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John's Journal


Pastor John Denmark A Broader View

I have been reading a book entitled Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putnam. The premise seems to be that we need to broaden our view of mission.

They speak of new models for being the church today including house churches and factory small groups, groups meeting at Starbucks and shifts of nurses in hospitals in Japan. They also speak of who is the mission field for the church and it won't necessarily be people like us or people we like. I lift this interesting quote that gets us to thinking what it means to Rethink the Authentic Church (RAC):

"Jesus was referred to as many things in the Gospels. In Luke he is characterized as a 'friend of sinners.' This was not meant to be a compliment. As a matter of fact, it was part of the reaction the religious leaders had toward Christ and his tendency to go where the sinners were. It was one thing to call a tax collector named Levi to follow him; it was another thing to go to his home for dinner."

In our Vision Statement, we have intentionally used the words "Reaching out to help all people experience the joy and fullness of God's presence." But are we truly following this statement?

All people, excludes no one. No matter what their biases, orientations, color, ethnic origin, and differences from us. Even if they are sinners! (You know, like the ones with whom Jesus associated.) We send a message when we begin to be selective and exclusive of folks who think like us or don't think like us.

If that is the case, then we need to change our Vision to say: "Our vision is to help most people, whose sins we can tolerate, experience the joy and fullness of God's presence."

When that happens, we will not be the church that Jesus wants us to be. We will not be the church as I understand the church of Jesus Christ to be. When we begin to pick out one sin as being worse than others, then we had better prepare to be God, because I believe that is God's prerogative.

All sin is sad in God's sight. All sin is bad in God's sight. All sinners are precious in God's sight. Who is to be the judge?

Let me share a personal reflection and I hope you can forgive me: Though I have not been divorced and remarried which is in many's interpretation an on-going sin of adultery in the New Testament (Matthew 5: 31-32), and though I have never been physically unfaithful to my mate, I have thought it in my heart any time I have ever entertained the notion of being unfaithful. Jesus said if you think it in your heart, it is the same as doing it in God's sight. ( Matthew 5: 28 ) That's what King David did, he thought it and he did it and it became a sinful act either way.

In God's sight, I am a sinner, not unlike the woman in the circle of the righteous elders accused of sin. Jesus says to her judges, "the one that is without sin--cast the first stone."

Then Jesus says: "...neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more." John 8: 7

Now if I could only go and sin no more! The Apostle Paul believed himself to be chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1: 5) And he also said "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3: 23)

It is a most inclusive statement. Let us take note though of the sins that damage others, such as murder, stealing and gossip. They can be forgiven by God, but the effect and the consequences usually remain. Who of us would ever want our sin to hurt others? Yes, I am a sinner who doesn't want to see anyone hurt by my sin.

Thankfully, I am a sinner in the hands of a loving, forgiving God, who has saved me through His son Jesus Christ. Our vision is to be a community of believers in Jesus Christ reaching out to help all people (SINNERS) experience the joy and fullness of God's presence.

See you sinners in Church, Your Servant In Christ,
John D.