In Short, Mē Genoito!

Introduction

“But Jesus ate with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes…” While this is true, and I, along with the countless multitude surrounding the throne, give thanks for the fact, it’s not the strong rebuttal one thinks. In these latter days, our Lord has been reduced in the minds of some to a cheerleader for the sophomore basketball team, rather than the King of kings who died to cleanse his bride from the harlotry that has stained her foul garments.

Humbly Treaded Ground

I walk with humility because the next few paragraphs will be my attempt to clarify a common mistake when it comes to what Jesus would or would not do. I’m therefore about to speak on behalf of the Lord Christ, which I do as a minister of the Gospel and for His glory. I do not speak ex-cathedra nor as a prophet, but as a Pastor who loves the Lord and His bride.

A Short Greek Phrase

Would not the Jesus, gentle and lowly, He who was frequent at weddings and pharisee feasts, who came eating and drinking… wouldn’t this Jesus attend the ceremony? That’s the question in front of us. Wouldn’t Jesus attend the “wedding” of the gay sinners? In short: mē genoito — by no means! No, Jesus would not attend the “wedding” ceremony of that which is an abomination to the triune God.

“Why not?” you may say. Let me respond with a few questions of my own. Would Jesus attend the party of the prostitute who was celebrating her first $1000 night? Would Jesus attend the party of the tax collector celebrating with his friends and family his exploitation of a whole Jewish commonwealth? Would Jesus attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly built Planned Parenthood over in Tyre? Word has it there will be a pretty good spread and an open bar. In short: mē genoito, mē genoito, mē genoito! To ask the question is to answer the question.

And would Jesus dine with the gay couple for Taco Tuesday? I think He might. Would He sit at a table over lunch with Margaret Sanger? I believe He would. Would He share a table with a prostitute at a pharisee’s house for dinner? Yes, He would. And He did.

The Difference

So what’s the difference? Why dinner with the prostitute but not attend the harlot gala at the local brothel? Again, to ask the question…

The reason is that Jesus is King and Bridegroom, not a cheerleader. The Jesus of far too many squishy evangelicals is not the Christ of scripture. The Christ of scripture is the Second Adam, the One who did not let the serpent coil around his bride, but bled for her, bruising His heel as He crushed the snake’s head. The Jesus of scripture, full of grace and truth, abounding in steadfast love does not leave His beloved enslaved but died to break her chains of bondage. The Jesus who walked the earth came to save sinners from their sin. He did not come to celebrate their death, destruction, and decay.

Yes, and absolutely, Jesus ate with the tax collector and the prostitute and the religious hypocrite, and when he did, those he ate with left changed, at least the former two groups did. “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven…” He says of a prostitute. “…from now on sin no more.” He says to another.

But please allow Jesus to speak for himself, and listen to Him. It was asked within earshot, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus then tells us what his purpose was for dining with them. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus sat with prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners to call them, “repent and believe,” don’t remain dead in your sin but turn, believe, and have life, even life abundant and everlasting.

He didn’t, and wouldn’t attend the celebration of their sickness, of their destruction and death. He came to call sinners to “go and sin no more.”

And we should do the same. We too should eat with prostitutes, homosexuals, IRS agents, and sinners great and small, and do just as Jesus did — call. Call for repentance unto life, belief in the Son of God who died to save them from their sins. We should do as Jesus’ apostles did, so that we might have the privilege and joy of addressing exactly these as brothers and sisters in Christ, and look back with them and say, and such were some of us.

Eat and drink, yes! Listen and converse, yes! Celebrate and publicly endorse, mē genoito!

By: Jefff Rodland