"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
Do you find it intriguing that irreligious people (AKA - tax collectors and sinners) were running away from the "Pharisees and experts in the law" and running to hear Jesus?
They ("Pharisees and experts in the law") seemed to be clueless about it was happening but it sure bothered them.
I would love FredWes to be a place where irreligious people feel drawn to come investigate faith! That would be a dream come true!
So, what's the key?
The answer is found in each of the parables Jesus told as recorded in Luke 15. Each of these parables place a high value on relationships.
The shepherd had a relationship with the owner of his sheep and didn't want to lose one. The woman had a marriage relationship she wanted to honor so she couldn't lose the coin. And the father had a beloved son he didn't want to lose.
The shepherd had a relationship with the owner of his sheep and didn't want to lose one. The woman had a marriage relationship she wanted to honor so she couldn't lose the coin. And the father had a beloved son he didn't want to lose.
Let me ask you a question, "When you go to church are you going there to get religious or are you going to enjoy relationships?"
I think you get my point.
Jesus came to introduce people into a relationship with God not to promote or preserve a religion. He was relational in His teaching style and in His ministry among the people. He would later pay the ultimate price to make that relationship possible and these religious leaders would do their part to help it happen.
The Pharisees and religious leaders call people to a system of rules (632 of them) and rituals and regulations. Their approach to religion was designed to make themselves feel justified and self-righteous and everyone else feel unworthy and unwanted.
Mission accomplished!
People fled from that approach to God by the scores. It was like a frenzied stampede away from what they were offering.
On the contrary, Jesus offered relationship with Himself and with God! He moved among the people healing some, counseling some and helping others with overwhelming needs they had.
His only rule was "Love God with all your heart and love others as yourself!" When your relationship with Jesus is right good things happen!
It was that love which drew people to Jesus and it is that love of Jesus that will draw lost people to FredWes. Loving Jesus will also send us searching for those lost people He loves.
Relationship is the key and the key relationship is your relationship with Jesus!
The Pharisees and religious leaders call people to a system of rules (632 of them) and rituals and regulations. Their approach to religion was designed to make themselves feel justified and self-righteous and everyone else feel unworthy and unwanted.
Mission accomplished!
People fled from that approach to God by the scores. It was like a frenzied stampede away from what they were offering.
On the contrary, Jesus offered relationship with Himself and with God! He moved among the people healing some, counseling some and helping others with overwhelming needs they had.
His only rule was "Love God with all your heart and love others as yourself!" When your relationship with Jesus is right good things happen!
It was that love which drew people to Jesus and it is that love of Jesus that will draw lost people to FredWes. Loving Jesus will also send us searching for those lost people He loves.
Relationship is the key and the key relationship is your relationship with Jesus!
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