Danny Hickman

There are two governments in all of existence, two sovereign-authority systems of supremacy: Heaven and Earth. There's the physical empire, and the spirit realm.

Jesus left the spirit realm, called heaven to depict it as being of a higher level of life than life on earth, and came to earth to sojourn among (here it is) disreputable people. If we weren't all of the disreputable sort, he would not have had to come here! He said he came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

Where was he when he made that statement? He was at the home of a tax collector (Zacchaeus). (referred to here as a disreputable person). And how did the people respond to Jesus going home with Zacchaeus?

Luke 19:7 - When they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

Here we are over 2,000 years later regurgitating the same kind of irrational logic. A doctor came to town and was excorated for going to the home of a sick man, and some of us, even with the aid of the whole Bible, still wonder if it was the wrong thing to do. I think it's the 'Birds of a feather flock together' charge.

This mode of thinking persists to this very day in the Christian community. Instructions by Paul to the church are used to keep Christians from embracing all people the way Christ did. People are taught to do the opposite of what Jesus did. A preacher seen at the home of a known sinner is risking his good name and career. Even Jesus isn't past it yet!

April 19 2023 • Report