty with anyone and to associate with the sinners so much that they said, "Doesn't he know this woman is a known sinner [what manner of woman she is]?" What goes out of a man defiles him, not what goes in--Jesus internalized sin, whereas the Pharisees had externalized and thought cleanliness was just a matter of keeping unspoiled and unpolluted from the sinners-they felt unclean by merely entering a Gentile's abode! (They had not learned that the essence of religion is thought control, and they thought all that was necessary was a certain behavior.)
How are we to reach out to the world if we are afraid of them? No Christian brother or sister is beneath us and not good enough for us to fellowship with--for all the body parts are important and no one can say he doesn't need the other seemingly less vital organs. It is true that God has placed some in unique positions to witness to that certain element and they have a circle of influence that we don't. When you realize that you really are also riffraff, it isn't hard to accept others. The Scripture says that as Christ has accepted you, so you accept others--I don't mean accept their sin, but love the sinner and hate the sin. Jesus never condoned wrongdoing and we are to stand up for Jesus and what is right.
Remember, not many mighty, noble, or influential are called, but God calls the weak to do His will and bidding. Proverbs has a word to the wise: "Do not envy the wicked [not just sinners, but evil men], nor desire their company" (Prov. 24:1). That is, we must keep in mind that we are Christ's ambassador's and that only "iron sharpens iron" (Prov. 27:17)--we are the light and salt and should be influencing them, not vice versa. God never calls us to be aloof and indifferent to our neighbor. There is no place for a "holier than thou" attitude described in Isaiah 65:5--cut some slack!
We are not to get a poor self-image and inferiority complex and think that we are worse than others, but to have a realistic viewpoint and face reality. Don't get on your case and give yourself a hard time! Remember, others are probably easier on you than you are! Soli Deo Gloria!
Jesus was the supreme exemplar in talking to the woman of Samaria at the well, and laying aside all prejudice. Many of us have a stigma to bear that makes us unacceptable to "polite society." For instance, mental disability carries this sort of bad connotation that people don't want to accept as "normal (who says what's normal?)." Xenophobia is the fear of strangers: Jesus certainly didn't have it. Don't be intimidated by man: Proverbs 29:25 says, "The fear of man will prove to be a snare."
Are you afraid to associate with the riffraff or scum of society? Do you think it will rub off on you and you will be affected? Jesus wasn't afraid to associate with anyone it would seem: "This man receives [by no means did He participate or condone their sin] sinners, and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). The so-called friend of tax collectors and sinners. They say we are known by the company we keep and the Bible does say in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that "bad company corrupts good character." And Proverbs 12:26 says a wise person "should choose his friends carefully."
How can we reach out to the unsaved if we are afraid of them? We don't have to befriend them (Christ was the friend of sinners and that is what we were; those whom He called "friends" were those who obeyed Him], but they are not cursed either and we cannot be tainted by them. Jesus wasn't afraid to get down and dirty with anyone and to associate with the sinners so much that they said, "Doesn't he know this woman is a known sinner [what manner of woman she is]?" What goes out of a man defiles him, not what goes in--Jesus internalized sin, whereas the Pharisees had externalized and thought cleanliness was just a matter of keeping unspoiled and unpolluted from the sinners-they felt unclean by merely entering a Gentile's abode! (They had not learned that the essence of religion is thought control, and they thought all that was necessary was a certain behavior.)
How are we to reach out to the world if we are afraid of them? No Christian brother or sister is beneath us and not good enough for us to fellowship with--for all the body parts are important and no one can say he doesn't need the other seemingly less vital organs. It is true that God has placed some in unique positions to witness to that certain element and they have a circle of influence that we don't. When you realize that you really are also riffraff, it isn't hard to accept others. The Scripture says that as Christ has accepted you, so you accept others--I don't mean accept their sin, but love the sinner and hate the sin. Jesus never condoned wrongdoing and we are to stand up for Jesus and what is right.
Remember, not many mighty, noble, or influential are called, but God calls the weak to do His will and bidding. Proverbs has a word to the wise: "Do not envy the wicked [not just sinners, but evil men], nor desire their company" (Prov. 24:1). That is, we must keep in mind that we are Christ's ambassador's and that only "iron sharpens iron" (Prov. 27:17)--we are the light and salt and should be influencing them, not vice versa. God never calls us to be aloof and indifferent to our neighbor. There is no place for a "holier than thou" attitude described in Isaiah 65:5--cut some slack!
We are not to get a poor self-image and inferiority complex and think that we are worse than others, but to have a realistic viewpoint and face reality. Don't get on your case and give yourself a hard time! Remember, others are probably easier on you than you are! Soli Deo Gloria!