Exclusive to Ourselves
Exclusive to Ourselves
Country clubs are social groups organized for various reasons for the enjoyment of its members. Usually, they are suburban clubs with facilities for golf, other outdoor sports, and social activities. In America, membership in the country clubs is often for the rich and well connected. The clubs all have requirements for membership. Their requirements often are for exclusion and limitation for member rather than for inclusion and the welcoming of many. It was not long ago (in the 80s) that it was discovered that one of the country clubs in the Washington DC suburbs excluded certain races like blacks from membership. This discovery made news because it was clearly against the law to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or gender and age. Racial discrimination may still exist in some country clubs but secretly practiced. Of course I do not have proof since this is not our focus here. There is however, an on-going exclusion that you and I engage in and the Pharisees of Jesus time engaged and practiced very well.
In today’s lesson, we are confronted by Jesus to be inclusive rather than exclusive. In God’s country, His kingdom there is no place for the country club mentality but rather all are welcomed especially the least deserving. We are challenged to go out of our way to welcome all into God’s kingdom.
Luke 15: 1-7
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Here are my observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have.
1. The first question is what attracts tax collectors to Jesus? I believe it is the non-condemning, welcoming attitude of Jesus. They “drew near to him”. Is anyone drawing near to you or are they always getting the vibe that you are not approachable? Sometimes, it may be due to our lake of full acceptance of what God has done for us already – that he has forgiven us.
2. Notice the accusation of the Pharisees and scribes. “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” What a compliment to Jesus. In fact it was his regular practice. Eating with anyone in that culture and our culture today is a sign of acceptance and recognition. These days, even in our churches, most of our relationships are at a very distant, surface level. We do not make out time to get to know people. Sharing a meal at a dinner table gives you the opportunity to look someone in the face at an equal level. It is non-threatening. Who is at your dinner table? Is it always the same people? Your family, your friends and you?
3. We practice our exclusive and country club mindset in various forms. First In our family clubs, we tend to only celebrate those who are “doing well”. The children who are making the “A(s)” are welcomed but not those struggling to even get to a “D” grade. The adult family members only associate with those who “have made it” – have big houses and big cars and live in “nice neighborhood”. We avoid the uncle, auntie and cousin that have the drinking problem without even trying to understand the underlying problem. In school, we ostracize those we consider “weird” looking or acting weird. At work we only associate with those on the “fast track” who will further our careers. At Church we hang out with our clicks and don’t bother even to greet the visitor and maybe invite him/her to lunch. We are good and very comfortable in our country clubs.
4. In answering his accusers, Jesus gives the parable to show the heart of God and to clearly point out that he came to seek and to save those that are lost. The parable does not make common sense but kingdom sense. Why would you only go for one when you are not sure what will happen to the ones left behind? This is a common sense question. When you are in God’s kingdom you are safe and secure, so the ninety- nine are. It is only when you are outside the kingdom premises that you are lost. God the Father’s heart is that all be saved and come to know and have relationship with Him. Knowing and being known by God is the essence of our living and joy.
5. What are we being challenged to do by Jesus? Find the lost and direct them to the Father who will welcome them. First, we must remember where we came from. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins….Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when w were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Ephesians 2:1-5. You and I are nothing except for the grace of God. This is enough to humble us to pray and seek the ones who are not yet there. We must go out of our way to seek those Jesus came for who are still “living in sin” as a lifestyle.
6. I can guess what you are thinking now. What about the scripture that says do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers and that bad company corrupts good manners? Sure the Bible says all that but greater is He that is in us that than he that is the world. The Spirit of God in us is the one that goes after the lost. If you go in your flesh, of course you will fall. This means we must be full of the Spirit (controlled by the Spirit) in order to approach others who are yet to come to God and experience His grace. We must use godly wisdom. I often direct Christian sisters to our female co-workers who need to be ministered to. Likewise, if all possible, stick to people of the same sex in your effort to reach them but in all things, let the Holy Spirit lead us.
7. Take note of the great rejoicing in heaven by God and the angels for the repentance of those who come to God. There was big party in heaven when you and I came to know and accept the love of God. These days our parties are only to celebrate those things that only have temporary values – such as promotion at work, graduation and buying the car/house of our dreams. There is nothing wrong with such celebrations. How about helping organize the ultimate party – sharing the love of Christ with someone.
We all enjoy our country clubs. Of course membership has its privileges and there is no question about that. But we cannot remain only in our country clubs. Ask God to give you creative ways to reach people for Jesus and let them know how much God loves them. How about inviting someone to dinner or lunch? God as man died for us in order to relate to us. Will you let someone else know? May God help us. Amen.
Country clubs are social groups organized for various reasons for the enjoyment of its members. Usually, they are suburban clubs with facilities for golf, other outdoor sports, and social activities. In America, membership in the country clubs is often for the rich and well connected. The clubs all have requirements for membership. Their requirements often are for exclusion and limitation for member rather than for inclusion and the welcoming of many. It was not long ago (in the 80s) that it was discovered that one of the country clubs in the Washington DC suburbs excluded certain races like blacks from membership. This discovery made news because it was clearly against the law to discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity or gender and age. Racial discrimination may still exist in some country clubs but secretly practiced. Of course I do not have proof since this is not our focus here. There is however, an on-going exclusion that you and I engage in and the Pharisees of Jesus time engaged and practiced very well.
In today’s lesson, we are confronted by Jesus to be inclusive rather than exclusive. In God’s country, His kingdom there is no place for the country club mentality but rather all are welcomed especially the least deserving. We are challenged to go out of our way to welcome all into God’s kingdom.
Luke 15: 1-7
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Here are my observations from the passage in addition to the ones you may have.
1. The first question is what attracts tax collectors to Jesus? I believe it is the non-condemning, welcoming attitude of Jesus. They “drew near to him”. Is anyone drawing near to you or are they always getting the vibe that you are not approachable? Sometimes, it may be due to our lake of full acceptance of what God has done for us already – that he has forgiven us.
2. Notice the accusation of the Pharisees and scribes. “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” What a compliment to Jesus. In fact it was his regular practice. Eating with anyone in that culture and our culture today is a sign of acceptance and recognition. These days, even in our churches, most of our relationships are at a very distant, surface level. We do not make out time to get to know people. Sharing a meal at a dinner table gives you the opportunity to look someone in the face at an equal level. It is non-threatening. Who is at your dinner table? Is it always the same people? Your family, your friends and you?
3. We practice our exclusive and country club mindset in various forms. First In our family clubs, we tend to only celebrate those who are “doing well”. The children who are making the “A(s)” are welcomed but not those struggling to even get to a “D” grade. The adult family members only associate with those who “have made it” – have big houses and big cars and live in “nice neighborhood”. We avoid the uncle, auntie and cousin that have the drinking problem without even trying to understand the underlying problem. In school, we ostracize those we consider “weird” looking or acting weird. At work we only associate with those on the “fast track” who will further our careers. At Church we hang out with our clicks and don’t bother even to greet the visitor and maybe invite him/her to lunch. We are good and very comfortable in our country clubs.
4. In answering his accusers, Jesus gives the parable to show the heart of God and to clearly point out that he came to seek and to save those that are lost. The parable does not make common sense but kingdom sense. Why would you only go for one when you are not sure what will happen to the ones left behind? This is a common sense question. When you are in God’s kingdom you are safe and secure, so the ninety- nine are. It is only when you are outside the kingdom premises that you are lost. God the Father’s heart is that all be saved and come to know and have relationship with Him. Knowing and being known by God is the essence of our living and joy.
5. What are we being challenged to do by Jesus? Find the lost and direct them to the Father who will welcome them. First, we must remember where we came from. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins….Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when w were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Ephesians 2:1-5. You and I are nothing except for the grace of God. This is enough to humble us to pray and seek the ones who are not yet there. We must go out of our way to seek those Jesus came for who are still “living in sin” as a lifestyle.
6. I can guess what you are thinking now. What about the scripture that says do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers and that bad company corrupts good manners? Sure the Bible says all that but greater is He that is in us that than he that is the world. The Spirit of God in us is the one that goes after the lost. If you go in your flesh, of course you will fall. This means we must be full of the Spirit (controlled by the Spirit) in order to approach others who are yet to come to God and experience His grace. We must use godly wisdom. I often direct Christian sisters to our female co-workers who need to be ministered to. Likewise, if all possible, stick to people of the same sex in your effort to reach them but in all things, let the Holy Spirit lead us.
7. Take note of the great rejoicing in heaven by God and the angels for the repentance of those who come to God. There was big party in heaven when you and I came to know and accept the love of God. These days our parties are only to celebrate those things that only have temporary values – such as promotion at work, graduation and buying the car/house of our dreams. There is nothing wrong with such celebrations. How about helping organize the ultimate party – sharing the love of Christ with someone.
We all enjoy our country clubs. Of course membership has its privileges and there is no question about that. But we cannot remain only in our country clubs. Ask God to give you creative ways to reach people for Jesus and let them know how much God loves them. How about inviting someone to dinner or lunch? God as man died for us in order to relate to us. Will you let someone else know? May God help us. Amen.
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