“Jesus himself was more concerned with engagement than condemnation.”

A thought by Gabe Lyons (2010-10-05) in his book, The Next Christians: The Good News Aboutthe End of Christian America (p. 81). Doubleday Religion. Kindle Edition.

I’m not always sure what Christ some of us Christ followers follow.  Does that make sense?  I mean, we spend so much of our time in the condemnation business and running away from or pushing away the type of people that Jesus spent time with.  We do the opposite of what Jesus came to do. 

It seems it is so easy for us to paint Jesus as one who is pointing His finger in judgment instead of reaching His hand out in compassion.  Why is that?  Are we reading a different gospel than the ones at the beginning of the New Testament?

Now His way is tough.  That is true.  I mean He was rejected and then killed.  There is always that potential in engagement.  But isn’t that what we have signed up for?  There are risks in being an authentic Christ follower.  Maybe we want the title without the risks.  But He said we would have eternal life if we did it His way.  That’s why He came.

Somewhere along the way we are following the wrong Jesus.  We need to go back and read His story again and follow Him instead of those who lift up the wrong Jesus. 

Here is a thought.  Why don’t we start spending time at our local Starbucks and start engaging in a conversation with that person at the next table?  It is true they may not want to talk very long but most of the time I find they appreciate someone just being friendly.  This is a lonely world we live in and people everywhere you go just need someone to be friendly.  Jesus wants us to reach out to people one person at a time. That’s what He did. 

While I was writing this at my local Starbucks an older lady came in and sat at the table next to me and started talking to me.  Now I wanted to get this written and posted but I knew a lonely person had found me who needed to talk so I set aside my agenda and engaged in a conversation with her.  To be honest I was tempted to kindly brush her off but I don’t think that was what Jesus would have done or what He wanted me to do.

Now it is interesting that as I came back to finish this blog I realized that I was approaching this subject with a condemnation approach.  It is so easy to do.  But with my setting it aside and reaching out to someone my attitude changed.  Engagement with others and with the real Jesus does that.   

What do you think?