Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

As I've confessed before.... I have a tendency to skip over poems or lyrics or songs or videos posted in other blogs. It's not that I don't care or intend to be disrespectful... it's an a.d.d. thing that I have... I don't have the patience to sit and read (most of the time). 

Having said that... I wanted to post the lyrics to this song, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns. If you're up for the whole experience, you can just youtube them. I wanted to post this because there are times that I have trouble reconciling modern Christianity and the many groups that reject it for it's (sometimes) narrow, judgmental view. I have been the victim of these views at times... and at other times, I have been the judge. 

This song speaks my heart more clearly than I can... I just believe so strongly that if Jesus walked among us today, the very people we avoid would be the people He would draw close to His side. I think we miss a blessing by painting the world with a broad brush and avoiding people who are different from us... It's like the super athletic people who make me ashamed to go to the gym because I know they can tell by just a glance that I'm not one of them... people who are wounded and weary and carrying the weight of sin who want so desperately to make it better don't feel like they can belong in the church of today. They feel put off and reluctant to come into the place they need to be the most. 

Anyways... I didn't mean to make this a sermon... this song makes me feel convicted and encouraged, empowered and accepted. I hope you will feel some of those things too. 

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet