Jesus ate with sinners.

Modern Jesus followers see this as justification for their involvement in worldly activities, because Jesus was around sinners, too.

It is not the Lord’s fault that Jesus followers get it wrong. We couldn’t follow Jesus today if we tried.

Nevertheless, it is true that there were many sinners and publicans in Jesus’ company during his ministry on the earth.

He was even blamed for being one himself since there were so many around him.

Meanwhile, he was not trying to involve himself in their interests so that he would be accepted by them. He was not waiting for the right time to sneak in a conversation about spiritual things.

Jesus did not follow sinners, they followed him.

“…many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.” – Mark 2:15

They heard his preaching and saw his miracles and wanted to hear more.

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” – Luke 15:1

This is a huge difference from the ministry method of the so-called Jesus followers who seek out bars, brothels, and ballgames just to be where sinners are and be accepted by them.

They justify it all by claiming to do ministry as Jesus did among sinners, doing what they do, right? Wrong… twice.

Jesus did not minister this way, nor is his ministry to the circumcision our pattern for church ministry today. Our pattern is found in the letters of the apostle the Lord ordained to the church (Rom 15:8; Rom 15:16).

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” – Phil 3:17

When there were sinners and publicans around the Lord, he was not silent about their sins to make them feel accepted either.

He called for sinners to repent. As a physician he tried to fix their sin problem.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Luke 5:32

As a result, many of the harlots and publicans that followed him were believers that had repented and were following the Lord into the kingdom (Matt 21:32-33).

This is not the ministry method of modern Jesus followers who would never offend someone by calling them a sinner or pointing out their sins (unless they’re homosexual, of course).

This all should make you wonder how sincerely the Jesus followers follow Jesus.

The Lord’s method of ministry in every dispensation is never compromising, but evangelizing.

Jesus ate with sinners, and he preached to sinners. He did not try to blend in with them.