Mark 2:17
Preachers aren’t supposed to take
advantage of their time in the pulpit to grouse about those things that irk
us. But maybe you’ve been vexed by this
too.
What is it with drivers and their
horns lately? It’s like the horn is
suddenly a luxury accessory and drivers want to let as many as possible know
they have one. I’ve lost count of the
number of times I’ve been paused at an intersection and the instant the light
turned from red to green the driver behind me beeps his horn. Apparently they were all unpleased that I
didn’t start off like a NASCAR driver when the light changed. Sometimes these folks have honked at me even
though a child has been in the crosswalk.
Sometimes the drivers have roared around us, maybe on the berm, so they could
get ahead. Pat usually points that they
are angry at us for wasting their time and their time is probably more
important than other people’s. Occasionally, these angry drivers offer a
less-than-friendly wave as they rush on.
Those kinds of behaviors—the honking,
the line-breaking, the obscene gestures—are aggravating but we can live with
them.
Bosses are venting their anger at
employees, in part because in these tough times they know no one can afford to
quit. Or maybe they think it’s a new
management technique. After all, we do
tend to make heroes of those winners who have short fuses. We might not let
losers get away with outbursts of temper, but winners are another matter. Do I need to remind you of John McEnroe or
Woody Hayes? Yet, sometimes I think it’s
because they just have no inner restraint or maybe they’re borderline psychotic. We’ve also read of stories where anger has
exploded with deadly consequences. People drive cars at other people when they
are angry at a store or restaurant.
People will throw bricks though windows when they are angry at a
store-keeper or neighbor, never mind that a child or another innocent might be
in the path of the flying glass.
I’d like to tell you this morning
that I have a cure for this anger epidemic.
But I can’t. If you and I
incorporate what I’m about to say this morning we will still be victims of the
anger and rage all around us. What I can
say is that if we embody what I’m about to say, we might help keep the anger
from spreading. And, in some cases, we
might even help someone else become immune.
So, what am I proposing?
In this angry time, we need to learn
to live like Jesus. But how?
If We Would Live Like Jesus in an
Angry Time We Should Consider
His Attitude Toward People
1.
At the foundation of Jesus attitude toward people is one great
truth: Jesus really loved people.
Someone once described a famous
writer by saying, “He loved humanity; it was people he couldn’t stand.”
Jesus’ love for people was evident in
everything he did. He embodied love.
Some people initially followed him,
not because they were thirsty for knowledge, but because they were thirsty for
love. It is possible to utter great
words about love without living in a way which demonstrates that love.
Whatever Jesus said about love he
demonstrated in his life.
We are going to meet many people who
need love. During Bible study last
Sunday night Jerry Olds mentioned the old saying, “People don’t care how much
you know until they know how much you care.”
A good point.
I enjoy apologetics, the study of how
to defend the faith. But, we all know
the best defense for Christianity is not a battalion of “know-it-alls,” it’s a multitude
of “love-them-alls.”
2.
As Jesus’ love demonstrated itself in his day to day life, it became
clear that Jesus cared about the outcasts. (Mark 1:40f)
40. A man with leprosy came to Jesus. He bowed
down and begged Jesus, ``You can heal me, if you want to.''
41. He felt sorry for him. So, he reached out and
touched the man. Jesus said to the man, ``I do want to heal you--be healed!''
42. Immediately the leprosy left him; he was
healed.
Lepers were outcasts, suspected of
being under God’s special judgment. No
one would deliberately touch a leper.
Jesus shocked those around him by touching this man who was not used to
a sympathetic human touch.
There are “outcasts” in our
society: The young man or woman with
tattoos and multiple piercings, the radical feminist or the right-wing
reactionary. In some communities, during
an election year the outcast might be that person with the “wrong” bumper
stickers.
Howard Belden:
“Occasionally someone is heard saying that he
thinks it is a pity that so many ‘odd bods’ are found in Christian
churches. It is not a pity: it is a cause for joy. The presence of such people is one of the
greatest tributes that can be paid to the Church of Christ. Others may have no time for them, but they
know that Christians have, for Christians know that they must never say of
anyone, ‘I can’t be bothered with him.’
The Christian knows that everyone mattered to Jesus, so everyone must
matter to him.”
3.
While there’s no doubt Jesus took sin seriously--after all he died
taking sin seriously--it’s equally clear Jesus was slow to condemn.
Remember the story of the woman
caught in adultery. Jesus disarmed her
captors, and then said to her: “I don’t
condemn you, go and sin no more.”
Jesus wouldn’t leave her caught up in
her self-destructive behavior but he also wouldn’t beat her over the head with
her past.
Throughout history, Jesus’ followers
have been quicker to condemn than their Master.
That fact has begun to cause a lot of people to get angry at the church
and some in the church to leave it. Of
course, there are also those who get nervous when we talk about compassion; in
their minds compassion leads to compromise. We seem to have forgotten there are
alternatives to both laid-back approval and pitiless denunciation.
Unlike Jesus, we seem surprised when
sinners act like sinners. It’s not
theology as such but consider this exchange between the somewhat dim Bertie
Wooster and his worldly-wise valet Jeeves.
Jeeves is trying to explain the meaning of a French phrase and Wooster
says:
“These Frenchmen, why can’t they talk
English?”
Jeeves replies, “They are possibly
more to be pitied than censured, m’lord.
Early upbringing no doubt has a lot to do with it.”
Most of the French speak French because they are born French. Sinners act like sinners because they're born sinners. All of us are. We need to look at others and be
ready to show compassion, the same compassion Jesus showed us.
4.
Another aspect of Jesus’ attitude toward people was seen in his
encounters with ordinary people where it is clear Jesus viewed people as
they might be.
Jesus saw the potential in the people
he met, even if no one else shared his vision.
He appreciated people, even those with rough edges, rude manners, and
weird thinking.
In the rough, unstable Peter Jesus
saw the Rock.
In Mary Magdalene--whom he freed from
the chains of the demonic--he saw a woman who could inspire others in her
devotion and faith.
Mary’s role brings up an important
matter. Jesus saw the potential of an
entire group of persons who were largely ignored in his day, persons who
weren’t even allowed to testify in court.
I’m speaking of women. Jesus’
attitude toward women was revolutionary.
He saw in them a potential to think, to learn, and to reason which was
largely ignored by most teachers in his day.
I think some people are so angry
because at school, at work, at home they know nothing but disrespect and scorn. We need to learn from Jesus and not just look
at what stands before us, but look at what might be there through Jesus’ grace.
5.
Then, of course, as the disciples could certainly testify, Jesus did
not give up easily.
The disciples were so slow to
learn. Other teachers might have said,
“Enough. I’m going to start over.” Jesus
didn’t. He certainly didn’t give up on
us.
We need that kind of patience.
If We Would Live Like Jesus in an
Angry Time We Should Consider
His Approach to People
How
did Jesus attitude toward people shape his approach to them?
1.
Had we been able to follow him around, we would have seen Jesus
offering his friendship.
Many people we meet are lonely and
that loneliness can easily translate itself into anger. It won’t always work but a genuine offer of
friendship might change some people. But
what do I mean by “a genuine offer of friendship?”
I can’t picture Jesus buttonholing
someone, reading them a couple verses from the New Testament, delivering a
memorized speech, and moving on to the next “prospect.” Jesus was willing to be friends to the people
he sought to help.
One of the charges his enemies
leveled against him was that he was “friend of publicans and sinners.” I like the way Peterson paraphrases the
opening verses of Luke 15.
“By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful
reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religious scholars were not
pleased, not at all pleased. They
growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old
friends.”
As Jesus put his love into action, he
taught his disciples and us an important lesson: People don’t want us to treat as objects or
prospects; they want us be treat them as persons.
Few people today respond to
evangelistic blitzes, the respond to the witness of someone who has taken the
time to get to know them.
2.
Had we been able him around, we would have seen Jesus affirming the
value of people.
Jesus affirmed their value by
starting where they were. He sought
common ground with them.
Jesus affirmed their value by listening
to them. He took the time to hear what
they had to say. He took their questions
seriously.
So, we need to let people know we
have ears as well as mouths. The
questions people ask, the comments they make, the arguments they put forward
may reveal the deepest longings and insights of their hearts. And reveal their
greatest hurts.
Jesus affirmed their value by daring
to challenge and correct them. He was
inspired by love when he did so, but he did so.
The disciples certainly knew that
kind of challenge and correction. Jesus’
correction implied he saw the possibility of their doing better.
Jesus affirmed their value by asking
them to help. Whether it was accepting
hospitality, donations of food, or the occasional cash donation Jesus allowed
ordinary people to feel as if they had a part in something bigger than
themselves.
Conclusion
As I close, let me return to a
warning I made earlier. Having a
Christlike attitude toward and approach to people won’t protect you from this
angry world. After all, angry people
eventually managed to crucify him.
Remember this. His crucifixion changed the world. Yours probably wouldn’t have the same
impact. You can’t always escape certain
angry people. You may have to take that
class with the bitter teacher who will never get tenure. You may have to keep going to work for that
boss who plays at being a dictator. You
can’t get completely away from them but maybe you can minimize their impact.
At the end of the day, try not to
take them home in the car with you. Don’t set a place for them at the dinner
table. Don’t invite them along on your
weekend outing.
Yes, you may have to unload after a
day of abuse. But do that wisely. Maybe you need to set a timer. Then, start talking to someone or writing in
a journal about your day. When the timer goes off, change the subject or lay
down your pen (or turn off the word-processor). Enjoy the respite.
And, remember this. You can’t fix some people. When Jesus was confronted with the angry
demoniacs in Gadara, he cast the demons out of them. Unless, you’re an
exorcist, you won’t be able to do that with some people. They’re too happy being angry. They relish the payoff too much. Your best response is to recognize them for
what they are and refuse to let them recruit you.
And, finally, remember this. What I’ve said in the past few minutes might
tempt you to say, “If being like Christ, won’t protect me from angry people,
why bother?”
Well, I can understand. In this angry time, there are plenty of angry
people. They seem to be all around
us. There are many more victims of angry
people, victims who are among the walking wounded; waiting for someone’s
healing touch.
Bur there are very few like
Christ—people who, though wounded, are making a difference, who sometimes get
to offer that healing touch. Wouldn’t you like to be one of those?
