Question about Jesus hanging out with the sinners

[Emily25069]

I was in a conversation with a friend not too long ago about Jesus.

The Pharisees really got down on Jesus for hanging out with tax collecters and drunkards and other various sinners. Jesus' reply was that it was not the well that needed a doctor, but the sick.

My friend mentioned that while Jesus went into bars (or the equivelant) for soul-winning purposes only, he never went back after preaching there.

Is this ANYWHERE in scripture? I dont recall this being in scripture at all.

Can anyone verify that she was correct.

(I am in the process of reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts to find out for myself, but I thought maybe I would see if anyone here could give me a shortcut.)

 

[TC]

Jesus met people wherever they were at. It did not matter where - i.e., on the road, next to a well, in a boat, or in their house.

My friend mentioned that while Jesus went into bars (or the equivelant) for soul-winning purposes only, he never went back after preaching there.

I have never seen this in the Bible.

 

[rjprince]

He never went back? Seems that the burden of proof rests with the one who made the statement.

Jesus was always hanging around sinners. He did not sin with them, but He was their friend. In fact, He went looking for them!

Mt 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Lu 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Lu 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

NOTE: I especially like the “wisdom is justified of her children” part in Matt 11:19.

Yes, He did seek them out for their salvation, but I really believe that Jesus probably enjoyed their company more that the company of the self-righteous who had no need of a Savior, or so they thought.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Jesus went into bars to win souls? Now that must be from one of them modern versions . .

 

[rjprince]

Dr. Bob,

Not to fan the flames of the KJVO'ers here, but I have noticed that most of the comments I have heard in that tone have come from the KJVO crowd! Anybody else notice the same thing?

 

[Emily25069]

yes.. my friend is in the KJVO crowd.

The reason that this was brought up, is because my husband is in a band with unsaved folk. (which Im sure is a whole nother debate on music, so can we keep it at the topic at hand please?)

Since joining this band my husband has witnessed to several of the band members and invited a few of them to church. He says now they are in a position where they come to him asking questions. On a flight back from a gig the pilot was asking him why it was Jesus who had to die. My husband has gone from trying to get out of the band to become more "holy" to really believing that God may be using him where he is at. I dont truly know what my husband should do, but since he is my husband, I am going to stand with him on this and not go against him.

BUT

My friend said that it is not possible for God to be using my husband in these clubs that he is playing in. When it was mentioned that Jesus hung around sinners and drunkards, my friend said that he preached to them, and then never went back to those places that He preached to them at.

I was only curious.

While it doesnt seem likely that God would want my husband playing music in bars, it really does seem like this is a huge witnessing oppurtunity. Seems each week my husband comes back with a good report.

 

[bapmom]

Perhaps you are right about God not necessarily wanting your husband to be playing music in bars, however, I think its a very good thing that he is having a positive witness where he is and among the band. God can use any attempt we are willing to make to witness to those around us. Isn't that wonderful!?

Im KJVO and Ive never heard what your friend was saying, Emily. Ive never heard anything like Jesus going into bars to preach. From what I read in the Bible He tended to preach in open fields where sinners came to Him, private houses (of sinners and publicans), and in the synagogues. So He hit every place possible where people could get to Him from all walks of life. But I believe, for the most part, people were coming to where HE was.

And anyway, did they even have anything like bars back then? Ive never heard that before.

 

[Emily25069]

"And anyway, did they even have anything like bars back then? Ive never heard that before."

not sure

 

[Marcia]

Emily, since it seems that your husband is a strong believer who witnesses to these people in the band, that is apparently how the Lord is using him.

If the environment of being in the band or in the bars starts to rub off on your husband, then that would be a serious problem. It is hard for some believers to be in that environment and not be affected by it. It seems that the Lord has enabled your husband to do what he is doing to be salt and light. The one drawback might be that his bandmates or people at the bars might wonder what a Christian is doing there (assuming the people in the bars would know he is a Christian). That should be weighed, imo, with the other factors. I think anyone in this situation needs to be prayerfully sensitive as to whether their witness is being compromised or if they are being affected in small ways by being in these situations. I don't think it's an easy yes or no situation.

 

[Brother Ian]

Most of us work in secular environments where most of the folk are unsaved. The Lord will use His children in whatever situation we are in.

If the Lord is telling the husband to leave that band, I would certainly do that, but until He does, your husband should continue to proclaim the Gospel. What an opportunity. . . . a mission field.

 

[Dina]

Wow. Emily, it sounds like your husband is being used by God. The other members of the band are asking questions. How great!! God can and does use people where they are.

Never heard anything about Christ going into a bar, let alone only going there once. but from personal experience it takes more than just telling someone they are a sinner to be a witness for Christ. It takes love, lots of love, and loving them where they are.

 

[Mercury]

Emily, I agree that it does seem that God is using your husband in those situations. Even the apostle Paul had to clarify what he meant about separating from immorality:

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people -- not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler -- not even to eat with such a one." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

We are to separate from those who claim to be believers and yet live immorally. This does not mean we disassociate ourselves from the lost.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Emily25069:
My friend mentioned that while Jesus went into bars (or the equivelant) for soul-winning purposes only, he never went back after preaching there. Is this ANYWHERE in scripture? I dont recall this being in scripture at all.

Scripture only says that Jesus was invited to dine with the sinners, and he took the invitation, without any agenda whatsoever. He didn't go in to preach, to point fingers, or to condemn. And by the end, the sinners understood and welcomed him more than the pharisees ever did. There's no scripture to say whether he did this only once or often, but I personally suspect that Jesus did dined with sinners more than once. It doesn't seem in his nature to do it once and never do it again. As was already pointed out, Jesus met people wherever they were at. It did not matter if it was on the road, next to a well, in a boat, in their house, or the gathering place where they dined.

Originally posted by Mercury:
We are to separate from those who claim to be believers and yet live immorally.

True, but if taken to the extreme (which is too often done) none of us would hang out with any otther.

This does not mean we disassociate ourselves from the lost.

Yes, this is very true. How are we to be a light to the world if the world can't see us?

 

[Mercury]

Originally posted by Johnv:
True, but if taken to the extreme (which is too often done) none of us would hang out with any otther.

I agree. On another board I'm in a Bible study on this chapter, and one person sarcastically asked if Paul was suggesting that believers should eat alone. After all, who can say they've never eaten with a believer who is guilty of greed?

I think Paul is speaking of separating from those believers who flout their sin and refuse to turn from it, rather than avoiding all believers who are less than perfect.

Yes, this is very true. How are we to be a light to the world if the world can't see us?

Amen!

 

[Artimaeus]

I think "hanging out" has a different connotation than just "being around". He wasn't constantly around lost people because he just liked them better than saved people but because they are the ones who needed what he had to offer.

1 Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (KJV)

1 Co 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals. (ASV)

1 Co 15:33 Do not be led astray; bad companionships ruin good habits. (LITV)

1 Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (ESV)

The principle is clear. Hanging out with and being buddies with the lost will not win them. Being around the lost and being a true friend might.

 

[OldRegular]

After Jesus Christ came to earth who would He hang out with except sinners?

However when He returns it will be a different story: Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57
50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

There will be no sin when He returns since Satan and all unbelievers will be cast into the Lake of Fire following the Judgment at the Great White Throne.