We’re in this together

November 29, 2006

By Randy Mantik

A recent bout with a cold reminded me of an instance in Scripture when Jesus was having one of His “laying it open to the bone” chats with the Pharisees.

The Pharisees accused Jesus of spending too much time with the riff-raff of society. “On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick’ ” (Matthew 9:12, NIV).

The Pharisees thought they had it together morally. They didn’t realize they were infected with the same “disease” as all the people they despised: that pernicious infection called “sin.” The Pharisees blamed the social woes of their day on those who weren’t as “religious and upstanding” as they were. They simply could not understand why Jesus would prefer the company of “those people.”

People haven’t changed — issues and social problems have challenged every culture and era, even those years we fondly recall as the “Good Old Days.” There has always been finger-pointing — people blaming everyone else for the current problems.

In fact, back in the 1800s, The London Times invited people to write to the paper about the social ills England was facing and who was to blame for them. G.K. Chesterton, a great man of God who wielded an honest pen, wrote in response: “Dear Sirs, I am! Signed, G.K. Chesterton.”

What Chesterton had learned was what Jesus said next in the above passage: “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13).

Truth is, left to ourselves, we will never see our own sin. Chesterton realized he needed the Word of God to minister Truth to him and reveal his sin just as much as the worst criminal did. We are not to look down on others or blame them for the condition of our souls, our culture or our churches. As we invite God to start the work in our hearts, we can then extend mercy to others because of the kindness we have received.

God does not call us to be like the Pharisees, wrinkling our noses while washing our hands and keeping a polite distance from humanity. To the contrary, we’re in this together.

Oh, how we all need God’s grace in every aspect of our lives! Until we get to heaven, we will be dealing with the “infection” and ravages of sin in our bodies and souls. But God can take our weakness and make us strong! Then He can use us to effectively impact our society, starting in the neighborhood where we live.

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.