There is a great and wise philosopher, Larry the Cable Guy, who was once talking about elderly drivers and their WWJD bumper stickers. “What would Jesus do? He’d at least do the speed limit!”
Alright, that’s funny right there. To a kid who grew up in a hick logging town.
More seriously, there’s just a little bit of a problem with the WWJD thing. It’s a great model when it comes to loving on the less fortunate or something like that, but He also, oh, engineered a virgin birth and a number of things we can’t do. So much for slogan Christianity.
As we kick off the advent season today, the season that anticipates the arrival of the day we celebrate His earthly birth, it’s useful to remember – again – that “advent” means arrival. But even that idea needs a little polish. Let me share with you today’s Bible verse – Luke 19:10 -- and see if you can catch what I mean.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10, CSB
Remember the back story on this one. Here’s this little shorty guy, Zacchaeus who was a wealthy tax collector. And as Jesus approaches, Jesus says, “Hey, let’s go to your house.”
At this point the scuttlebutt starts flying. “He’s going to eat with sinners!”
Among the Jews this was utter scandal. They hated tax collectors, and probably with good reason – tax collectors got wealthy working for the Roman government and typically taking more than was due. So not only was Zacchaeus viewed as a traitor, even associating with him – when viewed through a lame and legalistic interpretation of the Hebrew Scripture – meant that his dirt rubbed off on you. It was a 1st-century version of “fortress church” – keep the good people in here and the bad people over there.
So did you catch what’s odd about the word “advent” if it means “arrival?” It’s from our perspective.
But it’s not God’s perspective.
Luke gave it to us in the red words. Jesus came to seek and save the lost which, friends, is every one of us. And what does Jesus do?
He comes after you. Pursues you.
But remember in other stories when He said, “Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31–32, CSB)
And therein lies the tipping point in His mission. What He means is “I haven’t come to call the self-righteous.” The people who think people are basically good, and especially me, because just look at that wretched person over there…I’m not like that.
Hungry people know they’re hungry. Lost people know they’re lost. But self-righteous people who compare themselves to others instead of God’s perfect, holy standard don’t know they’re lost. They’re too busy being better than the Joneses.
But here comes Jesus. He doesn't wait, He seeks, He takes the initiative. That's what people do when they’re on a mission.
As a connector, our first job is a heart check. Christmas is beautiful for many reasons, but if you reflect – really reflect – on what it’s all about, you can’t escape the fact that a) the God who made you in His image is coming after you, and b) His invitation to deeper relationship with Him includes being on mission with Him.
So then our second job is to be like Jesus in what I call the ministry of showing up, connecting with people where they’re at. And in today’s world, that’s as much or more a function of mind and focus as it is location. For instance, meeting someone where they’re at when in a digital neighborhood means being intentional about connecting through technology, not just to it.
“But!” I can hear someone object, “Jesus didn’t have Facebook. He didn’t even write a letter!”
No, but His disciples did include using the available efficiencies of the day. We don’t think of writing a letter or the Roman road system that enables faster, safer, more efficient delivery as technology, but that’s because it’s ubiquitous for us. In the 1st century, no nearly so much.
What would Jesus do? He’d launch a rescue mission. He’d figure out a way to connect with tax collectors and sinners. He’d have a broken heart for those who refuse His help. He’d skip the bad bumper stickers.
And He just plan to meet us where we are at…starting the whole shooting match in a pauper’s manger just to baffle the crap out of those too self-righteous to see their need for a Savior.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in communications, an award-winning author and speaker, and a passionately bad guitarist. ForTheHope equips on-the-go professionals with biblical principles to engage marketplace relationships with competent humility. On Twitter can follow him @RogerCourville and/or his podcast @JoinForTheHope, or get all updates by email subscription at www.forthehope.org.