Is God's Grace a Scandal!

"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

There are folks who like to talk a lot about being “saved,”  And how that saving is suppose to work; “according to what the Bible says.”  What they are often referring to is all those sinners who "need" to be saved.   And they say that as if they don't! 

That kind of conversation is an irritant to me!  

Jesus talks about this kind of conversation a lot!  It made me think about how Jesus was accused, by the Pharisees, of hanging out with “sinners.”  Those who “need to be saved!” 

In this passage we have two groups of people!  The good guys!  That is the Pharisees!   And the not so good guys!  The sinners!

The Pharisees consider themselves above reproach.  Worthy of honor!  High class!  The “right side of the trackers!”  Who are looking down their noses at Jesus.

The sinners are considered the “unholy ones!” The unworthy! The low life of society!  The wrong side of the trackers!  Who, by the way, Jesus was glad to be around.  He welcomes their presence in his life.

Now just ask yourself, who makes up the majority of the world population the sinner or the Pharisee?  Just  do the math and you'll realize that very few people can claim the definition of perfect.

And yet, there are those — yes even today — who believe that Jesus should only welcomes right side of the trackers.  

And what I want to tell them is that Jesus is not dictated to by their kind of logic.  The lesson he gives here is pointing that truth out.  He tells two short parable about their mislead way of thinking.  Their way of thinking about social acceptance!  And their way of understanding God!

It is the “lost” — the sinner — who get God’s complete attention.  They are the one’s he welcomes!  Eats with!  Talks to!  Cares of!

Throughout the Gospels Jesus main focus is on God’s mercy in a world full of the so-called sinner.

Just to change gears a minute, and think about the story of Saul.  A Pharisee of the finest making!  Who was self defined as a “man of violence” who actively “blasphemed and persecuted” and “opposed” Jesus and his followers.(1 Tim 1)    A sinner extraordinaire!

Saul was “saved,” by the risen Christ, on his way to  Damascus to continue his goal of destroying all believers of Jesus.  You can read the entire story in Acts 9.  Where Saul, renamed Paul, who on that road experienced a radical perceptual shift in being and in thought.  Who wrote much about “God’s merciful acts!” Paul championed God’s love and grace to all who would listen.

Paul’s writings where a key influence in Martin Luther’s epiphany to the saving power of God’s grace.  And the unfounded teaching about the importance of “works of salvation” — the Law of the Old Testament scholars.  It was Paul’s writing on our saving hope of faith through grace.

Basically Jesus and Paul were teaching, and concerned, about the same thing.  The truth about God’s opinion of the good and not-so-good:…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Here is the truth, as I have come to understand it!  We humans have a huge problem with God’s scandalous grace and mercy.  God seemly flawed thinking on who deserves his love and acceptance.

I say this because if we are honest!  Really deep down, in the gut, honest!   God’s ways offend our idea of justice!  Offends us because we cannot count on God to punish the sinner who so richly deserves God’s wrath.  Deserve it according to our way of thinking.   We think that God is too good, too lenient, to understanding to “that” sinner. 

I have observed this dynamic many times over the years!  I have heard it as recently as the most recent school shootings.   I have myself have  experience such feelings, about our government leaders, in recent years.  I want God to use his power to invade the hearts of our political leaders like he did at Pentecost to the disciples.  Or as he did with Saul on the road to Damascus.

We want vengeance on those who offend us!    Am I wrong? 

And do you know what?  There may just be others who wish vengeance on you and me.  

Think about it!

Maybe, just maybe, we all need to listen to Jesus words:

 I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

I imagine that joy occurred when Saul was met by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus! 


1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(Luke 15)