Matthew 9:9-13 (KJV) - And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

How will sinners receive mercy (through repentance/salvation) unless they are in a 'position' to receive it?

The people WE condemn today aren't flocking to the church for help and mercy. Many of them are blinded to their need of a Savior and the implications of living a sinful life. They are doing what is right in their own eyes and heart.

So how are they supposed to know this?

As Christians, we understand that mercy is not restricted to a specific place, but for those in sin, they may not understand that. They may see their 'help' reserved for Sundays at the church - just as many of us have (including me). So what do we do in the meantime? Should we continue to praise the Lord in our churches and wait for them to come to us?

Within many church communities the central focus is the church - the members and the ministries that are provided throughout the week. If any of us were to consider the percentage we (as a church) focus on our own members and the sinners outside of the church, the numbers would point to the members (by a landslide). Could we be missing the point of our ministry to the world?!

Now, I do believe there should be a focus on church members - building them into disciples of Jesus Christ. (This is our command from Jesus - Matthew 28:18-20.) But have we focused on the members so much that we cocoon ourselves away from the very people we are called to reach?

Many Christians intentionally stay away from sinners - unless they have no choice but to commune among them (i.e. work)...or it's a part of a (weekly or seasonal) ministry. We often treat sinners as diseased people with contagious conditions. We don't want to talk with, approach, or intentionally sit with them, but as a church, we condemn them to a judgment of hell without the slightest concern...and this cannot be. We must open our churches to those in the community that would be considered outcasts, derelicts, and profane. There must come a time when we intentionally look for those that are sick and share the mercy and love of God through Jesus Christ. I believe we shouldn't 'bind' our assistance only to outreach and street ministries, but allow it to be a part of our daily lives as children of God.

Many opportunities await us each day and we cannot allow them to pass by because they are not received in the manner we like. Many of the situations and people we encounter are not perfect - just as we are not perfect. Let us not think of ourselves better than others. Let us not forget the mercy we received. Let us not forget those that Jesus died to save.