On Being An Outcast
Commenting on Matthew 9:18-34, Michael Green wrote this;
“The newness that has just been brought before our imagination in the garments and the wineskins is perhaps the dominant theme in this third trio of miracles. First we find the healing of two women 18–26). Then the healing of two blind men (27–31). Then the healing of a dumb man (32–34).
All of these are ʿammê hāʾāreṣ, ‘people of the land’. They are the unprivileged, the outcasts. A woman with a menstrual flow was unclean. So was a dead girl. And the blind and dumb were outsiders. And by definition, an ʿam hāʾāreṣ, could not be holy. The rabbis were clear about that.
Jesus scorns public opinion.
A rabbi would never bother with the ʿammê hāʾāreṣ but Jesus cares for the despised outsider.
Green, M. (2001). The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p. 125). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
In every culture, at every time, there are those that religion places “outside the camp”.
For whatever reason, they don’t fit the mold and are declared “unholy” by the powers that be.
Some of you find yourselves among this number today.
Perhaps you’ve blown it big time, or the church has.
Perhaps you think differently than some.
Perhaps you are disabled or just different and the assembly has found no place for you.
You don’t fit in.
Jesus cares for you.
His is the only opinion that matters.
Make your own application…
i really am not kidding about (anonymously) receiving a subscription to a magazine in the 1970s aimed at pastors (never knew why we got it and i’ve forgotten the publisher – Christianity Today maybe)… the big “omigosh” read therein was the advice to limit your congregation to one demographic, financial, social and, i assume ethnic? – the goal? a “successful and harmonious” congregation … it was a sad hard turn toward what we see today in the corporate church model, i think
This was a very good article. Before God we are all “people of the land.” And, we are darn fortunate we are, because it’s the people of the land that Jesus came to save. He didn’t come for the righteous. The righteous have no need of a Physician.
Jean…amen and amen.
Em, you nailed it.
I am outside the camp…disabled by mental illness. It’s not that I don’t want to go to church–it’s that, most of the time I can’t. I don’t have the strength or the faith or whatever it is I need to overcome my limitations. Jesus has not seen fit to heal me for whatever reason, but no one is more grateful than I that He cares for me and He sees me. He sees me outside the camp. I’m not invisible to Him.
Cash, “He cares for me and He sees me. He sees me outside the camp. I’m not invisible to Him.” – you are absolutely correct! 🙂
I am outside the camp…disabled by mental illness.<<<<
Cash, I did not realize this about you. Please forgive me for badgering you yesterday.
-Xenia
Cash – you’d fit right in at my church.
Em, Josh, thanks. 🙂
Xenia,
I didn’t feel badgered by you in our conversation, so there’s nothing to forgive. I thought you gave me some really good points to consider. No worries!
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,’ lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord , because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalm 13:1-6 ESV
For the outcasts – pure gospel in 13 min – pure gospel to the saved – a must listen
https://thefirstpremise.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/matthew-316-saved-from-death-by-drowning/
Holy cow thank you for this.
I do not think of myself as an outcast, I know for a fact that I am not one, that alone is troubling if we are to go to Jesus outside the gate.