Yesterday I wrote on the “first part” of this. Again this piece comes from 2007.

Sunday, September 02, 2007
The Tax Collector’s Church

Many of you know that what began as a “funny” story is percolating and resonating deep in my spirit. Today we discussed it.

 

I started with the scriptures:
Matthew 9:9-13
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

1 Timothy 1:15-16
This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
ESV
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
(Bold is mine. Will get to it later.)

Our group suggested that a gathering of this type would be “average.” Farmers, bikers, “tax collectors,” those hated and sinners. We discussed the reaction of the church to this type of “church.” The church of Jesus’ day asked “why?” His answer was these people were “sick” and needed a healing.

James 1:27 tells us that
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.

So we discussed that the church that allowed for “tax collectors” would:

• Operate in mercy
• Have perfect patience as that is the pattern
• Meet with the “sick”
• Visit the fatherless and the widow
• Hang out with the hated
• Go to where the sinners are and hang out

Jesus could not have “nailed” their sin, because He was constantly invited to their homes. Reading the “beatitudes,” it was not so much was they did, but what they could do that would advance the Kingdom. (We can discuss that next week.)

We discussed if we were ready to deal with the “why” of the conventional church. Where would we hold meetings. Could we hold meetings in the bank. Or as one person said, “we could start the tax collector’s pub.” Would we keep Sunday to hide and be refreshed? 🙂

How would we, after reading James 1:27 be “unstained” by the world. I have to tell you something. This is the hardest part of being a Christian. While I am not naive or a prude, there is something about profanity from believers that knocks me for a loop. Doesn’t matter when I am around unbelievers. A church “unstained” or untouched by the world will look like HIM. I think perfect patience is the one I see that is going to be hard. And whatever we do, are you and I going to be able to be in situations where lines of legality are crossed over? Like the man smoking pot when I was somewhere. Advancing the Kingdom is a lot different than “playing” church. My usual take on the church is they are a lot more comfortable being huddled up with one another(Christian ghettos) than they are being with people who sin, swear, cheat, lie, sleep around, etc.

I have friends who have been prostitutes, strippers, porn stars, murderers, child molesters, bad bikers, etc. I can not see them changing any of that really quick. I think about bringing them into a Christian setting and I get nervous (And so would you!). So, we need this thought out. I do not see them and some of you in the same room. We have to think out the kid’s side of things, as well.

I think about the Gadarene demoniac showing up at the house of “Mrs. Jones” saying, ” I am really sorry about eating your cat and dog, and running around naked in front of your family, but I met this man Jesus and I decided to get dressed and he made me the head evangelist of this outreach here. Can I tell you about Jesus?”

I am not quite sure some of us can grasp the idea of someone being bad yesterday and leading a group tomorrow.

Needless to say, a move like this will not be “popular.” I would like to believe some for people for bringing Sunday together for prayer, worship and instruction. Could you think about that? I need a place to worship. A place to pray.  Could some of you consider running the church of Sundays? My goal is that there would be a safe place for Sundays that someone else keeps watch over. (I have some brothers and sisters I know who pastor the XXX church. They actively go into strip joints, porn theaters, etc..That is not the place for the average church goer. On the other hand I see Jesus going there. And I want to go where He did.) Once I know Sunday is secure with some I will carefully move into the next realm, which will be the Tax Collectors Church. And I have to tell you that I feel time is short on this.

We also had a word about Oklahoma. I did some research as the thought was it had to do with the Sooners.
“In 1889, the Indian Territory was opened to settlers. Thousands of people lined up on the border and, when the signal was given, they raced into the territory to claim their land. Some people went in early to claim their land. They became known as Sooners. Hence, Oklahoma’s nickname today is “The Sooner State”.

THIS IS A MAJOR WORD. OCCUPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lay it in your hands to think about, to percolate. I think we are getting ready for a wild ride.

Blessings,
Lee

So there you have it. A little of my past and a little that does not change on the inside.