I often say that we need to get the focus off of the structure of our church gatherings or who our leaders are or what movement we are part of and onto the lifestyle that we, who are organically connected to the Vine-Jesus, are meant and empowered to live.
Our church-gatherings are meant to support believers who are fully released into the life of intimacy with Jesus, listening to Jesus, following the adventurous Jesus, and laying down their lives for His life and purposes. When these types of believers gather, wherever and however, life will happen. When these types of believers go, life will be imparted.
I love the way Tom Wymore speaks of this dynamic lifestyle and reminds us of Jesus’ tendency to be a “sinner magnet.”
I was headed to Luke 15, the story of the Lost Son, because Papa had been speaking to me about how to avoid becoming like the older brother. I was arrested by the Holy Spirit, however, as I read the first two verses of the chapter. I have always known that Jesus was called "the friend of sinners" and was truly a "sinner" magnet, but somehow the contrast between Him and how Christians are perceived by pre-Christians today became more real today than ever before.
Luke 15:1-2 says, "Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (NIV) As I read these two lines this morning I was struck by how completely different Christians have generally become from Jesus! When was the last time we heard of "sinners" constantly gathering around a Christian to listen to him/her? I live in Colorado Springs, a city so badly divided between churched and unchurched people that it's best not to pray over a meal in a restaurant with your head bowed and where some of the more popular bumper sticker is "Focus on your own damn family!" or a fish symbol with "sushi" for the letters, etc. How ironic that the city with the highest percentage of churched people in Coloradois also the city known among unbelievers as a bad place to live!
So what happened? I find myself often asking Jesus, "How did those whom you love so much, over whom you and your angels rejoice when they return to you more than over us, become my enemy? The answer, of course, lies somewhere in the terrible definition that the "church" has given to what it means to be a Christ follower. If being a follower of Jesus means that we merely join a club and take sides, then of course there are those who are "in" and those who are "out." But if to follow Jesus means that we are joined in intimacy with Him and His heart, then we will also become sinner magnets, exuding His love, presence and power so consistently and powerfully that people who don't know Him will want to hang around us.
