A Different Posture

All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them! ”— Luke 15:1-2

Jesus is teaching in a new place. His reputation proceeded him and crowds come. These people were labeled as "tax collectors and sinners." Despised, tax collectors were Jews who worked for the Romans within the taxation machine all the while extorting their own countrymen for unfair profits. All the rest who weren't in the Jewish ruling elite are simply called, "sinners." Unrighteous. 

That elite "the Pharisees and scribes" saw Jesus as their enemy, not as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets but as a destroyer thereof. They ruled others by oppressive layers of manmade laws covering the Law of God which they meticulously kept. Their rule keeping, works based righteousness is legend. Self-righteous.

We often miss the power of these two verses due to their company. They begin the chapter containing the iconic parable trio of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost (aka Prodigal) Son. Don't miss these verses, however. They contain two little words that teach us a big lesson.

The tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. The unrighteous were humble before Jesus. They saw their need of his message and salvation. Jesus was a man who welcomed, and ate with, sinners—those like them.

The Pharisees and scribes were complaining about Jesus. The self-righteous were arrogant before Jesus. They saw no need since they had it all figured out. Jesus was a man who welcomed, and ate with, sinners—those beneath them.

What is my posture before Jesus?

Should I adopt a different posture?

He Knows It

Kind spirit. Broad heart. Discerning mind. Middle aged. Mentally ill. Robert we'll call him.

Robert was passed through school even though he could hardly read. And he knows it. He is on disability because he can't hold down a regular job due to his mental illness. And he knows it. He has few friends because of the way his good nature has been taken advantage of. And he knows it. He is a follower of Christ because he needed salvation from his sin. And he knows it. He has much of the Bible memorized in order to make better choices and show his love for God. And he knows it. Yet he is not a member of a local church because most Christians treat him judge him as lacking. And he knows it.

He knows he is judged. Measured as less than. Considered dependant. And he knows it.

Why?

By no fault of his own. Robert didn't choose mental illness. Who would choose such a life? He didn't. But it is his life.

As a Christ follower, I comforted and counseled Robert, while I boiled on the inside at the treatment of this dear man by so-called Christians. I want to scream to anyone listening: This is not right! He may not be who you think he should be, but he is a wonderful man! 

Robert had no harsh word for anyone. He simply stated his experience with people. Especially church people. And he used only one phrase that might sound negative. That is, if it applies to you. He said that people with jobs, particularly church people, can be so "self righteous." Just because they have a job and he doesn't, they see themselves as better than him. How does he know? Because they have told him so.

Are you a disheartened Robert? Are you a judging self-righteous? Are you an apathetic in between? Or are you a Christ follower that will meet people—every single one created in God's image—where they are at, as they are, and accept them with no self-righteousness?

Robert has been judged for who he is not. He has not been accepted for who he is.

If you are a Robert: The expectations of others do not define who you are. God alone counts.

If you are Self-righteous: You are not better than anyone due to anything. God alone judges.

What would God say of your attitude, Dear Reader? 

He knows it.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.—Philippians 2:5

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Judging Disobedience

I’m not that bad. Really. I’m not.

I’m a good person. God loves me. I’m sure of it. He blesses me too.

I try hard. Ask anyone who knows me.

I’m nice. Even to people who make it hard.

I don’t hate people. Other’s do, but not me. I’d never hate. That’s bad.

I’ve never done anything really wicked like murder or bad stuff like that.

I pray lots. When I need something. And I read my Bible. It’s not too dusty.

I go to church. All the time. And I serve there. I even give there.

I’m a real good guy. God would never judge me.

Oh, really?

How sinful is your goodness?

How wicked is your self-righteousness?

How deceived is your self-justification?

God does judge. 

God’s love for us is greater than our ability to deceive ourselves. Our sin does not go unnoticed. By Him. No matter what we think other people see or think about us. He is Sovereign.

Zephaniah was a prophet to Judah in the mid Seventh Century BC. Zephaniah was a member of Judean royal household. And as a member of the royal household he’d know first hand about the righteousness to sinfulness roller coaster his people had been on with his ancestors over the last decades. Good kings to bad kings. Following the God to following false gods. He prophesied early in the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). The righteous king’s reforms must not have taken too good a hold yet, as Zephaniah fearlessly confronts the pervasive idolatry of his people.

God’s people Judah had seen Israel, their Northern Kingdom counterparts, carried off to slavery by God’s judgment in 722 BC. Yet Judah persisted pandering to the same idolatrous gods. All the while the people of Judah seemed to think, “We’re not as bad as those guys. We’re really God’s people. We have Jerusalem here. God won’t judge us.”

Oh, really? 

Our position before God is not determined by our parentage, but our devotion.

Our position before God is not determined by our church membership, but our righteousness.

Our position before God is not determined by any matrix of our own, but by the blood of Jesus.

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger. Zephaniah 2:3 

God judges disobedience no matter who or where. Even so, God extends His grace to a remnant.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

What stands out to you as you read or listen to the 53 verses of Zephaniah?

What does Zephaniah teach us about God’s character?

What does Zephaniah teach us about human nature?

How can you apply these truths from Zephaniah to your life?

Judging Disobedience is the ninth in the series Major Stuff from the Minor Prophets. You can read previous posts here or listen to previous week’s related sermons here.