Jesus, Friend of Sinners

I was listening to the radio on my way to work and heard this song- it's one that I've heard many times before but I think this was the first time I really listened to it.  Because this time, it spoke to my heart and helped me define some things I've been feeling lately.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns.

As I look around and see so many who point their fingers of blame, who want to avoid caring for others, who want to proclaim others to be sinners...

It breaks my heart.

Health care, gay marriage, war, poverty... politicized issues that really have a similar foundation.  How we treat other people.  How we think about other people.  And if you claim to be a Christian or if you claim to be better than a Christian, you sure as heck had best make sure you truly are thinking of others and treating others in a way that really speaks to that belief.

Skip the politics and just look at the world around us.  How we treat one another- bullying, rude and aggressive driving, judging others for what they wear or how they talk.  Even if we are polite and kind on the outside, sometimes our insides are filled with anger, hate, and negativity.

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

Why do we try to declare what we think is God's definition of anything?  Why do we think we somehow know precisely what God meant, what God feels, or what God intends to do to a sinner?  Why do we use His name as the basis for marginalizing other people, for refusing to care for others, for turning our backs on other children of God?

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

I hate using words like "high and mighty" or "hypocrite" when I speak of others in my faith.  But I can certainly see why some choose those words.  I am one of the least of these.  I can't pity the poor and label them the "least of these" because then I am reducing their human value in my eyes.  I can't point to those who live a life of crime on the streets and declare them to be the least because of their bad choices when I have my own life filled with past bad choices and present struggles.  If each individual person would take the time to do a serious attitude adjustment and really start to focus on their own personal improvement, their own daily sin, their own inward negativity towards others and even outward diminishing of other children of God, the world would become a better place.

Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded

In this political season, I can tell you that I am definitely tired of hearing all about what people are against.  I am tired of the name calling and the finger pointing and the division.  What I want to know is what you stand for.  If you stand for Jesus and you stand for love, I'm with you.  When it comes to politics, it's how I vote- which candidate is best showing me that their intentions in office will provide a way for all people to be loved?  I often find myself struggling with my own judgement- especially towards those who I see as lacking in love towards others.  I've been working on myself a lot over the past year or so- to respond with love and not judgement.

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

It's so easy to get caught up in my little tiny corner of this giant world.  It's so easy to keep my blinders on and just survive each day.  It's so easy to get engulfed in my petty little problems and forget all about the big hurts in the world, the big suffering in the world.  I know I can't fix everything.  I know I don't have a role in every situation.  But I also know that when I am open to the pain of other people, that is when God uses me the most for His work.  When I keep myself closed off, I'm not being the person He designed me to be.  I'm not called to take a stand for everything- different people are called to different missions.  From helping the family that is hurting after the death of someone in that family... to doing fundraising to buy mosquito nets for families in Africa... to collecting canned goods for a local food pantry... to leaving a care package at the home of a friend who is suffering... we are all called to open our eyes to the world beyond our pointing fingers!

Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Mercy.  The definition includes a lot of compassion.  Synonyms include forgiveness and tenderness.  Antonym is cruelty.  Let my heart be led by compassion, forgiveness, and tenderness.  Let my heart be open to all people, all situations so that I can be completely open to God's purpose for my life.  Let others see that my faith drives my compassion, forgiveness, and tenderness so that they know they are welcome to seek the same, so that they may come to my open arms as they seek to know God's love.

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet