Jesus Loves Sinners
God, if you’re there, why are things so messed up in my life? Why is my family falling apart? Why is the world so corrupt? Why do I hear about your love but I can’t seem to feel it? Why am I so messed up?
These are the questions we welcome to the 2012 Reach Your World Conference. This is not a place that you need to come and fake it. This is a weekend to be real. If you’re doubting, then we’ll deal with it. If you’re alone, then let’s talk about it. If you’re scared, let’s be bold together. If you’re angry, we want to hear it. If you’re confused, we want to know about it.
Believe it or not, we believe that church is a place for sinners, not for perfect people. That’s what Jesus said in Mark 2:17. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” And it’s true. Jesus loved sinners like you and me. He ate dinner with the sinners. He hung out with them. And He ministered to them.
We realize its a dilemma that our churches today seem to attract the self-righteous and repel sinners, but that is not the way it “should” be. We all need to first be honest with ourselves as we approach this weekend to go deep with God. You’re not alone in this. We are all struggling. We are all searching for answers. And we’d love for you to come along and experience God with us. See you soon.
1 Comment on "Jesus Loves Sinners"
God cannot look WITH FAVOR upon sin and evil, but He can craleinty be in the presence of sinners. This is proven by God’s omnipresence (as you noted), the incarnation of God the Son, and even God’s continued (if temporary) interaction with some of the fallen angels (including Satan e.g. Job 1-2, etc.).The limitation is not on God. Sometimes we have this image of God as needing to back off from sin and evil because He can’t allow Himself to be in its presence (rather like Superman avoiding Kryptonite because it weakens him?!). But we would suggest it’s more like the reaction of mold in the presence of bleach, or of anything combustible in the presence of fire: God’s holiness is so consuming and so purifying that unless He restrains Himself, (and that only for a time) nothing impure and unholy can remain in HIS presence. It affects the creature, not God.The Holiness of GodBy nature, definition, God is absolutely pure, not a hint of evil in HimBy definition, there can be no evil, sin, or impurity in His presenceThe two cannot be togetherHabakkuk 1:13 (NIV)13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;you cannot tolerate wrong.Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?Why are you silent while the wickedswallow up those more righteous than themselves? Psalm 5:4-6 (NIV)4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;with you the wicked cannot dwell.5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;you **** all who do wrong.6 You destroy those who tell lies;bloodthirsty and deceitful menthe LORD abhors.God cannot act contrary to His nature. Sin and God contradict one another. They repel.