many people use that to excuse wanting to hang out with sinners- “Well they can’t hear if we Christians aren’t present” (or some variant of that)
Problem is that we’re not really hanging out with them to heal them- We’re simply hanging out and silent about Christ- IF we weren’t- and we WERE doing what Christ wanted us to do, they, the sinners, would do one of two things, get saved and stop the sin, or get lost- (ie drop the Christian like a hot potato because the Christian is antithetical to their sinful lifestyle)
The key to those verses you mentioned is right at the end where Jesus states He called the unrighteous to salvation- He didn’t simply hang out with them for the sake of hanging out ‘as an example to Christians to go and do likewise’- He gave them the gospel- IF we’re honest with ourselves, how many times are we giving out the gospel when we hang out with sinners? Indifferent to their sin?
The following is a pretty good article that discusses this very point:
“It’s true that Scripture tells us of Christ eating with sinners (Luke 15:1) and publicly coming to their defense, as was the case with the adulteress who faced public stoning. And, yes, in simply speaking up for them, or to them, He was defying social customs of the time and causing heart palpitations in the poor Pharisees who’d never before witnessed such a thing. The New Testament tells several stories along these lines. But it certainly doesn’t tell any stories where Christ accompanies a sinner in his sin, or sits by while a sin is being committed, or forgoes an opportunity to call a sinner to a life of holiness.
Christ dined with sinners in order to draw them closer to the truth. To the adulteress He said, “Sin no more.” To anyone who came to Him, He said, “Pick up your cross and follow me.” Christ instructed. He exhorted. He commanded. He showed the way. He did not “hang out.” There was a purpose to all of these encounters, and the purpose was always to bring the sinner out of his sin. The purpose, in other words, was to heal them.”
https://www.theblaze.com/contributions/matt-walsh-no-jesus-didnt-hang-out-with-sinners
Ellen is not the “woman caught in adultery”. She is the angry, shake your fist at God, self-righteous sinner. She has way more in common with the Pharisees who wanted to shut the kingdom of God to others.
Jesus was never gentle to such.
Appreciate that my friend.
Yes it is a fine line when walking in the world with people I know and knew before becoming a Christ follower. My intent when I’m around those folks is to at least set an example of Christ like behavior as much as possible while subtly attempting to pull them toward Jesus and maybe a visit to my home church. I’m not very good at it yet but I will not give up. After all, that IS what we Christ followers are called to do.
If you have time please feel free read my profile.
v/r V_TWIN