A Wee Little Man
I've been feeling rather convicted of something recently so I thought: what better place to hash out my jumbled thoughts than the blog. So here I am. Hi.
I should probably preface with a few things before we get started. First, you should know that I don't always know what I'm talking about (shocker, right?). And you aren't always going to agree with me (and that's okay!!). But please know that this post comes from the most sincere part of my heart to challenge and love you in ways that might make you feel uncomfortable. With that, I'd like to also point out that we are called to be uncomfortable. I had a friend of mine tell me the other day that I need to be speaking to more people I disagree with because my theological views aren't being challenged enough. So...this post might upset some of you. Truthfully--not to be rude--I couldn't care less. I stand by these opinions as much as I stand by my belief that Bigfoot does exist and that Biggie Smalls is very much alive (that probably just discredited my opinions but whatever). I also stand by these opinions as much as I stand by my belief that our sweet savior died for the person I disagree with just as much as He died for me. Lastly, you should know that you should stand by your opinions--just as I am mine--in a polite and loving manner. But we will get into that later on in the post.
Great! Now that we have those things out of the way, let me tell you a story about a man named Zacchaues. Now, Zacchaues was a wee little man (according to the children's song). And a wee little man was he. Zacchaues's story is told in the book of Luke chapter 19 and with further explanations, we know that he was a tax collector in the city of Jericho and had a reputation of stealing the people's money. As unfortunate as this sounds, it was actually pretty common for the tax collectors to "over collect" from the Jewish people and keep some for their personal needs. However, that didn't stop the people from hating this wee little man. So, one day, Jesus was passing through Jericho and crowds were gathering to see him. Zacchaeus, being curious and also small, climbed up into a tree to see what all the commotion was about. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree, he asked him to come down and host lunch at his place. Jesus knew full well who this man was and what he did to the Jews when he asked to have lunch with the "evil tax collector." However, instead of berating and rebuking him, Jesus sat with him and had lunch. Jesus loved on this (rightfully) hated man. And after lunch, Zacchaues saw the kindness of our savior and promised to return the money he had stolen...and then some. With that, Jesus spoke salvation over Zacchaues and now a song is written about him. Also a part of the Bible was dedicated to his story.
Now, back to real time. The other day, I found a quote on one of my many social media sites that said "you can't antagonize and evangelize at the same time." The first thing that came to my mind was the story of Zacchaeus. I quickly saved the quote and began to think about how badly most people need to hear those few words--myself included. It is no secret that we are living in a social and political climate of harsh words and painful division. We are so quick to hate the person that might not have the same views as us. And yes, even us Christians do that. In fact, it seems like the church is particularly good at threatening the disagreeing party with damnation to hell. We claim that some things are "salvation issues" and the only way to be guaranteed a ticket to heaven is to switch over your political and social views. Though some issues are blatantly obvious as to whether or not they are biblical or not biblical, one thing I can promise you is that the belief that a certain political standing will get you into the kingdom is definitely not biblical. Only the blood of Jesus (which was spilled for every image-bearing human, mind you) will get us into the kingdom. Praise God, right?
So, let me finally get to my point. We are, as Christians, called to love God and love people. If you truly love a person, you will do whatever it takes to save them. You will evangelize to them and love on them in ways their heart needs loving. You won't antagonize them but you will love them. You will see them (maybe sitting in a tree), ask them to lunch, and let them know you care. You build relationships just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus. They sat together and Jesus let Zacchaues know that not only was he seen but he was loved despite all of the things he has done. Zacchaues felt the love and grace of Jesus and quickly turned from his old ways. It was his understanding of that grace that changed his whole world.
This post feels like a marathon--I'm almost done. Please get this: our understanding of grace translates over into the way we interact with people. Zacchaues's understanding of grace literally flipped his world upside down. It should flip ours too. When we recognize who we are because of grace and who we could have been without it, our whole demeanor changes. Our whole testimony changes if I'm truthful with you. The blood was intended for us just as much as it was intended for the people we disagree with. So I will leave you with this: you are not perfect and neither am I. Keep that in mind as you go about everyday conversations and evangelism. Like that post said, you can't antagonize and evangelize at the same time. So, give it some grace. And I mean really give it some grace. Give it the grace that you know saved your life and can save another person's life.
Amen.
I should probably preface with a few things before we get started. First, you should know that I don't always know what I'm talking about (shocker, right?). And you aren't always going to agree with me (and that's okay!!). But please know that this post comes from the most sincere part of my heart to challenge and love you in ways that might make you feel uncomfortable. With that, I'd like to also point out that we are called to be uncomfortable. I had a friend of mine tell me the other day that I need to be speaking to more people I disagree with because my theological views aren't being challenged enough. So...this post might upset some of you. Truthfully--not to be rude--I couldn't care less. I stand by these opinions as much as I stand by my belief that Bigfoot does exist and that Biggie Smalls is very much alive (that probably just discredited my opinions but whatever). I also stand by these opinions as much as I stand by my belief that our sweet savior died for the person I disagree with just as much as He died for me. Lastly, you should know that you should stand by your opinions--just as I am mine--in a polite and loving manner. But we will get into that later on in the post.
Great! Now that we have those things out of the way, let me tell you a story about a man named Zacchaues. Now, Zacchaues was a wee little man (according to the children's song). And a wee little man was he. Zacchaues's story is told in the book of Luke chapter 19 and with further explanations, we know that he was a tax collector in the city of Jericho and had a reputation of stealing the people's money. As unfortunate as this sounds, it was actually pretty common for the tax collectors to "over collect" from the Jewish people and keep some for their personal needs. However, that didn't stop the people from hating this wee little man. So, one day, Jesus was passing through Jericho and crowds were gathering to see him. Zacchaeus, being curious and also small, climbed up into a tree to see what all the commotion was about. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus in the tree, he asked him to come down and host lunch at his place. Jesus knew full well who this man was and what he did to the Jews when he asked to have lunch with the "evil tax collector." However, instead of berating and rebuking him, Jesus sat with him and had lunch. Jesus loved on this (rightfully) hated man. And after lunch, Zacchaues saw the kindness of our savior and promised to return the money he had stolen...and then some. With that, Jesus spoke salvation over Zacchaues and now a song is written about him. Also a part of the Bible was dedicated to his story.
Now, back to real time. The other day, I found a quote on one of my many social media sites that said "you can't antagonize and evangelize at the same time." The first thing that came to my mind was the story of Zacchaeus. I quickly saved the quote and began to think about how badly most people need to hear those few words--myself included. It is no secret that we are living in a social and political climate of harsh words and painful division. We are so quick to hate the person that might not have the same views as us. And yes, even us Christians do that. In fact, it seems like the church is particularly good at threatening the disagreeing party with damnation to hell. We claim that some things are "salvation issues" and the only way to be guaranteed a ticket to heaven is to switch over your political and social views. Though some issues are blatantly obvious as to whether or not they are biblical or not biblical, one thing I can promise you is that the belief that a certain political standing will get you into the kingdom is definitely not biblical. Only the blood of Jesus (which was spilled for every image-bearing human, mind you) will get us into the kingdom. Praise God, right?
So, let me finally get to my point. We are, as Christians, called to love God and love people. If you truly love a person, you will do whatever it takes to save them. You will evangelize to them and love on them in ways their heart needs loving. You won't antagonize them but you will love them. You will see them (maybe sitting in a tree), ask them to lunch, and let them know you care. You build relationships just as Jesus did with Zacchaeus. They sat together and Jesus let Zacchaues know that not only was he seen but he was loved despite all of the things he has done. Zacchaues felt the love and grace of Jesus and quickly turned from his old ways. It was his understanding of that grace that changed his whole world.
This post feels like a marathon--I'm almost done. Please get this: our understanding of grace translates over into the way we interact with people. Zacchaues's understanding of grace literally flipped his world upside down. It should flip ours too. When we recognize who we are because of grace and who we could have been without it, our whole demeanor changes. Our whole testimony changes if I'm truthful with you. The blood was intended for us just as much as it was intended for the people we disagree with. So I will leave you with this: you are not perfect and neither am I. Keep that in mind as you go about everyday conversations and evangelism. Like that post said, you can't antagonize and evangelize at the same time. So, give it some grace. And I mean really give it some grace. Give it the grace that you know saved your life and can save another person's life.
Amen.
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