God's View vs Man's View

(This article concludes this series that has been based on God's truth compared to how man has altered or changed that truth creating a tradition that is far different than what God's Word proclaims.)

We don't have to do deep research to see the difference between how God views or sees us and how man has distorted that perspective creating a false impression of how God expects us to relate to others. To see this difference clearly, let me begin by describing how people see other people in our world today and how that even carries over into churches. Then I will return to the Bible and present the way that Jesus related to people and to which people.

Man's View of Man Today

A drive through most cities in any nation reveals the multitudes of people who are hurting, struggling, and losing the battle to survive. We see people with signs asking for money, food, work, shelter, or other necessities for survival. How do we react to them? Usually, by turning away making sure to not make eye contact and telling our children to not go near those people. Do we invite them to our church? No, they wouldn't fit there with us and our friends. They are unclean and their clothing is filthy.

On the other hand, we reach out to the successful, the wealthy, the people who fit our image of what we consider to be good people. We join them for meals, we sit by them at sporting events, we encourage our children to become friends with their children, and we invite them to our church if we don't think we will offend them by the invitation.

Are these people that we connect with better than those that we avoid? No, in fact we are all more alike than different. The Bible reminds us that all of us, regardless of our status in life, are all sinners. All of us without exception have a need to have our sin forgiven and be restored in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. If that is true, and it is, then why do we so adamantly avoid some people and embrace others? Could it be that we have bought into the Pharisees instructions about persons who are clean and who are unclean and have forgotten that God created man (everyone) in His Own Image? Consider this question as we look at how Jesus responded to people.

God's View of Man as seen through the actions and teachings of Jesus

When we follow the life of Jesus and His teachings, we see a much different interaction with people than we normally see in our world today. The examples that I could list are numerous but here are a few to help us see the consistency of Jesus' view of man.

• When Jesus spoke the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11, He didn't address them to the wealthy and successful but rather to those whose lives were very different. He spoke to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.

• When a beggar with leprosy (considered unclean) approached, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the beggar and healed him of his leprosy (Mark 1:41).

• When a paralytic was brought to Jesus, Jesus healed him and forgave his sins (Matthew 9:1-8).

• When a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus, He told those gathered that only those without sin could throw stones at her and then He forgave her and told her to go and sin no more (John 7:53-8:11).

Consistently, Jesus lifted up the down and out; healed the sick that others avoided; noticed those that even His disciples might have ignored like the children who wanted to be near Him; and gave standing and status to those that society had pushed aside such as women.

Jesus was clear that His purpose was to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). His purpose was always to do the will of the Father, the Father of all creation and life, the One who made man in His Likeness.

How would Jesus view people in our day? How would He treat the immigrants? How would He provide for the hungry and sick? How would He reach across nations, languages, politics, and barriers of racism, bigotry, and bias to bring healing and peace to all people?

How would He respond to those who see themselves as rulers and controllers - perhaps the same way He did with the Pharisees and the rulers who refused to know and honor God.

What our world needs today is for men to reject the traditional views of one's fellow man that differs greatly from God's Word and Jesus' example and begin to embrace God's truth and example of relationships that Jesus displayed.

This week, what are some changes that can be made in each of our lives that moves us to God's truth in how we relate to and treat others?

"Our Father and God, open our eyes and our hearts to all people and enable us to begin to live the life that Jesus set before us. Help us to see one another as you see us."