So as not to continue the derailing of another thread, I would like to explore this topic and share my thoughts on the matter. It was asked earlier:
I guess, for me, the key word would be "associate." To me, this implies that Jesus "hung out" regularly with such people. That He spent large quantities of time with them. That He wanted to be "identified" with them.
It is interesting that the ones who said that Jesus was a "friend of sinners" were they same people (the religious lost) who said that John the Baptist was a devil.
"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." (Matthew 11:18, 19)
I read in other passages that Jesus sat down for a meal and "publicans and sinners" came to Jesus and sat down with Him.
What I do not read is that Jesus lowered Himself to their standard just to reach them. Jesus was a friend to sinners, but He was not a compromiser. Jesus was always the One who influenced the sinner, never letting the sinner influence Him.
The problem with throwing around the justification for whom we associate with by saying, "After all, Jesus was a friend of sinners" is that, we are not Jesus. We are much too easily influenced by sin. Paul said, "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" (I Corinthians 15:33)
It is my firm belief that Jesus' association with any lost person was to bring them to saving faith in Himself. That is the greatest display of friendship we could offer anyone.
He wasn't condescending, critical, rude, or isolated; but, He most certainly never condoned or excused their sin.
Yes, He ate with Simon the leper, but that was by invitation and He used the occasion to teach Simon a very important life lesson.
Smellin Coffee said:Did Jesus associate with women, prostitutes and the culturally despised?
I guess, for me, the key word would be "associate." To me, this implies that Jesus "hung out" regularly with such people. That He spent large quantities of time with them. That He wanted to be "identified" with them.
It is interesting that the ones who said that Jesus was a "friend of sinners" were they same people (the religious lost) who said that John the Baptist was a devil.
"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." (Matthew 11:18, 19)
I read in other passages that Jesus sat down for a meal and "publicans and sinners" came to Jesus and sat down with Him.
What I do not read is that Jesus lowered Himself to their standard just to reach them. Jesus was a friend to sinners, but He was not a compromiser. Jesus was always the One who influenced the sinner, never letting the sinner influence Him.
The problem with throwing around the justification for whom we associate with by saying, "After all, Jesus was a friend of sinners" is that, we are not Jesus. We are much too easily influenced by sin. Paul said, "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" (I Corinthians 15:33)
It is my firm belief that Jesus' association with any lost person was to bring them to saving faith in Himself. That is the greatest display of friendship we could offer anyone.
He wasn't condescending, critical, rude, or isolated; but, He most certainly never condoned or excused their sin.
Yes, He ate with Simon the leper, but that was by invitation and He used the occasion to teach Simon a very important life lesson.