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The Outsiders |
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By Tom Gilbert
Did you ever have one of those uncomfortable
youth experiences when a group of kids would choose sides
for a game? You know what I’m talking about here: all
the best or most popular kids would be picked first. If you
were not part of that elite group then the moments passed
with increasing unsettling results. If you were the last
one picked you just knew it was because nobody else was left
to choose.
Not a good feeling. Most people want to be part of the “in” crowd.
Jesus often taught us, especially through parables, to consider those who were
not the first to be selected. We, however, want to be special and treated as such. Jesus
showed a different way. He made a point to go to the marginalized,
the less fortunate, women, children, the sick and segregated - the “outsiders”.
Announcing Your Disease
In Palestine 30 A.D. there were many classes. It’s
no different today. Back then the unfortunate afflicted with disease like leprosy
were forced to announce to others their presence. “Unclean!” was the cry. Can
you imagine today having to do that? “Hello, be warned,
I have a disgusting, contagious illness!”
Jesus did not shy away from these people. There are several accounts of him healing lepers. In
we read of a man with leprosy who knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord,
if you are willing, you can make me clean”. Jesus was willing and told the man so.
An immediate cleansing took place. Jesus instructed the man to show himself to
a priest and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony,
but not to tell others what he did. I find that interesting.
Jesus wasn’t looking for recognition for himself.
He did, however, want this newly cured man to give thanks
and be a representation of God’s healing.
Immediately following this instance the Gospel tells of a Roman centurion who approaches
Jesus with a plea for his paralyzed and suffering servant. When Christ tells
the man he will go and heal him the centurion tells him
not to bother, that he’s not worthy to have him come
to his home. Simply give the word and my servant will
be healed. In his position he understood the nature of giving
commands. Jesus was very impressed with the centurion’s
faith and assured him that his servant was healed because
of his profound faith. Now, this Roman was part of the
ruling class, but he would certainly be considered outside
of Jesus’ band of followers. Here is an account of
yet another outsider benefiting from God’s goodness
because of humble faith. God doesn’t play favorites,
a concept hard to swallow for the religious right of then and now.
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Invite a Tax Collector to Dinner
Matthew’s gospel (),
as well as Luke ()
and Mark (),
speak to another group of outsiders, the hated tax collectors.
This group wasn’t suffering
from some awful skin disease, they weren’t poor and
downtrodden, but they were again another example of a group
outside of acceptance. The Pharisees had a real problem
with Jesus hanging out with them.
Outside Looking In
If we honestly think through the message of the many stories
in the Gospels we suddenly realize that we, too, often feel like we are on the outside looking in. Do we truly
believe God’s love, as revealed by Jesus, is for everyone: the good and bad, sick and well, rich and poor?
Whenever any of us drift away God cares so deeply that He actually seeks for us. The parables are full of this:
the good shepherd and the lost sheep; a diligent housewife seeking her lost coin; the forgiving father and the prodigal
son.
If this is so prominent then why do we continue to create
cliques, choose sides and build walls? Often I find I’m just like the disciples.
I believe I’m faithfully following, but Jesus has to keep telling me, “all
this time you’ve been with me and still you don’t understand.”
True communities of faith will always be inclusive. Real
followers of Jesus will reach out to the marginalized.
Not only are they in need of our assistance and compassion;
Christ tells us how we treat them is how we are treating
him! ()
I guess we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much
when we see our own culpability. The early Christians had a hard time with this, too. We know
this from Paul’s many letters to the small church communities. Over and
over again he reminds believers that God is not playing favorites.
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“God I Give Thanks that I’m
not like that Sinner”
It’s a human trait to compare. We are constantly evaluating
ourselves by looking at others. Sometimes we feel we don’t measure up, but more often
I think we are convincing ourselves that we are different and better than others. God, however,
is impartial ()
This universal impartiality eliminates the “we are right and you are wrong because
God is on our side” argument. God’s on everybody’s side. Don’t think
this means he is fighting for both good and evil. It means He is benevolent and forgiving
and loving and He will continue to seek us out and reveal His true nature to us when we turn
from the dark.
Let us all learn the lessons Jesus taught about outsiders. Be good to those who hate you; help those
who are different and in need; have faith in spite of unworthiness. Don’t
choose sides. There’s a profound statement you may have heard before: if one of us is God’s kid,
then all of us are.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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JAMES 1:19
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"Do
not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says."
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(NIV)
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