Away from Sin; Toward Sinners
The first time the word “sinner” is used in the Bible is Genesis 13:13: “Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.” An important part of this story is that Sodom is where Lot, the nephew of Abram, lived. He shouldn’t have been there, and it almost cost him his life. It did indeed take the life of his wife. So when should we move toward sinners, and not away from them?
Let me use my bicycle illustration. Bicycles are great for staying upright when they are moving forward. But when they stand still, they fall over. So also with Christians in relation to sinners. If Lot were in Sodom on mission with the intent purpose of converting sinners, he may have been ok, and the community may have seen benefit. But in that he appeared not to have a mind for mission, he and his family were deeply affected by the worldliness of that place, and they had little or no influence on the hearts of their neighbors.
There is no doubt that hanging out with sinners is dangerous business. But the very notion of “hanging out” argues against being on mission. I’ve heard so many youth pastors describe their ministry as “hanging out” with the kids. I have a hard time seeing how “hanging out” is a Biblical ministry strategy or part of God’s mission. Yes, sinners are dangerous. Do you remember the verse in Proverbs: 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” Be on guard. Don’t merely hang out. Be on mission, or go home.
Even in a “mission” verse, care is advised: Gal. 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” We are commanded to move toward sinners, in mission. The mission of Jesus would lead us to this conclusion. But, be on guard.
So let’s look at a couple of points for the Christian who would engage with sinners for the sake of pointing them to Christ. First, as the title above suggests, we need to be those who continually turn away from sin. Not toward sin, but away from it. And the wrong direction can happen in our minds and hearts before we know it. We want to be liked. We want to be popular. We want to be funny. But when we begin to become more like the sinners to whom we are (supposedly) on mission and less like Jesus, something is wrong. We have not been watching our hearts. We have not been brutally honest about temptations that are working on us and in us. We have failed at the first point: turning from sin.
Secondly, have we substituted hanging out with mission? As I have said, they are two different things. How can you tell? Let me ask this question: Have you prayed for them, one by one, by name? If you are not praying for them, then you are not on mission. You are merely hanging out, like, you know, Lot.
Mission will seek to expose the worldview of those with whom you engage. Always with love and compassion, we show contrasts between the way they view the world and the view of the redeemed. We seek to point to Scriptures as illustration or direction to support our points. Sometimes we refer to Bible stories as illustrations of Biblical truth. We seek to mention Jesus. There is no pulpit nor sermon, and our words can be dismissed or rejected. But as real friends, we want people to know that there is something more than money; something far greater than the present order.
These principles apply in every arena where you are in contact with unbelievers - you are either on mission, or in grave danger. Either you are praying for the people with whom you do business of one kind or another, or you are in danger of being preyed upon. You are either bringing Christ into focus in the lives of others, or you losing the focus on Christ that makes mission possible.