I’ve been reading this book lately by Judah Smith call Jesus Is. I’m about half way through the book by now but I keep thinking about the first section of the book. It is titled Jesus is your friend. This section points out how when Jesus came to earth, he came as not only our Savior, but as our friend. He came to save us but he but also to befriend us. This book points out that Jesus didn’t just befriend the people that we would think would be worthy of a King’s friendship, you know, the “good people”- the people that followed the rules and did all the right things. If anything, he befriended the people that we would think He should stay away from- prostitutes, thieves, murders, the “bad people.”
Reading this, it made me think about my life and the people I have befriended. Growing up, I was taught to surround myself with people like me- people that went to church every Sunday, dressed modestly, listened to the right music, watched the right movies, basically people that tried to stay on the “straight and narrow.” When I made a friend that didn’t match these criteria, I got the warning that I should be careful and not get too close. I think about this mindset that was instilled into me through various influences in my life and I realize how incredibly wrong and unbiblical it is.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it is unwise to surround yourself with close friends that share the same beliefs as you. People that think alike tend to get along so it makes sense. It is important to have people around you who understand how you think and what you believe. I am extremely grateful for these people. I don’t know what I would do without them. But you know what, I am extremely grateful for my friends that don’t think and believe like I do.
This is probably the first time in my life that I’m surrounded by more people that disagree with me than agree with me. I have more friends today that don’t go to church than do. And I am perfectly O.K. with that. But it’s funny to me because six years ago if I was in this situation, I would probably be looked down on by the people that I was surrounding myself with, the “good people.” As a Christian, I’m not supposed to be judgmental and I’m supposed to love everyone but if I were to tell you the truth, the Church many times is the most judgmental and unloving body of people you will find, in the most Christian way possible of course.
We are taught to set ourselves apart because we are children of the King, but how many times has that mindset caused me to put myself on a pedestal and think I am better than someone else? How many times has this mindset stopped me from befriending someone I did not think was good enough to be my friend? How many times have I looked at someone, saw how they lived their life, said “ Wow, they REALLY need Jesus”, but wouldn’t be their friend because being their friend may cause me to stumble in my walk with Jesus and would look bad to my other friends that I deemed “good enough”? A lot of times, that’s how many.
I compare the way I was taught to choose friends to the way Jesus chooses friends and I see the difference clear as day. Jesus chooses to be friends with people JUST BECAUSE. Jesus loves people just because. He doesn’t look at someone and analyze the way they live their life and base whether or not He can be friends with them off of that. When Jesus looks at someone, all he sees is someone that needs a friend, needs love, and needs Him.
That is what I want people to see when they look at my friends now. I hope people don’t see a judgmental Christian but someone that loves everyone just the way they are. I hope they see a little bit of Jesus in me. And I hope my friends know that I chose them just because.
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