The question was raised after my message last night on Psalm 1, "Pastor, how can we avoid sinners" (like the psalm mentions v.1)?
Of course the answer is, "We can't, nor are we suppose to". We must avoid intimate relationships with them, like marriage, exclusive friendships, joint business ventures, however, we are in the world. We are to walk that very distinct line between shunning sinners and "loving our neighbor".
How can we do this? Just like Jesus did. He was accused of hanging with the wrong crowd, yet His purpose in that behavior was, in His own words, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13b).
Jesus purpose in life was to accomplish the will of the Father and through that will glorify Him. By spending time with "sinners" and demonstrating God's love, He was able to affect them.
Our goal must be the same. We are to live for God's glory while affecting others by doing God's will. In our day-to-day life we walk with sinners as sinners saved by grace. While doing God's will we will naturally affect others and be like that tree mentioned in Psalm 1, "...bringing forth its fruit in its season." It is a natural process that can only be accomplished as we live, work, and walk, among men.
Of course the answer is, "We can't, nor are we suppose to". We must avoid intimate relationships with them, like marriage, exclusive friendships, joint business ventures, however, we are in the world. We are to walk that very distinct line between shunning sinners and "loving our neighbor".
How can we do this? Just like Jesus did. He was accused of hanging with the wrong crowd, yet His purpose in that behavior was, in His own words, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13b).
Jesus purpose in life was to accomplish the will of the Father and through that will glorify Him. By spending time with "sinners" and demonstrating God's love, He was able to affect them.
Our goal must be the same. We are to live for God's glory while affecting others by doing God's will. In our day-to-day life we walk with sinners as sinners saved by grace. While doing God's will we will naturally affect others and be like that tree mentioned in Psalm 1, "...bringing forth its fruit in its season." It is a natural process that can only be accomplished as we live, work, and walk, among men.
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