I am a Sinner

Who did Jesus surround himself with?

 The thieves of the town, the prostitutes, the poor, the beggars, the sick, the outcasts, the unrighteous, the sinners...you and me. What? I'm not a thief. I don't beg (well maybe in high school for my parents to grant me an extended curfew). I am surely not a prostitute. I am in good health. I hope I'm not an outcast. 

I am UNRIGHTEOUS. 
I am a SINNER. 
We sure are all in the same boat now. 

So why would we think that church is for the healthy, the righteous, the wealthy, those accepted in society, the rule followers and those who seem to be "good" by the standards we some how created if that was not whom Jesus came for?

Some where along the ride we forgot that WE are going to church because WE need help. Church is not a training session for us to sit on our pedestals and learn how to help those who aren't faithfully seated besides us. 

It's not for us to look upon our modestly dressed self's and widen our eyes to the family in there "Saturdays Best". Nor are we to look upon the drug addict with shame. Or condemn the sexually immoral rebels. Or even bat an eye to the ones you know weren't in a place last night acceptable by your standards. 

Church is not a place to judge. It is not a place for us to tell those they really need to change their clothing. Its not a place for us to tell the drug abuser how wrongful his acts are, and look upon his life with shame. Why do we feel that the alcoholics need a lot more saving than we do?
 
"If Jesus can help that girl, he can help any body". 

Raise your hand if you've said it. And don't even tell me you haven't at least thought it. And look-right there we are putting ourselfs above those whom we sit right next to in the pew on a Sunday morning. They are not below us, nor above us. We are all sinners. And we all need help. 

Church IS a place for us to love. It is a place for us to admit our struggles. Its where we should get down and dirty about the sins we face and burn the mask we all love to wear. Its for tears, for hurt, for hopelessness, for joy, love and laughter.

Where did we get the idea that church is a place for those who have it all together? Essentially we are no longer worshiping God, but ourselves for how holy and righteous the lives we lead are. Jesus didn't come for those who believed that the man seated beside him needed God and needed saving more than he did. Jesuse came for the sinners. He came for the unrighteous. He came for me, and he came for you. 


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