Eating with Tax Collectors and Sinners

Jesus did it. And explained why. He ate with sinners, non-religious, those of the fringe, the despised. There was a reason: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I think we ought to do what Jesus did, so here are a few thoughts about eating with sinners. Three on why we do it and three on why we don’t.

We eat with sinners so we get to know them and they get to know us. I want non-believers/sinners to see what it looks like to live as a forgiven sinner. As a “used to be.” I want to know them. It is the same principle behind Jesus asking the demoniac in Mark 5 what his name was – he viewed them as people, not just conversion objects.  

Eating a meal together is a great opportunity to share Jesus. Casual conversation over food. I may be sharing my testimony. Or talking about what Jesus has done in my life or in my community of faith. I have told many Jesus stories over a meal. Not every meal offers that opportunity, but that is what I am looking for in that time. After all, Jesus himself said he ate with sinners so he could call them to repentance.

I think eating with sinners foreshadows the day when they come to believe and we eat together around the table of the Lord. When they too are “used to be” and now live as forgiven sinners.

But we do not eat with sinners in a way that endorses their sin. So it is appropriate for Christians to be wise about when and where to eat with sinners. We are eating with them in hopes of sharing Jesus in order to call them to repentance.

We never want to eat with sinners and enable their sin. Not just seem to endorse it, but actually enable sin. The idea of having a beer with an alcoholic because Jesus ate with sinners seems counter-productive to their spiritual healing.  

And I think we should be careful of eating with sinners because we are going to do life with them. There is a lot of difference between a friendly meal with the intention of sharing Jesus and eating with sinners because that is who you do life with. Do life with your brothers and sisters who are seeking the same Jesus life as you are. We want to invite people to join us on that journey.  

Eat with sinners because that is what Jesus did. Eat with sinners because they are sick and in need of healing. Eat with sinners so they actually know what the Jesus way looks like. Eat with sinners so you remember they are people died for. Eat with sinners so you have opportunities to share Jesus and call them to repentance.

So the sick sinners become the healed righteous.

Just like we did.