We know we are judged by the company we keep. It's not what all of us think is right, but we all know it to be true. I was remembering a time in college when I was out with a couple of my friends from high school. I didn't drink and they were cool with that. We were still friends. I do need to clarify that we didn't go out together very often because we didn't do the same things most weekends. But we were friends.
Anyway, this particular night they had been drinking before we met up. I, as usual, had not. We were walking uptown and not finding anything worth interest so we decided to head out to somebody's house (mine, his or his, I can't remember). We had parked in the parking garage on like the 3rd floor. One of my friends, to remain nameless, was a little loud. Yes, maybe even sounding as though he was having a much better time than what was fact. I remember thinking 'please quiet down. Just get in the car and lets get out of town.' So this was really loud. Sounding very intoxicated.
As we got to the car, my car, arriving just to the other side of the car was a policeman who had walked to the 3rd floor to see what the ruckus was about. Upon seeing me and my friends I am sure that the officer expected one thing. He was being polite (and so was I) as he asked us some questions of what we were doing on this beautiful boring night in town. To which I wanted to answer, "nothing officer. We are going home and won't be coming back out until we can learn to control our decibel output." My buddies were laughing. I mean that 'on the verge of hysterics' laughter. I was not laughing. I was sweating. And shaking. And praying probably something about being willing to go into the mission field if He would just get me out of this. About this time, the officer looks down and sees a can of beer or half full can or near empty...I'm not sure. It WAS extremely close to my car door. I would have suspected that it was mine had I known better.
Anyway, he asks me about the can and then follows the question with had I been drinking tonight. To which I answered truthfully no. "I don't drink, officer." Now the next 10 seconds were torture. He proceeded to cock his head a little, squint his eyes, and seemingly say with his posture...'son, what boat do you think I floated in on?' My buddies. Remember the laughter twins? They burst out laughing, tears in there eyes, and repeat...'He's telling the truth officer. He don't drink!' I think at this point the officer saw how very sober and scared I was and commanded us home. We went.
Mark 2:13-17 Jesus is having dinner with Levi and other known tax collectors. In ohter words, He was having dinner with the corrupt and the crooked. The partiers. The loud. The possibly obnoxious. The church leaders of the time questioned his followers...Why does He eat with THOSE guys?
Jesus answers with an answer about the healthy and sick. Who needs the doctor? The sick of course. Nor did He come for the righteous, but for sinners.
That's us. The sinners. No degree of sinners, just sinners. The pharisees largest problem was their own viewpoint of the man in the mirror. They saw themselves as better.
Sorry, to be so wordy, but it excites me about what was brought up in our Leadership breakfast. To start hanging with the wrong crowd with purpose. I had further conversation with one student who wants to organize a leadership night within some of the student hangouts. Remember, we are the wrong crowd too. It's just that we have seen Jesus' grace and mercy and have made the decision to follow Him.
God Bless,
keith
1 comment:
Awesome stuff!
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