who ya hangin' with?

Matthew 9

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth.

"Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him.

So Matthew got up and followed him.


10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests,

        along with many tax collectors and other disreputable & notorious sinners.

11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples,

        "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"

12 When Jesus heard this, he said,

      "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do."

13 Then he added,

        "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture:

             'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'

        For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,

            but those who know they are sinners."


We modern day Christians are so precious & prissy.

Once we become Christians, we get all holy & don't want to hang around non-Christians.

Now, I've heard all the arguments about why we do that.

Most of them don't hold water for me.

Bottom line, if we don't cultivate non-Christians friends, how are they gonna hear about Jesus?

     From TV show? Now that's a happy thought!

     From Christians in the media, or in politics, or in pop culture? (I think I may spit up!)

No, the only way they're really gonna find out about Jesus is if we love them & show them.


And here's a thought - where would you & I be if the people who led us to think about Jesus had been as complacent about sharing Him as we are?

     (We all know the answer to that - we'd STILL be going slam to hell)