Religious Gripers

February 21

(Luke 5:30 NIV) ““But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?””

(1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV) ““I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- {10} not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. {11} But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. {12} What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? {13} God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you.””

(1 Timothy 1:15 NIV)  "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst."

After Levi decided to follow Jesus, the tax collector turned disciple threw a big party and invited all his friends. The place was packed with sinners, all having a good time until the religious crowd showed up. They didn’t come to celebrate -- they came to criticize. They came to look down their noses at the rabble, and to do what many church people are still known for today: gripe and complain. They didn’t think someone who claimed to be a prophet of God should be associating with tax collectors and sinners. They were above that, and thought Jesus should be too. Surely the real Messiah would not associate with a crowd like this. The church today still has its share of Pharisees who excel at griping and feeling superior. Don’t be found among them. Never forget that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to “save sinners, of whom I am the worst.” And so are you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day