A Christian community has a number of high expectations. Some are internal–what we expect of ourselves; others are external–what outsiders expect of us.
A Christian community that is a school adds another layer of expectations. Some are reasonable: students would leave more educated than when they first showed up; others are unreasonable: students would become both saints and scholars. Or scholars and saints.
Whichever order is fine.
There are a whole bunch of humongous questions behind these statements: Who is God? Who are we? What is our purpose? What is the best way to achieve our purpose?
But you’re a student about to go on break, so you don’t want to contemplate these massively deep implications of our identity as a community of Jesus followers and an educational institution.*
So I’m going to ask you this one question, and I hope you give it a second or two of thought:
If we as a community follow a guy who took his stand on including outsiders, caring for people who were otherwise rejected precisely because they didn’t act like saints, then who are the rejects in our midst and what are we doing to include them?
Same question, shorter: Jesus loves “bad” folks; do we?
Jesus told three parables in Luke 15, all making this one point: God has grace for the rejects. He hunts ’em down. He celebrates ’em. If you don’t understand this Scripture, ask any senior. They all get it.
Okay, I lied. Understated, anyway. I’ve got a few more questions, like three. Four, max.
In our community, how do we–how do you and your friends–decide if someone is “good” or “bad?” What earns them the position of “reject?” Are there categories of people who are just automatically “out?”
Don’t tell me “Nobody gets treated that way! No way, Mister!” I walk around school most days. I hear the gossip. I see it.
The Kingdom of God turns things upside down. The last are first. The least are greatest. Jesus tells us he comes not for the righteous, but sinners. The outsiders get welcome home parties while the insiders…
Jesus tells another parable, about two guys, one a big-time holy-looking guy who has it all together and the other a major reject. They’re both at chapel. They both pray. The cool guy rejoices in his insider status and thanks God for getting to be who he is and not like that reject; the reject just asks God for mercy, nothing else.
Jesus says God hears and accepts one guy but not the other.
Here’s my last question: Which one are you?
*If you do, let’s have lunch. I’ll buy.
