I have gotten a couple of questions recently about how to interact with people who are living in a lifestyle that does not fit the Bible (sin). Part of this has come up from part of the sermon last week, which is great to know people are wrestling through God’s truth. What are we to do with friends not living the way God wants?
The Pharisees had a simple plan – live a godly life, and put social pressure on the sinners. Jesus, though, ruined their plan – He was a friend of sinners. He ate with them, reach out to them, touched them. He called them to change, of course – but only AFTER He has talked to them. He reached out first. This was not the plan of the Pharisees.
We are Christians, we follow Christ. So the answer is – we reach out. We never say the sin is ok, but we talk, reason, love, care. This can mean social times together, Facebook convos, or more – all done in love, and to draw people to God.
All of this is “theology”. We can never stop doing theology. We know that sin is wrong, but how we tell others they are sinning might actually cause US to sin. We have to reach out in love, concern, and care. God never takes away another person’s will, and we can’t either. These are hard questions! So keep praying for our church as we reach out to people who often have no desire to truly live for God, or want us to approve everything they do. Pray for us as we do the real work of being witness for Jesus. There are so many in Modesto who need to know the true God, and His love for them!
