The Word uses word pictures . . .

Jesus used word pictures to explain spiritual realities to His listeners. Bible scholars say we should not get too carried away with their use because images are not exactly the same as what they illustrate. For instance, I could say, “That mountain stream sparkled like diamonds” but that does not mean the stream is hard, made of carbon, and can be used to cut glass.

Obviously, some of what Jesus said is easier to understand than others. Most of us get the idea that people are like sheep because we are easily scattered and must be led, but we don’t grow wool, run around on four legs, and smell like . . . well, sheep.

In the following accounts, Jesus talks about a shepherd who leaves his flock to find one lost sheep. His listeners lived where this would be a familiar problem, but what I find interesting are the two instances where Jesus used this word picture — to respond to some grumbling and to answer a question.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (Luke 15:1–7)

The religious leaders of that day thought that Jesus was breaking their rules by spending time with “tax collectors and sinners” but Jesus likened them to lost sheep who needed to be found. This word picture was a direct hit against a religious value system. Those leaders looked down their noses at those who were not ‘pious’ as they were. Today’s equivalent isn’t too hard to imagine. Receiving criminals, addicts, prostitutes, and homeless people would be frowned upon in many religious circles.

The second story answers a question. The disciples asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus set a child in front of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

But He didn’t stop there. Instead, Jesus took another hit at those who reject children or anyone else who humbly trusts Him. Anyone who causes a child or a childlike believer to sin is in trouble with God. Then He added:

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:1–14)

This word picture describes God’s value for those He calls “the greatest” in His kingdom. He will go to any extreme to care for and protect them, even if some religious person causes them to go astray. In fact, He says there is more joy in heaven for the restoration of that straying sheep than there is for those who never have a problem with temptation (this is irony for there is no such person). Again, Jesus challenges the value system of His disciples and of the crowds, and of today’s church people who are interested only in “the faithful” and not too fanatic about those who have wandered off, even if they somehow caused the wandering.

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Jesus, at this, I could name names, but dare not because I myself might have unknowingly turned off someone and been the cause of their sin. Sometimes I’ve also let sheep wander off and not went after them. While I know that You are the Shepherd and this is primarily Your task, I also admit that my attitudes often fail to be as these word pictures describe. Rather than finger-point, I need from You a deeper sense of worth for those outside my comfort zone, and a deeper desire for the restoration of those who have gone astray.

Identifying with those who are lost

Sometimes people will talk with such intensity that I wish they would take a breath so I could insert a comment or response — or maybe I am like that myself? Sometimes I wonder if the Apostle Paul was like that. He certainly was the master of long sentences. This is not the longest, but it does have nearly 140 words in English, about 100 in Greek.

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:1–7)

Paul wrote this to a preacher in Crete whose pastoral role came up against many challenges. Paul’s short letter is filled with instruction about how to do this job and what this pastor needed to tell the Christian people under his care.

Most scholars feel that the problems in any of those early churches can be discerned through reading Paul’s specific instructions to them. That being the criteria, then these Christians in Crete had quite a few issues, particularly in their relationship with those in authority and with each other. However, instead of accusing these people of their sinful behavior, Paul told Titus to remind them that all believers came from a life of sin, and to tell them again and again what Christ had done for them.

This reminds me of a recent conversation with someone who was using strong and judgmental language about the sins of others, in this case non-Christians who were doing vile things. As we talked, I began to feel uncomfortable about the attitude that was emerging. The words and expressions indicated, “I am better than that” and “I would never do that.”

After breathing a prayer for help, the Lord prompted a response. In case I worried about saying the wrong thing, Paul’s exhortation to Titus confirms that I was correct. I told this person that many of the people being criticized likely already know that they should not be doing what they do. They don’t need fingers pointed at them so much as they need someone to give them the solution to their problem. They need Jesus, and they need us to tell them about Him. They also need to know that we too have struggled with sin and that God’s salvation is not based on any good things we have done. Everyone is saved by mercy and grace. Everyone is saved by being made a new person by the power of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful grace of God.

A third person in the conversation obviously agreed and fell silent, but the one filled with condemnation didn’t stop the tirade against certain sinners. From that, and from these verses, I’ve concluded that I was ‘preaching’ to myself, and that my admonition was for my own tendency to judge sin without sharing the solution for sin.

As Paul wrote, at one time I was also foolish, disobedient, led astray, and filled with various problems and a great lack of love for others. Sometimes these things still creep in and pull me down. But, like Paul wrote, when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved me. It was not because of anything I did or did not do, but salvation is about His mercy, totally undeserved on my part. He washed away my sin and changed my heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of His rich grace, I am justified in the sight of God and been given the gift of eternal life. I cannot correct others for their behavior unless I’m willing to be corrected for mine!

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Jesus, what a wonder You are! You save sinners — and all of us fall into that category. You cover and forgive our sin and grant to us eternal life — all because of grace and mercy. How dare I call down others who are no different than myself. All of us need You. All of us stand before You as guilty, yet all can be declared righteous and set free from otherwise certain condemnation. You did not come here to condemn but to save. You have given me the ministry of reconciliation — most certainly that means that I must identify with sinners or I have no right to tell them how to escape God’s wrath. You want me to be like You, full of mercy and grace, and leave the pronouncements of guilt to the Holy Spirit who is equipped and qualified to make an effective conviction. My potshots anger people and puts them on the defensive. I need to stand where I belong, alongside those who need You as much as I need you.

Balance and outreach

2 Chronicles 19:1–20:37, Titus 3:12–15, Psalm 101:1–8

Surveys say that many people claim to be Christians, love Jesus, pray, but are not associated with any church. If these people truly are believers, they already belong to the Body of Christ, yet they seem oblivious to this reality. It makes me sad that the choice to stay out of fellowship with other Christians blocks them from knowing what is theirs in Christ Jesus.

Even though I understand some of the reasoning for a decision like this, ‘fringe’ believers put a greater burden on my heart than those who are not saved. A Christian who is estranged from other Christians is like a family member who never comes to family events, missing the support and loving friendship of others who will always be part of who they are.

Jehoshaphat the king of Judah had the same burden. In today’s reading, he had fought alongside an estranged fellow Israelite and returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. At that point, Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

I believe this seer spoke in error concerning the wrath of God over this king’s love for his enemies. The next verses say that Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem but “he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.” (2 Chronicles 19:1–4)

This man cared about those who had separated themselves from the family of God. He went out and brought them back to the Lord. His strategy was one of support, not dismissal. I like that strategy. Jesus did too. He told His followers to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us.

Today’s NT reading includes a verse about supporting others: “Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:13–14)

I know many people who profess faith in Christ but do not go to church. Those who do attend church sometimes dismiss these, saying if they were really Christians, they would not do that. Perhaps we who claim to be “really Christians” should not add to the rift by criticizing those outsiders, but do as Jehoshaphat did and go out and bring them back to the Lord.

There is another side to this though. In reaching out to those who fall away, I need to guard my own heart that I am not enticed or trapped by the same snares that have seduced them. That is, if a fringe Christian is more interested in something like sports or hobbies than attending church and I have a similar interest, I can use that to build bridges and be friends with them, but not let it become something that draws me away from my devotion to Christ and to His Body.

Today’s psalm takes a stand. At first, it sounds harsh, like a self-righteous person, but I’m reading it as an example of inner convictions to protect me from sliding away from God:

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the Lord.” (Psalm 101:3–8)

These convictions are important. I know the power of sin. When I am “going out to bring people back” these convictions will guard my own heart. Without them, I might not come back myself. At the same time, unless I’m willing to go where they are, I cannot expect them to come where I am.